On Mon, 25 Feb 2002, kza wrote:

> > > Konqueror has a few mime types defined.
> > > It uses the approach (1) above, ie .XXX
> > 
> > NONONO!!!!!
> > 
> > this is a job of the OS.
> > it should NOT be necessary for the filemanager to guess the correct type.
> > the type needs to be stored in an easy to access place, and it should
> 
> Well, it could be argued that it belongs somewhere in the filesystem,
> IFF one was desiging an OS from scratch.

The file type, the application is supposed to read it, the date of
creation/last modification, ownership and rights are all META-data
(i.e. data about the data).

Both MS Windows and Unix are inconsistent in how they manage the collection
of metadata: some is stored in the fs (directory entry) some is stored in the
filename and left completely optional, etc. The Macs at least have tried
to be more consistent; how successful they are may be debatable
(I am not a Mac user so I don't know).

Cheers,
-- 
Ryurick M. Hristev mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Computer Systems Manager
University of Canterbury, Physics & Astronomy Dept., New Zealand

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