Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!pro-nucleus.UUCP!hzink
From: hzink@pro-nucleus.UUCP (Harry Zink)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: forked files: why the fuss?
Message-ID: <8905240736.AA18687@crash.cts.com>
Date: 23 May 89 20:39:25 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: pnet01!pro-sol!pro-nucleus!hzink@nosc.mil
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 30

Network Comment: to #957 by pnet01!crash!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!obsolete!pro-angmar!awillis

I fail to see why people make such a fass over the issue of forked files and
limited compatibility with Prodos 8.  The way I see it, forked files will only
(con only) be used by GS/OS anyway, therefore they will only be used in the
GS/OS environment (which ahs no problems with them).  

The only times forked files COULD come into contact with prodos is if you
download them from various services, in which case everyone will have stuffed
them in NuFX archives anyway, and these coexist nicely with P8.  To use the
file effectively, it will have to be utilized under GS/OS anyway, and there is
no real conflict.

I think the problem stems from the misunderstanding that some people think
they will/should be able to use forked files under P8 - which is not so. 
Forked files are only useful in an environment like GS/OS (and most useful
they are!), therefore, don't worry about P8 compatibility.

Sure, amny of you use Glen Bredons Prosel utlities, but these will (some
already do) support forked files.  Especially if you use Prosel on the GS, I
highly recommend you upgrade to Prosel-16 (if you haven't already done so). 
The way I understand it, most if not all of Bredon's file specific tools (like
Beach Comber, Cat Doctor, Mr. Fixit, etc..) will be upgraded to support the ew
file formats, and besides using the 16 bit version of these programs is quite
pleasant, especially since no more time is wasted switching to P8.

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