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WriteTapemark function (winbase.h)

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The WriteTapemark function writes a specified number of filemarks, setmarks, short filemarks, or long filemarks to a tape device. These tapemarks divide a tape partition into smaller areas.

Syntax

DWORD WriteTapemark(
  [in] HANDLE hDevice,
  [in] DWORD  dwTapemarkType,
  [in] DWORD  dwTapemarkCount,
  [in] BOOL   bImmediate
);

Parameters

[in] hDevice

Handle to the device on which to write tapemarks. This handle is created by using the CreateFile function.

[in] dwTapemarkType

Type of tapemarks to write. This parameter can be one of the following values.

Value Meaning
TAPE_FILEMARKS
1L
 Writes the number of filemarks specified by the dwTapemarkCount parameter.
TAPE_LONG_FILEMARKS
3L
 Writes the number of long filemarks specified by dwTapemarkCount.
TAPE_SETMARKS
0L
 Writes the number of setmarks specified by dwTapemarkCount.
TAPE_SHORT_FILEMARKS
2L
 Writes the number of short filemarks specified by dwTapemarkCount.

[in] dwTapemarkCount

Number of tapemarks to write.

[in] bImmediate

If this parameter is TRUE, the function returns immediately; if it is FALSE, the function does not return until the operation has been completed.

Return value

If the function succeeds, the return value is NO_ERROR.

If the function fails, it can return one of the following error codes.

Error Description
ERROR_BEGINNING_OF_MEDIA
1102L
 An attempt to access data before the beginning-of-medium marker failed.
ERROR_BUS_RESET
1111L
 A reset condition was detected on the bus.
ERROR_DEVICE_NOT_PARTITIONED
1107L
 The partition information could not be found when a tape was being loaded.
ERROR_END_OF_MEDIA
1100L
 The end-of-tape marker was reached during an operation.
ERROR_FILEMARK_DETECTED
1101L
 A filemark was reached during an operation.
ERROR_INVALID_BLOCK_LENGTH
1106L
 The block size is incorrect on a new tape in a multivolume partition.
ERROR_MEDIA_CHANGED
1110L
 The tape that was in the drive has been replaced or removed.
ERROR_NO_DATA_DETECTED
1104L
 The end-of-data marker was reached during an operation.
ERROR_NO_MEDIA_IN_DRIVE
1112L
 There is no media in the drive.
ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED
50L
 The tape driver does not support a requested function.
ERROR_PARTITION_FAILURE
1105L
 The tape could not be partitioned.
ERROR_SETMARK_DETECTED
1103L
 A setmark was reached during an operation.
ERROR_UNABLE_TO_LOCK_MEDIA
1108L
 An attempt to lock the ejection mechanism failed.
ERROR_UNABLE_TO_UNLOAD_MEDIA
1109L
 An attempt to unload the tape failed.
ERROR_WRITE_PROTECT
19L
 The media is write protected.

Remarks

Filemarks, setmarks, short filemarks, and long filemarks are special recorded elements that denote the linear organization of the tape. None of these marks contain user data. Filemarks are the most general marks; setmarks provide a hierarchy not available with filemarks.

A short filemark contains a short erase gap that cannot be overwritten unless the write operation is performed from the beginning of the partition or from an earlier long filemark.

A long filemark contains a long erase gap that allows an application to position the tape at the beginning of the filemark and to overwrite the filemark and the erase gap.

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client Windows XP [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server Windows Server 2003 [desktop apps only]
Target Platform Windows
Header winbase.h (include Windows.h)
Library Kernel32.lib
DLL Kernel32.dll

See also

CreateFile