Re: Suggested change to add volume numbering to .dsk disk image files

[processoroverclocked@33mhz.cjb.net (Jon Bettencourt)]

I just came up with an idea. I'm thinking of a DIML, Disk Information
Markup Language, contained in a text file, with tells all about the disk
image. The emulator would look at the file and determine the volume
number, number of tracks, etc. The format of the dsk file wouldn't change,
you wouldn't have to put all this code at the end of the file name, and
any emulator that doesn't use the text file for information doesn't have
to.

> > Really, what we ultimately need is a new more versatile image format.
> > Something that can handle this situation, as well as things like disks
> > with 36+ tracks, etc. A format which allows for forward and backward
> > compatibility using data tags or something similiar.
>  ....
> 
>      Agree. One reason for suggesting that the change be implemented via
> optional file name add-ons is that the format of the file content is already
> as clean and elegant as one could wish-- i.e. the file = data bytes on the
> disk. (Except, naturally, for 36-tracks there would need to be an additional
> 4096 bytes in the file.)
> 
>      Another consideration is that changing the format of the .dsk disk image
> content would introduce all sorts of compatibility problems. File name
> tagging (e.g. for Volume Number and/or 36-tracks) lets emulators which
> recognize the tags take advantage of them. It does not force changing any
> currently working .dsk files (or their names);  and, these .dsk files will
> continue to work correctly on all emulators, including those which do not
> recognize name tags.

-- 
== Jon Bettenct = Prgmr, Writer, Mathematician, Lisa Simpson Fan ==
= http://dimension18.cjb.net = ICQ76731065 = jonrelay@napanet.net =
The only thing worse than dreaming about your math final is waking
with the realization that you still have to take it. -- Paige Fox