atw: Re: Generic or collective term for files on different OSes

Stuart Burnfield:

> If I wanted to refer to how data is stored on a particular operating
> system, I could say:
> - UNIX/Linux: directories and files
> - Windows: folders and files
> - IBM mainframe: data sets and members
> 
> Is there a collective term that isn't specific to one OS? Would 'file' do,
> or is there something better?
> 
> FOLDOC says:
> "file:      An element of data storage in a file system. "
> 
> Webopedia says:
> "A data set in an IBM mainframe is the equivalent of a file in other
> operating systems"

The info about IBM-style mainframes is less than 100% accurate.

First, "members" belong to only some kinds of dataset.

Second, the term "dataset" really refers to the data as it exists on a
physical storage 
medium; the logical entity "file" is what a program reads. For example, if a
program is coded to read a file named "Fred", you can map "Fred" onto a
different dataset for every month, or branch, or other distinctive entity.

Having said that, there are no terms that can be used consistently across all
environments. At least "folder" in Windows corresponds to Mac usage, but
remember that even Windows used to use the term "directory".


Michael Lewis

--------------------------------------
Brandle Pty Limited, Sydney, Australia
www.brandle.com.au
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