Patent ID: 7568067

Claim:
A method for controlling a magnetic tape unit in response to a command from a command issuing apparatus, the method comprising: in an open process for a file recorded on a magnetic tape, fixing a position of a head (hereinafter referred to as a real head position) relative to said magnetic tape at a predetermined position in said magnetic tape unit; and when receiving a command directing to read an end-of-file label from said command issuing apparatus, executing emulation in which a tape operation of reading said end-of-file label according to said command is virtually carried out in said magnetic tape unit without making said magnetic tape unit carry out a real tape operation, wherein in a close process for said file, an end-of-file label read by said magnetic tape unit in response to a command from said command issuing apparatus is saved in a save area, and in an open process for said file, said end-of-file label is transferred to said command issuing apparatus from said save area in response to a command directing to read said end-of-file label without making said magnetic tape unit carry out a real read operation.