A prefix for output file names 0450 may be specified.
This tactic permits the user to override the first one, two, or three characters of all
output file names associated with the privacy protected archive 0261, making them
consistent across that archive. In this way the user may distinguish among files
from different archives. The advantage of such an override is that the probability
of two files from different archives 0261 having exactly the same name (and one
overwriting the other) is reduced from one chance in 341,172 to zero chance.
The first character in a prefix 0450 must be a letter. The second and third
may be a letter or a numeric digit in the range 2 to 7.
A major characteristic of output file names 0451 is
meaninglessness. The actual names are normally immaterial to an authorized person who
wishes to reconstitute original data files 0220; management of file names is totally
taken care of through the reconstitution file 0270. During the fragmentation process
1740, the program creates a scramble of letters and digits (for example D8GU9WBB)
for each output file -- the one index file 0260, up to 120 composite files 0250,
and up to seven reconstitution files 0270. This is done specifically to minimize
clues and patterns that might benefit a malevolent person trying to break the
privacy. These names consist of eight characters (the first a letter, the
second through eighth a letter or a digit 2...7), with a suffix .PVT for the
index file 0260 and composite files 0250, and suffix .REC for the
reconstitution files 0270. The 128 names are each unique in the five
characters combinations making up the fourth through eighth character.
Names for seven output reconstitution files 0452
are as per the discussion of names for output files 0451, with the one exception that
the user has the opportunity to stipulate a meaningful name for the first
reconstitution file 0320.
