In AMSDOS it is possible to store files in two ways: headerless and with a header. Headerless files are often files which were created with OPENOUT and SAVE"filename",a. Programs normally have a file header, which is consists of 128 bytes and contains the following data:
Byte 00: User number (value from 0 to 15 or #E5 for deleted entries) Byte 01 to 08: filename (fill unused char with spaces) Byte 09 bis 11: Extension (fill unused char with spaces) Byte 16: first block (tape only) Byte 17: first block (tape only) Byte 18: type-byte (0: basic 1:protected 2:binary) Byte 21 and 22: loading address LSB first Byte 23: first block (tape only?) Byte 24 and 25: file length LSB first Byte 26 and 27: execution address for machine code programs LSB first Byte 64 and 66: 24 bits file length LSB first Byte 67 and 68: checksum for byte 00 to byte 66 LSB first Byte 69 to 127: undefined content, free to use
To calculate the checksum, just add byte 00 to byte 66 to each other.
This is only a summary. All details are in Firmware Guide chapter 9, page 4.