Abstract: A method for storing data onto a magnetic tape from one or more sources includes providing a first temporary storage area for temporarily holding data and a second temporary storage area for temporarily holding housekeeping information. The first temporary storage area contains a predetermined number of data holding areas of fixed size. A quantity of data to be stored is read into the first data holding area of the first temporary storage area. Housekeeping information identifying the data held in the first data area and its location therein is formulated and written into the second temporary storage area. The process is repeated until the first storage area is full or there is no more data to store. The contents of the first and second temporary storage areas are then written onto the tape as a single unit. The procedure is repeated as necessary until the tape is full or all of the data to be stored has been written onto the tape.