(71B) FORTH questions

[Sylvain Cote]

(10-20-2023 12:32 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(10-20-2023 11:56 AM)Sylvain Cote Wrote:  For some unknown reasons the HP-IL module do not extend the LIST and PLIST keywords to work with files on mass media.
Like you did, you have to copy the file into the HP-71B memory and then LIST/PLIST the file.

I've wondered why this limitation exists, and concluded that since the LIST & PLIST output is often directed to an output device (monitor, printer, virtual printer), traffic on the IL loop for simultaneously reading portions of the file INTO the 71B while also sending OUT of the 71B would be quite slow, if indeed not confused.
Also, AFAIK, all loop-based file transfers are for the complete file at once, possibly for the same reason(s), but I'm just speculating.

In theory it should be easy to do for a text file, the limitation is probably how list/plist is implemented.
For sure, the way file transfer is currently implemented, it is a lot more efficient to transfer the file into the 71B memory and then list/plist it.
When you factor in the other files types, which in some cases include decoding logic, they probably took a step back and decided to leave it as it was.