On 16 Jan 2005 at 10:39, jms1 wrote: > I support Wolfgang in making very clear what is to be achieved before > designing the specification.
Thanks.... (1, 2...) > 3. The problem of deep directory trees being limited by the QL file name > length. This is a separate problem. > Any solution to my mind must be > 1. Be compatable with existing QLs > 2. Be the same for all devices. > 3. As far as possible be as similar as possible to existing QL usage. 1 can only be achi > Problems 1 & 2 would seem to be solved by Configuration blocks If that were the case, then the whole discussion about a home directory would, of course, make not much sense (which is what you have already more or less alluded to). The purpose here is to ensure that a program will find its program path even if you forget to configure it, or move it from one dir to another without reconfiguring it etc... > I suggested as an alternative passing parameters -p & -d for program > data directories. This is not always easy/feasible/wanted. If prefer to ex a prog that to x a prog;data dir... > George Gwilt already uses the second solution in some of his programs. > Hence the suggestion to adapt present programs where possile ot include > both. Sure, why not. (...) > DATAD$ is equivalent home directory anyway. Not true. > So the real problem is 3 deep directory structures. But this is a separate problem, as pointed out above. > As I understand it the present directory system hides files with names > containing the file name of the directory when using the command dir or > wstat. ??? I don't understand that how is this hidden? mkdir makes a directory file. > So if the system is to be compatable it has to respond the same on 'old' > QLs. Let's be clear about something here: as soon as you really start to implement longer filemane, you will immediately become incompatible with older QL systems. However, as J�r�me already pointed out, since this would most probably be the dir structure on a WIN and not a floppy) , this is much less problematic as it seems. > Hence the suggestion of adapting the present system. > Perhaps the present directory name could be replaced by a two bytes so that > win1_sys_bin_net_peek becomes win1_ac_bc_net_peek. Directory file win1_sys_ > appears as win1_ab_ on an old QL and directory file win1_sys_bin_ appears as > win1_ab_bc_ Or less transparently but enabling deeper directories win1_bc_ > represents win1_sys_bin_. > By this means near backward compatability could be maintained. Now all we need to know is how to do that. Wolfgang ---------------------------------------- www.scp-paulet-lenerz.com _______________________________________________ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
