PrepareTape info  Overview  Group

The PrepareTape function prepares the tape to be accessed or removed.

DWORD PrepareTape(

Parameters

hDevice

Identifies the device preparing the tape. This handle is created by using the CreateFile function.

dwOperation

Specifies how the tape device is to be prepared. This parameter can be one of the following values:

Value	Meaning
TAPE_FORMAT	Performs a low-level format of the tape. Currently, only the QIC117 device supports this feature.
TAPE_LOAD	Loads the tape and moves the tape to the beginning.
TAPE_LOCK	Locks the tape ejection mechanism so that the tape is not ejected accidentally.
TAPE_TENSION	Adjusts the tension by moving the tape to the end of the tape and back to the beginning. This option is not supported by all devices. This value is ignored if it is not supported.
TAPE_UNLOAD	Moves the tape to the beginning for removal from the device. After a successful unload operation, the device returns errors to applications that attempt to access the tape, until the tape is loaded again.
TAPE_UNLOCK	Unlocks the tape ejection mechanism.

bImmediate

Specifies whether to return as soon as the preparation begins. 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 Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is NO_ERROR.

If the function fails, the return value is one of the following error codes:

Remarks

Some tape devices do not support certain tape operations. See your tape device documentation and use the GetTapeParameters function to determine your tape device’s capabilities.

See Also

CreateFile, GetTapeParameters

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