On Thu, Nov 12, 2015 at 8:27 AM, Jon Elson <[email protected]> wrote: > LINCtape is essentially identical to DECtape. I think the directory format > is different, but I think the block format is the same.
No, the block format is different, as the mark track symbols are different. It's similar, but DECtape made improvements to it to support full bidirectional read/write capability. (Not all DECtape systems actually would do reverse write. Some didn't even do reverse read. But the format supports both.) Also DECtape does not have a specific directory format. It depends on what computer line you are using (12-bit, 16-bit, 18-bit, or 36-bit), and in some cases on which operating system you are running. Some systems have software to access foreign DECtape logical formats; I think the widest range of DECtape interchange software provided by DEC was on TOPS-10. > I think the tapes are wound in reverse order Yes.
