[snip] >> I've done this kind of thing on a number of projects (not ABC related), and it's always paid off nicely. I'm not saying you have to do it this way, but if you do, you will maximize your portability, and gain a lot of flexibility. <<
I disagree entirely on the "maximise portability". The maximum is ascii. You can even read it without a computer. Flexibility is maximum in ascii. A new keyword is added and the old software doesn't understand the keyword and will ignore it. The problem of upgrading software is old software which won't read the new software's output at all. You say it's hard to write. What's simpler than "if keyword = this then readvalue otherwise if keyword = that then readvalue otherwise if keyword = the_other then readvalue... ... otherwise skipThisKeyword " Sorry, but it seems archaic to me (in a situation such as we are talking about) not to write the file in ascii. Maybe in database applications where storage really is multiplied by millions, but who cares if a music tune takes 5K or 50K on a PC? Bernard Hill Braeburn Software To subscribe/unsubscribe, point your browser to: http://www.tullochgorm.com/lists.html
