X-Files: Difference between revisions
(more precise description, other dl source and alternatives mentioned) |
m (fixed typo) |
||
| (7 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Applicationbox|image=xfiles34x29.png|caption=X-Files icon|name=X-Files|maintainer=Andy Armstrong|os=Not 32-bit compatible|desc=X-Files is a [[Long Filename Systems|Long Filename System]] for RISC OS 3.71 and below.|languages=English|url=[http://www.mirror.ac.uk/collections/hensa-micros/local/riscos/filemanager/xfiles.zip Mirror only]|alt=[[raFS]], [[SparkFS]], [[Win95FS]], other image filing systems}} |
|||
X-Files allows users of RISC OS 3.71 and below to have as many files and directories (with names longer than 10 characters) in a single directory as they wish, which they cannot do with a standard RISC OS filecore disc. X-Files is implemented as an Image Filing System, which means all the files and directories are kept within one RISC OS file (the "image")which can be opened just like it was a directory as long as the X-Files module is active. |
|||
=== Historical Notes === |
|||
Andy Armstrong wrote X-Files in 1996, having apparently seen the 'Directory full' error message (triggered by attempting to save a 78th file into a directory) one time too many. |
|||
X-Files was written in 1996 by Andy Armstrong. |
|||
X-Files is now very tricky to find but can be downloaded from http://www.mirror.ac.uk/collections/hensa-micros/local/riscos/filemanager/xfiles.zip |
X-Files is now very tricky to find but version 0.57 (which is believed to be the last version) can be downloaded from [http://www.mirror.ac.uk/collections/hensa-micros/local/riscos/filemanager/xfiles.zip www.mirror.ac.uk] or [http://ftp.uni-stuttgart.de/pub/systems/acorn/riscos/util/fileutils/xf.zip ftp.uni-stuttgart.de], including the source code and a data recovery tool in case something goes wrong. |
||
RISC OS has had long filename support since the release of RISC OS 4 in 1999, so this utility is only needed to read ancient data saved on old-format disks (E or F format or earlier) under RISC OS versions 3.71 and earlier. |
|||
Version 0.57 (which is believed to be the last version) including the source code and a recovery tool if something goes wrong with the archive can be downloaded from http://ftp.uni-stuttgart.de/pub/systems/acorn/riscos/util/fileutils/xf.zip |
|||
Note that if RISC OS 3.1 is being run under [[VirtualAcorn]], it is not affected by the infamous 77-file-per-directory limit. VirtualAcorn uses HostFS and thus supports long file names and unlimited files per directory. |
|||
Others programs to do some, most or more of the things that X-Files does are available - [[RaFS]], Win95FS, TBAFS, SparkFS, ArcFS, KleinFS...pick your choice. |
|||
By using an [[Image Filing System]], X-Files has different advantages and disadvantages to programs such as [[LongFiles]] or [[raFS]]. These differences are discussed in this article on [[Long Filename Systems]] |
|||
When X-Files is not running, an X-File image file is a monolithic object, and individual files within the X-File image cannot be accessed or manipulated. This is quite similar to the behaviour of compressed files within an archive being managed by [[ArcFS]] or [[SparkFS]]. |
|||
Latest revision as of 00:42, 9 October 2009
| X-Files | |
| Icon: |  |
|---|---|
| Maintained by: | Andy Armstrong |
| Description: | X-Files is a Long Filename System for RISC OS 3.71 and below. |
| OS Restrictions: | Not 32-bit compatible |
| Languages: | English |
| Alternatives: | raFS, SparkFS, Win95FS, other image filing systems |
| Website: | Mirror only |
Historical Notes
Andy Armstrong wrote X-Files in 1996, having apparently seen the 'Directory full' error message (triggered by attempting to save a 78th file into a directory) one time too many.
X-Files is now very tricky to find but version 0.57 (which is believed to be the last version) can be downloaded from www.mirror.ac.uk or ftp.uni-stuttgart.de, including the source code and a data recovery tool in case something goes wrong.
RISC OS has had long filename support since the release of RISC OS 4 in 1999, so this utility is only needed to read ancient data saved on old-format disks (E or F format or earlier) under RISC OS versions 3.71 and earlier.
Note that if RISC OS 3.1 is being run under VirtualAcorn, it is not affected by the infamous 77-file-per-directory limit. VirtualAcorn uses HostFS and thus supports long file names and unlimited files per directory.
By using an Image Filing System, X-Files has different advantages and disadvantages to programs such as LongFiles or raFS. These differences are discussed in this article on Long Filename Systems
When X-Files is not running, an X-File image file is a monolithic object, and individual files within the X-File image cannot be accessed or manipulated. This is quite similar to the behaviour of compressed files within an archive being managed by ArcFS or SparkFS.
