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Diskette: Often
called simply a
disk.
A record/playback
medium
like
tape,
but
made in the shape of a flat disk and
placed in
an
envelope
for protection
.
The access
time for
a diskette is
much
faster than
for tape.
DOS
: Abbreviation
for
Disk Operating System
.
The
software or
programs
that facilitate use
of a disk
drive
system.
DOS.SYS:
Filename
reserved
by
the Disk Operating
System.
Drive
Number: An integer
from 1
to a
that
specifies
the
drive to
be
used.
Drive Specification or Drivespec:
Part of the
filespec
that
tells
the
computer
which disk
drive to
access.
If
this
is
omitted
,
the
computer
will assume
Drive
1.
End of File:
A marker
that
tells
the
computer
that the
end of a
certain file on disk has been
reached
.
Entry
Point:
The
address where execution
of
a machine-
language
program
or
routine
is to
begin
.
Atso called the transfer
address.
File
: An organized collection of related data. A file is the largest
grouping of information
that
can
be
addressed with a single
name.
For
example,
a
BASIC program
is stored on diskette as a
particular
file,
and
may
be addressed
by
the statements SAVE
or
LOAD
(among
others).
Filename
: The alphanumeric characters
used
to identify a
file.
A total of eight
numbers
andlor letters
may
be
used
,
optionally
followed
by
a period and an
extender
or
extension
of up
to three
characters.
Filename Extender or Extension
: Up
to
three
additional
char-
acters used following a
period
(required if the
extender
is used)
after the filename
.
For example
,
in the
filename
PHONLlST.BAS,
the letters
"
BAS
"
comprise the extender.
File
Pointer: A
pointer to
a location in a file
.
Each
file
has
its
own
pointer.
Filespec
: Abbreviation for
file
specification. A sequence of
characters
which
specifies a
particular
device
and filename.
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