[comp.sys.apple] sparse files

AWCTTYPA@UIAMVS.BITNET ("David A. Lyons") (01/15/88)

>Date:         Thu, 14 Jan 88 08:33:39 EDT
>From:         CS656%OUACCVMB.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
>Subject:      SPARSE FILES IN PRODOS 8

>Are sparse files always a product of text files?

No, a ProDOS file of any type can be sparse.

>In either case, is the creation of a sparse file something that ProDOS
>takes upon itself or is it a product of certain software packages?
>Bob Church  CS656@OUACCVMB

Well, ProDOS is still doing the actual work, but most software will never ask
ProDOS to do something that results in a sparse file being created.

A sparse file is just one where the *logical* file size is larger than the
disk space allocated to the file.

Be careful; Many file-copy utilities will make a full-sized copy of a sparse
file!

--David A. Lyons  a.k.a.  DAL Systems
  PO Box 287 | North Liberty, IA 52317
  BITNET: AWCTTYPA@UIAMVS
  CI$: 72177,3233