LIF File Types: HP 41, 71, 75, series 80

[Dave Frederickson]

(09-27-2014 09:34 AM)brouhaha Wrote:  I always preferred the approach of putting the LIF directory entry into the first 32 bytes of the file on non-LIF filesystems, so that host software can tell what kind of file it is, and record lengths and such. However, not much software supports that.

I was going to suggest that as well. Why create a new scheme to maintain the LIF header information when one already exists. HPILLINK prepends the LIF header when copying the file to the DOS file system and then utilizes that information when copying the file to a LIF disc or image. What would be useful is to enhance HPDir to:

1. Have a command to strip the header from the DOS file so, for example, a ROM image could be used with an emulator.
2. Have a command to create the LIF header. See J-F Garnier's aLIFHdr and Appendix II of Dan McDonald's HP-IL Files article.
3. This might just be wishful, but add support for copying DOS files to/from DOS images for use with the Portable PLUS.

Consider that there may be people with files with the LIF headers or that could benefit from a tool that runs on newer systems. Also, the entire LIF/SWAP folder on the Museum's FTP site is in this format.

Dave