data fork ==>
Macintosh file system
<file system> A file on the Macintosh consists of two parts, called
forks. The "data fork" contains the data which would normally be stored in the
file on other operating systems. The "resource fork" contains a collection of
arbitrary attribute/value pairs, including program segments, icon bitmaps, and
parametric values. Yet more information regarding Macintosh files is stored by
the Finder in a hidden file, called the "Desktop Database".
Because of the complications in storing different parts of a Macintosh file in
non-Macintosh file systems that only handle consecutive data in one part, it is
common to only send the Data fork or to convert the Macintosh file into some
other format before transferring it.
(1996-03-03)
Nearby terms:
Mac IIcx « Macintosh « Macintosh Common Lisp « Macintosh
file system » Macintosh II » Macintosh IIcx » Macintosh
Operating System
