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Number : 6 Date : 2001-05-11 Author : Kan Yabumoto Subject : Re: Using /SP switch in XXCOPY Size(KB) : 4
At 2001-05-11 11:37, you wrote: >I just used the /sp switch to copy a small directory to several >floppies. > >Although it worked, as soon as each disk filled, I would >get the message >"Error 39. The disk is full." >Then I got >"Caution: Existing files on the entire volume will >be discarded. Insert a new volume and press any key to continue." > >Couple of questions: > >Is this the normal response ("i.e., Error 39")? > >It also didn't seem to work if the diskette was full. It >wouldn't write over the information and I had insert an >empty diskette. Should it have written to diskette >that already had information on it? > >Would really appreciate a response if someone has had >similar experience. Thank you. =================================================================== First of all, let me explain to all that /SP is a switch which allows a volume-spanning with a volume with a removable media such as the floppy or CD-RW drives. -------------- The current official release version (v 2.44.4) disables the implicit /CK feature (to check the remaining space on the volume before a file copy is initiated) is automatically disabled for a removable media. That was because with certain removable media, XXCOPY had problems getting the correct remaining space on the volume. But, a minor bug prevented the manual override of the explicit /CK switch from working properly. That is, with a removable media, XXCOPY v2.44.4 *ALWAYS* behaves as if you had typed /CK0. That is why you get Error 39 which would have been prevented if the /CK feature were working properly. (This problem has already been corrected in some newer beta versions.) So, for now, you just have to put up with the way it works (to let the real out-of-space condition to take place and let XXCOPY erase the partially copied chunk, which is a wasted operation but at least it works). Now, the next issue is the wording in the prompt whenever the diskette must be replaced. When the target volume becomes full with the /SP switch, XXCOPY will pause and display the following message: Caution: Existing files on the entire volume will be discarded!!! Insert a new volume and press any key to continue Somehow, many people have problem understanding the first line. We are puzzled by that. I believe we are not explaining what the user should expect from the /SP operation. The current implementation of /SP is not quite up to the high standard the users come to expect from XXCOPY. We say /SP should be classified as a "quick-and-dirty" way to accomplish the goal. It simply gives a user prompt whenever the volume becomes full and lets the user swap the media (and the user would press a key to continue). The first thing XXCOPY does after you swap the media and press the key is to delete all existing files and directory in the newly inserted media. That is why XXCOPY gives you the warning (the first line). Actually, XXCOPY does not even check whether the media is still there. If you just press the key without swapping the media, it will result in a complete removal of the files you just filled up in last diskette. (Strangely, we hear many people do just that --- just hit a key without replacing the media and let XXCOPY continue to "span" on the same media !!!!!!!!!). Maybe a better phrasing would clarify this but we don't know what to say. Ideally, this feature would be a lot more useful if it were to handle the incremental backup. The current implementation simply deletes everything on the media first before start writing data on the media --- good for a full backup only. I just checked with a floppy disk with extra data on it. It seems to work fine deleting the existing files before proceeding (it does not say which file(s) are removed because in this case, XXCOPY treats the new diskette a blank diskette. The deletion is simply a precaution and certainly the user should not expect the display of what files are deleted (let alone the usual "prompt-before-delete" ritual). Kan Yabumoto
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