2. Cross Platform Files

TeleScope Design Documentation Cross-Platform File Specifications Revision 1.0 July 2, 1996 Table of Contents 1. Overview .................................................................................................................... 1 2. File Alias..................................................................................................................... 2 3. File Location .............................................................................................................. 3 Shared File ........................................................................................................... 3 File on Removable Media ..................................................................................... 3 Local File, Not Shared.......................................................................................... 4 4. Share Mappings.......................................................................................................... 5 i TeleScope Design Documentation Cross-Platform File Specifications 1. Overview As a software solution which operates on both Macintosh and Windows platforms, TeleScope has a requirement not only for storing the locations of files on both systems, but having a Macintosh able to locate and retrieve a Windows file and vice- versa. This is a difficult and complex problem, which has necessitated the creation of a platform-independent method of locating a file, and a format for storing this data into the TeleScope database in such a way that both Windows and Macintosh client software can access and understand it. Additionally, the underlying network layer must be removed from consideration, because of the wide variety of platforms and file servers which need to be supported. Thus, the desired solution will allow use of NFS/Share, Novell, or any other network layer configuration which permits both Macintoshes and Windows machines to connect to shared network devices. This is done using a combination of the file_alias and file_location fields in the editorial table, and the contents of the share_mappings table of the TeleScope database. Between them, the contents of these items are enough to allow both Macintosh and Windows computers to locate and access files on either platform, across a network. 1 TeleScope Design Documentation Cross-Platform File Specifications 2. File Alias In the editorial table, the file_alias field is used by the Macintosh client to locate files. The contents of this binary field are a Macintosh Alias Record. On import, the Macintosh client will place an alias to the imported file into this field.…