CP/M/CPM_CDROM.iso/cpm/gendoc/library.cnt

Text File | 1983-09-09 | 12KB | 256 lines

LIBRARY.CTL   Microcomputer Diskette Library Control.

04/25/81.     T. McCormick.


    Control  of computer libraries is well developed in large
computer  operations.  Only  tiny operations can get  by  without
specific  rules for naming programs and data  files,  segregating
test files from production, indicating as-of dates, etc.

    With the rapid growth of microcomputer use,  and with the
continual improvement in disk storage capacity per  dollar,  many
business  and  hobby users are discovering that with  no  library
plan,  too  much time and effort are wasted looking for the right
version, starting to run the wrong version...again, etc.

    It  is  possible  to acquire and  store  more  files  and
programs than you can manage without some library system.

    Micro operating systems,  editors, and utilities offer an
occasional  assist  in one way or another such as  creating  .BAK
backup  file copies automatically.   But the user is left to  put
his  library control scheme together by himself.  He often  lacks
the  experience  which comes from years of grappling  with  these
problems,  and  is  forced to discover solutions one at  a  time.
This results in a weak start, and continual change.

    I have made many mistakes related to computer  libraries,
and  have  seen many others.   As computer center manager  for  a
nationwide accounting firm, we daily were working with files from
all kinds of outside program libraries.   I would like to pass on
a  few suggestions based on my experience with about 300 computer
libraries over an eleven year period.

    The following is not intended as a exact prescription for
you,  you will have to decide what fits,  and what doesn't.  I'll
use  my library control methods as an example,  knowing that  you
will have to adapt it to your circumstances.

    Here is a summary of important rules:

    1.  Never alter a "distribution" diskette in any  way.  A
distribution  diskette is one you receive from someone else,  and
for which you usually have paid money.   You may have to send  it
back  to get a new release at the "update" price rather than  buy
another  license!   You may not be able to read it next year  and
you  want a fresh copy at nominal charge.  You may want to get  a
bug fixed at no charge.  Do NOT change anything on this diskette.
N O T H I N G .

    2.  A program that is one bit, one byte, or one statement
different  from another MUST have a different name.   There is no
such thing as    "same as....,  except".  Resist the temptation to
leave the names the same when they are "only slightly" different.
Subtle differences are hard to sort out six months later!  Subtle
differences may be much harder to find than large differences  or
gross errors.

    3. Follow your system rigidly.

    4. Label things immediately, while they are fresh in your
mind.  Little peel-off dots and labels are inexpensive,  and easy
to use.  Office supply stores have a rainbow assortment (Avery is
one  of the brand names) and they are cheap.   Color  coding  can
segregate  test from permanent files,  release 2 from release  3,
etc. without any writing.

    5.   Begin  library  control  at  once:  it  gets  harder
geometrically as you acquire more stuff.

    6.  When you initialize/format a diskette,  place a small
peel-off  label  (I  use  one-inch  dots  on  it  indicating  the
operating system version you used, date, and density or format if
you have more than one. Eventually, you will have more than one.

    7.  Specifically  label backup copies,  and write-protect
them.  Store them separately from daily-use diskettes. Store them
inside,  where the humidity and temperature are fairly  constant.
Exchange  backup storage with another user,  if you can.  Do  not
store diskettes or cassettes in your car trunk!

    Why bother with backup?   Have you ever entered

    A>ERA *.*     instead of    A>ERA B:*.*    or

    A>PIP A:=B:*.*[V]  instead of
          B:=A:*.*[V]

    HUMMMM?

    You say you're not that stupid??   OK.


    8.   Establish  categories,   and  label  your  diskettes
accordingly.    For example, Proprietary software such as MBASIC,
CP/M, etc could be replaced by a dealer.  Your modifications, and
custom programs could not.  They should be protected to a greater
degree.

    9. Never keep all your backup in one place. Two suitcases
ten  miles  apart  is  more secure  than  one  bomb-proof  vault.
Remember, with all the electrical equipment in one computer room,
a  small  fire could destroy alot of diskettes in a  hurry.   Bet
you've got 'em stored close by so they'll be nice and handy too!

       10.  Data-file diskettes change periodically.  Use a peel-
off label to indicate clearly the filenames,  and as-of date.  Do
not  store  backup  of  data files on  the  same  diskette  under
different filenames.  Diskettes can become unusable no matter how
careful you are.

       11. I recognize three flavors of diskettes:
        a. never used.
        b. initialized/formatted, not used.
        c. in use, contains one or more files.

Come  up with a scheme to indicate each of these.  I do not put a
peel-off file label on never-used diskettes.  If I see a diskette
with  no  peel-off  label  at  all,   I  know  it  has  not  been
initialized/formatted.   When I initialize/format a  diskette,  I
place  a  one-inch  colored dot on it  indicating  the  operating
system  version,  today's date,  and the recording format/density
with  which it was initialized/formatted.  Such diskettes have  a
directory,  but  do not have any files.  Every diskette  of  mine
which  contains a file has a large peel-off label indicating  the
name(s),  or something else indicative such as "SYSTEM",  "WORK",
"MBASIC", etc.

    Never  write  on a distribution copy,...the diskette  you
received from someone else.  If you alter such a diskette in  any
way, you usually void any warranty. Do not add to it, delete from
it,  or rename anything.  Do not even write a .DOC file, a volume
serial  number,  or  anything else on it.   You should  label  it
"DISTRIB", and make a complete fresh copy from which to work.  If
you have to send it back for an update to the next release, or to
get a bug fixed,  or because you can't read it anymore,  etc. you
can not expect the people you got it from to listen to your story
of how "..it's exactly like when you sent it to me,  except....".
It  is  bound  to  cost you money sooner or later  if  you  alter
distribution diskettes.

Since you will not be altering them,  you must count on  peel-off
labels to identify your distribution diskette contents, etc.

        A. Apply a peel-off label saying
           "DISTRIB".

        B. Write the date received on that
           label.

        C. Write protect the diskette.

        D. Make your working copy from which
           you will begin tailoring.
           Clearly label this copy.
           I call mine "DISTCOPY".

        E. Make a 2nd copy of valuable stuff
           for an off-site location. This
           might be your office, or another
           user. It should NOT be your car
           trunk, or other outside storage.
           Humidity will ruin your diskettes.

        F. Store the "DISTRIB" diskette with
           other "DISTRIB" diskettes, not with
           the working copies of that system.
           Physically separate backup copies
           from those you use daily.


    Now that we have secured your distribution diskette,  and
made  a working copy,  we are ready to tackle one of the cruelest
problems in using a computer.  Give some thought to the NAMES you
apply to programs in the process of being changed.

    One  scheme is to add a "suffix" to the filename,  or  to
change the filetype to .001  .002  etc.

    You  want to keep some consistency so that the names  are
meaningful,  and wildcards can be used with utilities   (example:
PIP  B:=C:PROGM???.BAS[V]).   But  you  must  name  your  changes
differently  from the distribution filename,  and from your other
changes. How will you know which is your latest version? How will
you know which is your latest version which works?

    It  is a mistake to count on keeping the  same  filename,
and using different diskettes.  The trend is rapidly toward large
capacity,  non-removeable hard disks.   In a few years,  everyone
will  have  5 or 10 MB disks!  Anyway,  it is easier to  learn  a
disciplined approach,  and follow it,  than to spend alot of time
making  gobs  of  filecopies and then trying to  remember  what's
what.

    If  you begin changing a program called  BUDGET.BAS,  you
might  call your first  modification  BUDGET01.BAS,  BUDGET1.BAS,
BUDGET.001, BUD1.BAS, B1.BAS etc. It is a matter of taste, and of
how large your library is.   The larger it is,  the more specific
you have to be...you might have more than one budget program.  If
you  have an editor,  and you save the basic program as an  ASCII
file  (ie.  SAVE "B:BUDGET01.ASC",A),  you may want to adopt  the
.ASC  filetype naming convention to clearly identify it as  ready
for your editor, or to be modemed to another user.  Be aware that
some operating systems have a limit of six character names.

    As  you  modify  programs,  add remarks in the  front  to
indicate  the as-of date,  version,  etc.  Professional  programs
display this information as they are read in to be executed:  for
example,  note  how MBASIC clearly identifies it's  version/date.
In  that  way,  the  user knows from looking at the  CRT  if  the
correct version of the program has been loaded. Many programs are
dependant  on  the  release/version  of  the  operating   system.
Unfortunately,  the  program names often do not change,  but  the
programs  are  different.  Some will not run with  new  releases.
Peel-off  labels  will help with this  problem  also:  ie.   "1.4
depen", etc.

    After  you have migrated to a new release/version of your
operating system,  a new set of problems appear.  Programs  which
used to work,  now do not. You may have to rename some of them if
you  are  going  to  retain old  versions  (everyone  does).  For
example, you may want to rename CLIST to CLIST15 or CLIST16 if it
runs  on ver 1.5 or 1.6.  Then you can use CLIST for  the  latest
version.  This  approach  requires  you to rename a  lot  of  OLD
programs  that do not run on new releases.   I prefer this to the
next  method because I do not mix much among different  versions.
If I did, I would do as below.

    Another approach (please do not mix this with the  above)
is  to  identify  the release in the name  (CL15  or  CL16),  and
perhaps shorten the names at the same time.   But this starts you
talking a "different language" than the documentation,  and other
users.  You  have to translate their conversations to your naming
scheme.  If  you  are bright and independent,  or  shorten  names
anyway,  then this has the advantage of avoiding a lot of  donkey
work  at  conversion time.....you rename on your working copy  of
the DISTRIB diskette,  and then PIP them as you go along.  You do
not have to go back and rename a dozen copies of every program.

    There  is no right or wrong way;  it is a matter of  your
style.   Remember though,  you can't avoid the work.  It's just a
matter of when and how you prefer to do it.   I prefer NOT to mix
different  releases if I have a choice.   I would rather generate
entire new diskettes for the new release.   In this way,  I  have
complete diskettes to go back to if I want (or need) to.  No half
this,  and  half  that.   I avoid having to flip something  on  a
diskette  to tell it which flavor I want to run.  If you get very
many of these "switches" on a diskette, it is a long process just
to  find out where your beginning from!   I make specific  copies
and  label  them  as  to options in  effect  on  that  particular
diskette.  Saves me time and nerves.

    I hope one or two of these ideas are helpful.  Good luck.

    *********************************************************