Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!watmath!watdragon!crocus!rtczegledi
From: rtczegledi@crocus.waterloo.edu (Richard Czegledi)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.tech
Subject: Re: Why do you need metaphor? (Re: What should be learned from Unix
Summary: Something that would be nice to have on the amiga.
Keywords: files neat pond scum 1.4
Message-ID: <15863@watdragon.waterloo.edu>
Date: 11 Aug 89 16:09:41 GMT
References: <7570@cbmvax.UUCP> <440@xdos.UUCP> <1417@bnr-fos.UUCP>
Sender: daemon@watdragon.waterloo.edu
Reply-To: rtczegledi@crocus.waterloo.edu (Richard Czegledi)
Distribution: comp.sys.amiga,comp.sys.amiga.tech
Organization: U. of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 33

Something that I feel would be very useful (not to mention nice) is to
give the amiga the ability to put 'files' under 'files'.  Waterloo Port
does something like that.

It could function just like a directory, but could contain a text file.

If something like this was implemnted, it could really clean up our
directories.  No more 'read.me read.me1st dist' etc.. files.  Some of them
could act like the directory, and have the files they refer to 'underneath'
them.  Also, .info files wouldn't clutter up the directories anymore.
.info files could be placed under their executables, and when you wish
to copy the file, you just do a normal copy, and the .info file will
go with it.

All little files that are support files for the executable could also
be contained underneath the executable.  This would mean that instaling
programs and copying certain things to certain directories would essentialy
become pointless, and from a user standpoint, the system would be simpler
to understand.  If you did a dir, you could have a display like this:

+ise JRCOMM  +ie Preferences  (or something like that)

That would mean that the file JRCOMM is an executable, has support files
under it, and has an info file for workbench.  Preferences is an executable
has info files for workbench, but doesn't requrie support files.

It would make the amiga much simpler to maintain, give it prettier un-
cluttered directories.  And if wb1.4 decides to let the user list files
by text (instead of just icons), you could have a little icon beside the
filename, indicating what, if anything is underneath it.

possibilities possibilities possibilities!
e