> -----Original Message-----
>
> The operating system A files compatible with operating system B
> seems to be more of a job for a translator, not a disk emulator.
Here's the thing - it's both. If it were purely a disk emulator, it'd put the
files into a 200k disk image file on the PC end of things and we'd get to treat
it like a black box, or maybe some kind soul would write another utility to
copy and translate text files in and out of the disk image files. LaddieAlpha
is a translator in the sense that it's taking files and folders from whatever
filesystem the host OS uses and making them visible to the Model T DOS in a
form it will understand. Among other things, this means translating filenames
to uppercase, truncating filenames to 6.2 characters in length, possibly more
filename mangling if said truncation results in namespace collision, etc.
I like data integrity as much as the next guy, but having said that, there's a
place for 'low level' software that preserves the data integrity 100%, and then
there's a place for software which does whatever it can to make life easier for
the user, including making assumptions that .DO files should contain text and
should not contain an extraneous EOF if its presence in a text document on a
Model T leads more or less immediately to filesystem corruption.
Maybe there should be an option to enable transfer of files without
modification, and maybe there shouldn't. John's making software to help users
transfer files, so these choices are really up to him.
jim
