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File Prefix - Differences Between 4.2 And 5.1
DocumentID: 651976
Revision Date: 29-Feb-96 8:29:11 PM

The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS

Problem

Symptoms: If two files contain the same information, why is the file in WordPerfect 5.1 format so much larger than the file in WP 4.2 format? For example, if you create a file in 4.2 that says "This is a test", the file size is 15 bytes. The same file in 5.1 is 331 bytes. Solutions: The difference in size can be explained by the changes made to the document prefix. One of the biggest reasons the prefix was changed was for the benefit of users in multi-printer environments. Information in the prefix allows the user to format a document for a second printer and then bring it back to the original printer without having to make unique font selections each time. Another reason for the larger prefix is Styles. Having a library of styles installed in the prefix gives the customer advanced portability to other locations where the file may be needed. Proportional spacing tables are also kept in the prefix. This negates having to copy 400K of extra external file space in order to determine letter spacing in a document.

If something particular is needed in a prefix, a prefix block is created. The block contains one index packet and four additional data packets that the index points to. If only one packet is needed, the program still creates an entire block, but the remaining three packets would basically be equal to zero.

Answer:

Details:


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