Filter
Top Products
Section 3
Mass Storage Operations
The mass storage operations available in the HP 82160A HP-IL Module permit you to store and retrieve
information conveniently. By connecting a mass storage device to your Hewlett-Packard Interface Loop,
you greatly expand the storage capacity of your calculator system. Follow the directions given in section 1
for installing the interface module and connecting the HP-IL mass storage device. Refer to the owner's
manual for that device to determine any additional preparations that may be needed. The system is then
ready to perform the operations described in this section.*
*
Throughout this section, mass storage operations are illustrated using the HP 82161A Digital Cassette Drive.
The Storage Medium
A mass storage device typically stores and retrieves information on a removable, interchangeable storage
medium—such as a tape cassette. Each collection of information that is recorded on the storage medium is
given an ALPHA name and is called a file. Because this information is generally transferred between the
medium and registers in the calculator, the basic unit of information within a file is called a register. A
record is a unit of storage capacity that is equal to from 32 to 37 registers, depending upon the type of
information stored.
File names can be any string of up to seven ALPHA characters. If longer strings are used, only the first
seven characters will be recognized and used by the calculator. No two files on a medium can have the
same file name.
NEWM
nnn
The
NEWM
(new medium) function initializes the storage medium. Each medium must be initialized at
least once to establish on the medium a directory space and a format in which information will be
recorded. When you execute
NEWM
, the calculator prompts you for the number of file entries you want to
allocate to the directory space on the medium—any number up to 447. Each file that you record on the
medium requires one entry in the directory. The directory space created by
NEWM
consists of an integral
number of records, with each record containing eight entries. However, the last entry in the directory is
reserved for the system and is not available. As a result, the directory always accomodates one less than a
multiple of eight file entries—and at least as many entries as you specify. In addition, two records on the
medium are reserved for system use. All remaining space on the medium is available for information
storage.
Note: A smaller directory space permits faster access to files stored on the medium.
Any information previously stored on the medium will be erased when this command is executed.
NEWM
is not programmable.
* Refer to the owner's manual for the mass storage device to determine which types of operations, if any, cannot be performed by that
device.
31