>| 2. Is there any way to read a Newton PC Card in a powerbook?
>
>Sorry, no. Conventional computers use conventional filesystems. Newton,
>being an unconventional computer, uses a completely different method of
>data storage, one that is totally alien to conventional data storage.
Let's rewrite this paragraph:
Sorry, no. 1980's and older computers use prehistoric filesystems. Newton,
being a 2050 computer, uses a completely different method of
data storage (based on soups, the futur name for databases as the
lowest element
of filesystems), one that is totally alien to prehistoric data storage.
Besides, I have been able to read the partition map of the DOS ATA
card. It nicely (in fact, not so nicely, hence there is no screen
shot until I finish the GUI design) shows up in the partitions list.
This may be a way to use prehistoric data storage into the Newton.
Other news (while I'm at it):
- The backup utility works nice, although I should rewrite the
interface completely. Disk copy was able to mount the image (just had
to select the proper creator/type codes).
- The Data Out and Non Data protocols have been sucessfully
implemented, hence, at low level, the memory mode access is finished.
- The Read and the Write commands (yes, I wrote the interface to the
Data Out commands) have been extended to support more than 255
sectors at a time, issuing several ATA commands if required.
- The Suspend and Resume methods have been implemented, and the card
is set up again when the Newton wakes up.
- The Newton Script interface has been extended with the new
GetPartitionMap method which returns the following information:
{
format: 'dos, // or 'apple, 'newton
entries: [{
type: 'unknown, // or 'HFS (only DOS partition read
is implemented, hence this will never show up), 'store (a Newton
Store). I don't know if some types are in the same format (the list
is rather long), hence I will code type 1 (what I have on the card
now) and wait until foreign file system access will be implemented to
try the other types)
start: an integer for the first sector of the
partition, 32 (0x20) on my card.
size: an integer for the number of sectors on the
partition 0x00007A60 on my card
Maximum size in kb is therefore 29 bits, not sure it is a problem,
but I may code it differently since the driver/formats support full
LBA size (32 bits).
}
]
}
- The Newton Script interface has also been extended with the Write
function which works properly (I exchanged the two first sectors,
removed the card, inserted it again: it said the format was unknown,
sure, it didn't find the MBR signature, I exchanged them again,
removed & re-inserted the card and everything is fine).
What's coming next:
1/ better GUI for partitions (in fact, there is a little bug in this NS code)
2/ design and implementation of the Newton Stores Collection format
(at least, the first format)
3/ modification of the TPartitionMap class to use it to modify the
partitions. (and, this would need an NS interface to have a kind of
FDISK/PDISK for Newton, although this is postponed)
4/ I will then format the card with the NSC format, and I'll try to
mount the store(s). If I succeed (or I'll better say, when I'll
succeed, I can't give up now), you'll have the very first beta
(before I implement more features).
Best regards,
Paul
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