rcook@eagle.wesleyan.edu (ME:MINT.INIT) (02/16/91)
A few weeks ago I remember reading somewhere (I believe it was Inside Appletalk, 2nd edition) that there is a limit to the number of directories you can create on any given volume. Ever after, I have cringed every time I make a new folder or destroy an old one. I also heard that the directory numbers of deleted directories cannot be reused, which is why I get worried that I will run out of directories. I suppose I should not be so concerned because HFS uses 16 bit numbers for its directories, so 30000 folders is an awful lot to chug through. I just want to hear the story from someone who knows. Thanks in advance. ------------------------ Randall Cook rcook@eagle.wesleyan.edu ------------------------
andyp@treehouse.UUCP (Andy Peterman) (02/17/91)
In article <1991Feb15.200946.38986@eagle.wesleyan.edu> rcook@eagle.wesleyan.edu (ME:MINT.INIT) writes: >A few weeks ago I remember reading somewhere (I believe it was Inside >Appletalk, 2nd edition) that there is a limit to the number of directories you >can create on any given volume. > ... >I suppose I should not be so concerned because HFS uses 16 bit numbers for its >directories, so 30000 folders is an awful lot to chug through. I just want to >hear the story from someone who knows. Thanks in advance. Directories (and files) are given a new 32 bit number every time a new one is created. This is reflected in the directory ID number that you use in most of the HFS File Manager calls. I had a hard disk which hadn't been initialized in a LONG time that had directory IDs well above 40000. It would probably take longer to create more than 100,000 or so files than most hard disk would last. I wouldn't worry about it! -- Andy Peterman | Opinions expressed treehouse!andyp@gvgpsa.gvg.tek.com | are definitely those of (916) 273-4569 | my employer!
francis@zaphod.uchicago.edu (02/17/91)
In article <809@treehouse.UUCP> andyp@treehouse.UUCP (Andy Peterman) writes: Directories (and files) are given a new 32 bit number every time a new one is created. This is reflected in the directory ID number that you use in most of the HFS File Manager calls. I had a hard disk which hadn't been initialized in a LONG time that had directory IDs well above 40000. It would probably take longer to create more than 100,000 or so files than most hard disk would last. I wouldn't worry about it! Not 100,000--4,294,967,296. At one directory per second (computer could probaby go faster, but not within the Finder interface), that's about 134 years. DEFINITELY longer than your HD will last. -- /=============================================================================\ | Francis Stracke | My opinions are my own. I don't steal them.| | Department of Mathematics |=============================================| | University of Chicago | Until you stalk and overrun, | | francis@zaphod.uchicago.edu | you can't devour anyone. -- Hobbes | \=============================================================================/