What is needed for 'AddDataTypes' to work?

[Crazy C]

In my Startup-Sequence I use 'AddDataTypes' command and it fails return code 20.

What has to be done to get it working?

I have:

Assign LIBS: SYS:Classes ADD
AddDataTypes REFRESH QUIET

In Sys:Classes/DataTypes are .datatype Files, for example 'amigaguide.datatype'

In Sysevs/DataTypes are
AmigaGuide, ILBM, 8SVX etc.

In C is AddDataTypes command, in LIBS are datatypes.library, amigaguide.library etc.

What do I wrong?

[Samurai_Crow]

There are 2 files for each datatype. One is the actual code and the other is the type recognition. The classes are the code and devs:datatypes is the recognizers. Datatypes.library is the library that calls the datatypes and looks up the filetypes. Amigaguide.library is left over from OS2 before there was a datatype.

Remove AddDatatypes from your startup-sequence and it should just work. It's only used to refresh datatypes after one has been added or removed.

[Crazy C]

I found the problem:

My AddDataTypes command is 39.2 and just doesn't report that the iffparse.library is missing.

I found AddDataTypes version 45.2 and used it instead and it opens a requester telling the iffparse.library is missing.

Copying it into the libs directory makes both versions of AddDataTypes (39.2/40.1) work.

[Crazy C]

Now this:
Using multiview to display any *.guide file leads to this error message: 'Unknown data type for ...'
I have copied the amigaguide.library into libs, but the same error message.

[Samurai_Crow]

What's in classes:datatypes/ ?

[Crazy C]

There are .datatype files, 'amigaguide.datatype', too.
In Devs the 'AmigaGuide' file and others.

I have downloaded 'AddDataTyps452.lha' from Aminet and used the descriptors in 'descr.lha' and the AddDataTypes (45.2) command from the archive.
My datatypes.library is 40.6.

I'm using Kickstart 3.1 and Workbench 3.1.

Maybe there's something missing in my Startup-Sequence?

[Samurai_Crow]

What happens if you go back to the Amiga Workbench version of the descriptors and call "AddDatatypes refresh" ?

[Crazy C]

The same.
No matter what versions I use (datatypes.library, AddDataTypes, Descriptors, .datatype files, the same error message.

[Samurai_Crow]

I guess I'm stumped.

[Crazy C]

Me, too.

I didn't find any guide in the net, the Amiga PDF Manuals didn't really help.

[DamienD]

Ok, ADF "AmigaGuide v3.1.zip" in The Zone!

That's what you need for Datatypes / AmigaGuide to work.

If want another example with more Datatypes then look at my recent "MegaBall v4.0" .ADFs.

[Crazy C]

I can Not find the Zone url...
Using Tapatalk App I'm Not able to Join that group...

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by Crazy C

I can Not find the Zone url...
Using Tapatalk App I'm Not able to Join that group...

The Zone is in the EAB menu bar:



If you haven't already joined then do this: How do I get access to The Zone?.

[Crazy C]

I saw there's the diskfont.library included in the ZIP file...

I recently learned that iffparse.library is needed by the AddDataTypes command (only version 45.2 of AddDataTypes from Aminet told me so, version 39.2 from Workbench 3.1 did not!). And adding diskfont.library to the libs folder, too, now Multiview displays the .guide files.

But: why does Multiview complain about an unknown data type for .guide files instead of telling me that the diskfont.library is just missing?

[DamienD]

Originally Posted by Crazy C

But: why does Multiview complain about an unknown data type for .guide files instead of telling me that the diskfont.library is just missing?

I don't know... or care.

You have what you need now so

[meynaf]

Originally Posted by Crazy C

But: why does Multiview complain about an unknown data type for .guide files instead of telling me that the diskfont.library is just missing?

Probably because amigaguide.datatype has no way to tell why it can't do its job, so Multiview only sees a generic error. Yeah, the datatypes interface sucks a little bit

[Grex]

The usual way, experienced Amiga-users solve such problems is simply by using SnoopDos, or similar programs. You will find Snoopdos on Aminet. It will display all libraries, devices, and other system-stuff, that your Amiga tries to open internally. If the Os fails to open a certain file (iffparse, diskfont,...), you will see this in SnoopDos.
This is much easier than guessing around, what might be missing.