From: dseeman@novell.com (Daniel Seeman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc,comp.sys.mac.system,comp.sys.novell
Subject: Re: *** WARNING *** Novell + QuickTime = Disaster
Date: 17 Dec 92 00:57:18 GMT
Organization: Novell Inc., San Jose, Califonia

In article <60sis-b@massey.ac.nz> N.Perry@massey.ac.nz writes:
>
>Just in case this is unknown:
>
>Apple NZ & our Apple Education Centre were running some courses on
>campus and wished to use some of my software as demos. However I was
>going to be in OZ so I had to leave the software on the Novell file
>server so they could pick it up an demo it. Result: "Not a valid movie
>file" whenever they tried to run a movie during the demo :-( :-(.
>
>I've tracked this down to the Novell server altering files in someway
>(I think I know how, but until its confirmed no rumors) which results
>in the connection between a QuickTime movie reference (i.e. a pasted
>movie in some document or application) and the QuickTime data file
>being invalidated - so none of your pasted movies will work :-( :-(. If
>you open the ORIGINAL movie file it will still play, and re-pasting it
>will also work.
>
>WARNING: DO NOT place ANY QuickTime movie files on Novell file servers
>to which you have references, EVEN if you move the
>documents/applications containing the references. This problem has
>been confirmed using the ScrapBook as well as my own software.
>
>This problem may also affect other programs, not just QuickTime, but
>we have not found any so far.
>
>Moral: Don't use so called "multi-platform" file servers which are
>really just DOS is disguise (personal opinion!). Novell DOES NOT
>PROVIDE A TRANSPARENT MAC FILE SYSTEM.
>
>Systems: Mac LC, Quadra, System 7.0.1, System 7.1, Novell 3.11 + 3.011
>for the Mac.
>-- 
Hi,

I do not have much experience with the products you mention.  But one thing does
come to mind.The time stamps on Mac files are altered when copied to the server.
This is done because the time stamp given to files that were created on a true
Macintosh volume are (my vocabulary is failing me at the moment)---well of a 
different format than those given to files that are copied to or created on the
NetWare volume. In short, the Macintosh file's time stamp has to be converted
to that format which is used by the NetWare OS.  If this is the case, there is 
probably a fairly simple RESEDITable solution.  You will need to find out what
the time stamps are on the files that cannot be used, then use RESEDIT to find
where these files are referenced in the application.  Just make sure these
time stamps match up.  It is easiest to change the application's resources 
rather than changing every file which is on the server.

If you have seen the System 7.0 network  installer, you will have 
noticed it does not work.  It gets about 2/3 finished then reports it cannot
find a couple of files.  But when you look on the volume, the files are there!
The problem in this case was that the time stamps (in seconds) were getting 
changed when these files were copied to the NetWare volume.  The fix was to
RESEDIT the installer script so that it was looking for the "right" time on 
the file.  Apple has since fixed this problem on their side by making sure that
all the files had consistant (even) time stamps.  Therefore, you will not find 
problems when installing System 7.1 from a NetWare server.

I mention the above System 7.0 problem/fix to illustrate the possibility that
these time stamps could be the problem you observed.  Why don't you look into
this and let us know what happens?

I just talked with another engineer who said the problem may be caused by hard 
file paths in the application.  It is his position that this is probably more 
likely the problem rather than the above mentioned time stamp problem.  If this
is the problem, you have the option to "hack" the application's script(s) or to
get the maker of said application to not hard code the file paths...So, again,
let us all know what happens.

I hope this helps...

Think Peace, and Happy Holiday!

Dan Seeman
Novell
Walnut Creek, Ca.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc