resource

In classic Mac OS, a resource is a reusable data element which is stored as simple data in a separate fork of the file, called the resource fork. As many data elements as you want, of practically any type you want, can be easily created in the ResEdit program and saved in a file which is assumed into your program at compile time. Each resource has a four-letter type, depending on what it is; types which are used commonly include menus ('MENU'), dialogs ('DLOG', 'DITL', etc.), pictures ('PICT'), icons ('ICON', 'ICN#', 'ic18', 'cicn', 'icns', etc.), strings ('STR '), and, well, practically everything else. On the 680X0 you could even have executable machine code resources.

This approach has a couple of nice advantages. First off, you are able to separate your data from your executable code in a nice, organized manner, and the Resource Manager provides an easy, high-level approach to handling and dealing with said data. Second off you are able to store practically all relevant information and data inside your program, meaning you can write a huge mac program that is just one single file. This is a lot easier to handle and move around than your average windows program, which has 30 or so random binary data files and a bunch of weird arbitrary directories. Sadly in recent years mac apps have started to rely more and more on messy separate files, but that's another story..

The other advantage is that it's just as easy to modify resources inside a program that's already been compiled as it is to modify resources inside a program that hasn't been compiled yet.. and you do it with the same tool. Meaning you can open up pretty much any mac program in the excellent tool ResEdit and change almost any reusable data element, such as dialog boxes or icons. You can do some vaguely interesting things like this-- i once opened up the game Civilization and discovered that the names of everything relevant-- leaders, countries, the Barbarians, technologies, everything-- were stored as a series of 'STR#' (string array) resources. So i went in and renamed everything.. it was interesting.

Under Mac OS X, the resource fork has been replaced by the concept of the package-- please see Resource Fork, Package, or Property list. The system, however, and in fact all carbon applications, still make heavy use though of ".rsrc" files, which are nothing more than the contents of a legitimate resource fork stored as normal binary data within a data fork.

Resource, the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, was created in April 2000 by the British government to carry forward a new approach to cultural heritage. Resource is, in common speech a Quango - a quasi-autonomous non-government organisation. The creation of Resource replaced the existing Museums and Galleries Commission and Library and Information Commission, and added to their portfolios a new interest in archives - previously only covered by the Public Record Office and the Historic Manuscripts Commission, both of which continue to exist and do their usual work.

Resource is usually defined as being a 'strategic' body - meaning that its primary function is to produce reports and ideas about the development of the sector it represents. It is intended to function 'at arm's length' from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport to which it reports. Based in Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, Central London, the organisation is responsible for a number of government-funded schemes in the sectors it covers, including Museum Registration, the Designation Scheme for Museums, the creation of Single Regional Agencies, the Acquisition in Lieu scheme, and the creation of the People's Network. It has also produced numerous reports on the future of Museums, Archives and Libraries, including the Renaissance in the Regions report on regional museums in England.

Resource is overseen by a board of trustees, chaired by Lord Evans of Temple Guiting - better known as Matthew Evans, of Faber, the publishers. Loyd Grossman is also a member, along with other figures less well-known to the general public but who represent the sectors (or domains, as they are sometimes called) in question.

Website: www.resource.gov.uk

Trivial note: Resource's logo looks like this:

re:source

...leading some people to think that the name of the organisation is re:source.

Re*source" (r?*s?rs"), n. [F. ressource, fr. OF. ressourdre, resourdre, to spring forth or up again; pref. re- re- + sourdre to spring forth. See Source.]

1.

That to which one resorts orr on which one depends for supply or support; means of overcoming a difficulty; resort; expedient.

Threat'nings mixed with prayers, his last resource. Dryden.

2. pl.

Pecuniary means; funds; money, or any property that can be converted into supplies; available means or capabilities of any kind.

Scotland by no means escaped the fate ordained for every country which is connected, but not incorporated, with another country of greater resources. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Expedient; resort; means; contrivance.

 

© Webster 1913.