A file sequence is a group of related computer files marked by data in the file name or within the file. Sequences can be used for organization and processing, and can be indicated by appending ascending numbers or letters to filenames. File scattering can complicate access and backup procedures, while file descattering can increase performance. Sequences are used in programs handling large amounts of data, financial applications, and composite data files.
A file sequence is a set of related computer files that contain some data indicating their inclusion in a common set. The data that marks a file as part of a file sequence may be stored in the file name or may be contained in a data field within the file. The physical location of the file can also be used to indicate the presence of a sequence. The sequence can be used to help organize files visually on a system, or it can be used to facilitate input into a program designed to process series of files. Some software programs are able to treat a sequence of files as a single object to allow random access to areas buried deep within the object without the need to open a single large file.
A sequence of files can be indicated by appending an ascending series of numbers or letters to the filename before the trailing extension separator. Most operating systems will organize these files by name when viewed, although there are some technicalities that can make it appear an unordered list. In particular, filenames are listed in strict alphanumeric order on most operating systems, with no translation of numbers into actual integers. This means that numbers with fewer digits than their larger counterparts, such as 1s and 10s, must have 0s filled in before the lower number to match the number of digits for a correct sequence.
In some cases, it can be advantageous to not only have the filenames sequentially, but also to have the actual data physically recorded in a long, unbroken chain on the media. may have the benefit of very fast file access, as well as allowing the use of certain software optimizations to further increase performance. The process of maneuvering files to be physically contiguous is known as file descattering. The descattering process can be combined with a defragmentation process to help create a more efficient and less wasteful file system.
When files that make up a sequence of files are spaced out at many random physical points on a medium, they are considered to be dispersed. File scattering can occur as a natural process of computer architecture or software. As each file is written, the operating system will attempt to find an available space, but this space need not be sequential. In fact, parts of a single file can be scattered across multiple areas, which can affect file access speed and complicate data backup procedures.
A sequence of files is an integral part of how many programs work that handle large amounts of data, are often used in financial applications, and can be used for automatically generated files in real-time systems or digital cameras. composite data files or files also use sequences of files to assemble a single large file from many separate sources, some of which may have been created independently of each other.
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