CP/M file system

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(emphasise that this usually isn't self-describing so context is useful; tweak links)
 
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* No directory hierarchy (unlike DOS filesystems) -- all files are in a single flat namespace
 
* No directory hierarchy (unlike DOS filesystems) -- all files are in a single flat namespace
 
* However, files are divided into a set of numbered "user areas" (conventionally 0-15)
 
* However, files are divided into a set of numbered "user areas" (conventionally 0-15)
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Most CP/M file systems are not self-describing: the reader is expected to know the parameters defining the location/size of the directory, etc, which were machine-specific. It will thus be helpful to know which hardware a CP/M file system originated on.
  
 
== Tools ==
 
== Tools ==
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== References ==
 
== References ==
  
* [http://www.seasip.info/Cpm/formats.html John Elliott's collection of format information]
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* [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/formats.html John Elliott's collection of format information]
* [http://www.gaby.de/cpm/manuals/archive/cpm22htm/ CP/M Manual]
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* [http://www.gaby.de/cpm/manuals/archive/cpm22htm/ CP/M 2.2 Manual] (for more CP/M versions see [http://www.gaby.de/cpm/manuals/archive/ here])
 
* [https://openpreservation.org/blogs/weirder-old-cpm-file-system-and-legacy-disk-extracts-new-zealands-department/ Weirder than old: The CP/M File System and Legacy Disk Extracts for New Zealand’s Department of Conservation]
 
* [https://openpreservation.org/blogs/weirder-old-cpm-file-system-and-legacy-disk-extracts-new-zealands-department/ Weirder than old: The CP/M File System and Legacy Disk Extracts for New Zealand’s Department of Conservation]
  
 
[[Category:CP/M]]
 
[[Category:CP/M]]

Latest revision as of 01:11, 20 December 2020

File Format
Name CP/M file system
Ontology

The CP/M operating system had an associated file system format.

A CP/M file system would typically reside on a floppy disk, or more rarely a hard disk. As such, such filesystems are also likely to reside in disk images these days.

Some salient features of the CP/M filesystem (see also Wikipedia):

  • 8.3 filenames, like (original) DOS
  • No directory hierarchy (unlike DOS filesystems) -- all files are in a single flat namespace
  • However, files are divided into a set of numbered "user areas" (conventionally 0-15)

Most CP/M file systems are not self-describing: the reader is expected to know the parameters defining the location/size of the directory, etc, which were machine-specific. It will thus be helpful to know which hardware a CP/M file system originated on.

[edit] Tools

  • Michael Haardt's cpmtools (source code for Unix and Win32 executables)
    • This has long been packaged for Debian and Ubuntu Linux, so installing it there is as simple as apt-get install cpmtools

[edit] References

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