RJT> Because with *.MSG being stored one message-per-file,  
 RJT> the software (at least some of it) would look for each 
 RJT> and every number,  starting from 1,  by way of dos 
 RJT> filesystem calls,  which was very slow and 
 RJT> inefficient.  Putting them all together with 
 RJT> consecutive low numbers does away with this problem.

 RJT> OTOH so would a linked list...

 RJT> And you're using *.msg?

Roy:

Now that I have a Linux test box running Max/Squish/BinkD (in manual mode),
I have an idea....

Since the squish code includes a routine for converting from *.msg to
Squish and from Squish to *.msg, would it do what you want by converting
the area from *.msg to squish and then back?  I suspect Squish qould
renumber when converting from squish back to *.msg (in a clean area).  I
just don't know what the side-effects would be....  At least it provides an
option for the short term.....  I haven't tried this yet.....

Take care.....

Bob Jones, 1:343/41


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