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From: jcav@ellis.uchicago.edu (john  cavallino)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: System 5.0.4 (really Re: Finder)
Summary: how the Desktop works
Message-ID: <1991Mar7.231037.29154@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 7 Mar 91 23:10:37 GMT
References: <566@generic.UUCP>
Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator)
Organization: University of Chicago
Lines: 26

In article <566@generic.UUCP> taob@pnet91.cts.com (Brian Tao) writes:
>From daveh@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (David H. Huang):
>
>> What did he say about this one? There was some discussion about this a
>> couple of months (maybe a year or so) ago. On the Mac, the Get Info
>> information is stored in a resource fork. Although this could be done
>
>    Pre-System 7.0 Macs store the Info comments in the invisible Desktop file.
> System 7.0 is supposed to do away with the Desktop file, so maybe it does
>open a new resource and put the comment there.  File comments could be stored
>in the Finder.Data file, but moving and copying files around wouldn't
>automatically move the comments with the files.

System 7 Macs still store the comments (and other Desktop information) in
an invisible central file or files.  The difference is that they (and any
other Macs with the Desktop Manager installed) use a much less limited
storage method than the Resource Manager. (HFS-style B*-trees, to be specific)

Re: IIgs-- Comments could still automatically move with files, the Finder
would just have to copy them at the same time it copies the files.

-- 
John Cavallino                      |     EMail: jcav@midway.uchicago.edu
University of Chicago Hospitals     |    USMail: 5841 S. Maryland Ave, Box 145
Office of Facilities Management     |            Chicago, IL  60637
"Opinions, my boy. Just opinions"   | Telephone: 312-702-6900