MCGUIRE@GRIN2.BITNET (08/05/87)
> Date: 3 Aug 87 18:43:00 GMT > From: uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!uiucuxe!heisterb@a.cs.uiuc.edu > Subject: Re: Why not abbreviate DCL symbols? > > Another good example of the problem with abbreviated symbols is > $ del*ete == "DELETE/LOG" > Then try to delete the symbol delete! I didn't have any trouble. $ DELETE/SYMBOL/GLOBAL DELETE gave me a `qualifier ignored' informational message and it went ahead and deleted the symbol. Now, if you don't like informational messages: $ DELEET/SYMBOL/GLOBAL DELETE The DELEET command works because 1) DCL searches the symbol table and can't find DELEET in it; 2) DCL searches the command table and only looks at the first 4 characters of any command. Alternately, you can do $ DELETE == "DELETE" $ DELETE/SYMBOL/GLOBAL DELETE but that takes two commands, doesn't it? :-) ---- Ed McGuire, Systems Coordinator, Grinnell College, MCGUIRE@GRIN2.BITNET