honey@down.UUCP (code 101) (04/03/84)
one of uuxqt's minor annoyances is its dogged insistence on returning status info to the user. i've seen several solutions to this problem, such as making rmail and rnews magic cookies in uuxqt, tagging commands in L.cmds, or defining new X. file jcl cards to direct error handling. it's this latter approach that seems most flexible, but current usage has me confused. it appears that some folks add a 'Z' card to mean "return status on failure only", while others add an 'N' card to mean "don't return any status info." and in its attempt to be all things to all computers, honey danber has yet another card, the 'n' card, that specifies unconditional return of status. may i propose a "standard" here: n -- send back zero status Z -- send back nonzero status N -- send back no status where Z is the default, and Z and n override N, i.e., 1. nonzero exit status is reported if Z is present or if N is absent. 2. zero exit status is reported if n is present. this way, uucps (uuxen really) that play along get what they ask for, while older versions get nonzero status only. (this would be a lot easier if there weren't existing conventions, but there are and they must be respected (stop coughing, lauren)). any thoughts? oh yeah, before i forget ... There is no warranty of merchantability nor any warranty of fitness for a particular purpose nor any other warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy of the enclosed materials or as to their suitability for any particular purpose. Accordingly, Mr. Nice Guy assumes no responsibility for their use by the recipient. Further, Mr. Nice Guy assumes no obligation to furnish any assistance of any kind whatsoever, or to furnish any additional information or documentation. peter honeyman
honey@down.UUCP (code 101) (04/09/84)
once upon a time, i proposed the following jcl cards: n -- send back zero status Z -- send back nonzero status N -- send back no status i see a better way: n -- send back zero status Z -- send back nonzero status N -- do not send back nonzero status this way success reports are controlled by the presence or absence of the n card, and failure reports are controlled by Z and N (the presence or absence of both is equivalent to requesting failure status). comments? peter There is no warranty of merchantability nor any warranty of fitness for a particular purpose nor any other warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy of the enclosed materials or as to their suitability for any particular purpose. Accordingly, Mr. Nice Guy assumes no responsibility for their use by the recipient. Further, Mr. Nice Guy assumes no obligation to furnish any assistance of any kind whatsoever, or to furnish any additional information or documentation.