Re: DSPTAP takes too long

I'm going to guess that you're trying to display a 1/2" cartridge?  My
understanding of those types of tapes is that when you first put the tape in
the drive, it has to retense itself. To do that, it fast forwards the entire
tape until it reaches the end, and then it rewinds it.

This process also happens every time you do a DSPTAP.   Try using the CHKTAP
command instead. And make sure you use ENDOPT(*LEAVE). This will prevent it
from retensing after every check.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Langston" <jlangston@celsinc.com>
To: <midrange-l@midrange.com>
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2001 11:46 AM
Subject: DSPTAP takes too long


> I've been given the task to write something to start checking the tape in
> our tape drive around 7:00 in the morning and start sending a message
every
> hour until the tape is changed.
>
> Not a difficult task, it would seem, simply do a DSPTAP, get a file
> date/time or tape date/time and save the value, and compare every hour
until
> it changes.
>
> I do a DSPTAP to an outfile, and it takes quite a long time to complete
> (over half hour).  I tried to see if I can just get the first label, but
> with outfile it starts at the label number you specify.
>
> So... my question is, are there any tap APIs I could use that could
perhaps
> be faster?  Just allow me to grab the beginning tape information as that's
> all I need.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Jim Langston
>
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