Re: Magic Numbers to identify filetypes

[Guido Flohr <gufl0000@stud.uni-sb.de>]

On Tue, May 26, 1998 at 01:35:17PM -0500, eonic man wrote:
> I think by using the magic file, icon placement, install application, etc can
> be automated.  It would be good that when a new GEM/TOS program is installing
> itself, it registers its ICON(S), "Creator", "type", version  info in the
> Magic file.  This way, when the user double clicks on a data file created by
> the application, first AES checks the Newdesk.inf to see if the the Creator is
> indicated there, then if it doesn't find it, it checks the Magic info, if
> there is only one Creator for the filetype then it presents the user with a
> dialog box asking them to select the application to use.  This would be like
> the way Mac and PC do things.  Also, Component Manager can use the Magic file
> to register the currently available datatypes and their version information. 
> This will make the upgrading process easier.  A smart website could be created
> in the future that would check the user's magic file, to see which
> datatypefiles should be updated to the latest version. This may also be a good
> idea for registering M&E System Folder Rim/WIM files on the system.  

Please, please not.  If I doubleclick on the file `foobar.bak' on my
W95 box it always starts AutoCAD (because W95 is smart enough to 
believe that only AutoCAD creates backup files with extender .bak).
This 'd really make me sick on my Atari.

Ciao

Guido
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