5.2 Partition table specific interface

There is a general convention of names and return values of the functions specific for each partition table. Suppose we have a partition table type XYZ, then in general there can be up to four functions specific for this partition table type. They are:

• The function read_XYZ_partitions(int filehandle, struct disk_info *diskinfo, ERR_PARAM); tries to read in the partition table of type XYZ. If successful it returns a non-negative value, if the partition table is not present it returns the value of RP_NOERR.
• The function commit_XYZ_partitions(int filehandle, struct disk_info *diskinfo, int checkonly, ERR_PARAM); analyzes the designed changes in the partition structures, checks that partition table can be created for the proposed changes and if not invoked in `check-only' mode modifies the partition table.
• The function clear_XYZ_magic(int filehandle, ERR_PARAM); clears the partition table specific magics from the device if they are present.
• The function int cmp_XYZ_entry(struct part_entry_XYZ entry1, struct part_entry_XYZ entry2); checks whether two partition table entries of type XYZ are same. If they are same the function returns zero, otherwise one.