Previous Next Chapter

Files

A file, the basic unit of storage on a computer, is an organized collection of information. All the programs and any permanent data that a program uses or produces are files. Project icons represent data files. Data files contain the information created or used by a program, such as text, graphic, or spreadsheet files.

.Info Files

Another type of file used by the Amiga is a .info file (pronounced dot info file). The .info files contain the icons that appear on the Workbench screen. Every file or directory that has on icon also has a corresponding .info file. In addition to storing the graphics and position data for the icon image, a .info file contains any Default Tool or Tool Type information entered into the icon's Information window.

When working through the Shell, AmigaDOS does not automatically associate .info files with the corresponding files or directories. For example, if you use the COPY command to copy the Clock file from the Utilities directory to the System directory, the Clock.info file is not copied with it like it is when you drag the Clock icon from one drawer to another in Workbench. In AmigaDOS, to be sure the Clock icon appears in the System drawer, you must also copy the Clock.info file.

When you change icon images by copying .info files, you need to copy an icon of the same type as the item it represents: Tool, Project, Drawer, Disk, or Trashcan. If the icon's type does not match the type of file it represents, it may not open from the Workbench. Icon type is displayed in the icon's Information window and can be changed with the IconEdit program.

Each disk icon has a corresponding disk.info file. If you delete the disk.info file, a default disk icon automatically replaces the previous icon.

Naming Conventions

The following naming conventions apply to file and directory names:

Keywords

A keyword is a special word recognized by an AmigaDOS command. AmigaDOS commands use keywords to identify arguments or to specify options. If there is a conflict between a name and a command keyword, enclosing the name in quotation marks ensures that it is interpreted as a name. For example, if you have a directory named Files and you want to display information about all of its files and subdirectories, you might use the command LIST Files. However, this is ambiguous because LIST has the keyword FILES: To avoid this, enter:

LIST "Files"

Top Previous Next Chapter