Re: file name

[edward@seaysystems.com]

Received from jbush@pucp.edu.pe:
> 
> i would like to know what is the benefit of naming a file with a four chr
> extension ?

I think you have it backwards.  You are showing the influence that a
broken "operating system" has had on you.

Why have an "extension" at all?  MS/DOS needed some way to tell if it
could execute a file or not (admittedly inherited from CP/M).  But that
doesn't make it right.  It does limit the choices of the user.

I have lived too many years in the UNIX environment.  The "." is just
another character in the file name.  There is no such thing as an
"extension", just "endings" agreed upon through convention, not enforced
by the operating system.  I like my freedom.

It seems that the folks at Micro$oft have realized this.  The recent
offerings allow long file names with "extensions" more than three characters
in length.

> there are some astronomy programs that will not recognize such a
> configuration

Brokenness in the astronomy program.  Recently DOS will supply an 8.3
filename for you to use with these.  I hope you have a "~" on your keyboard.

> come on, make it a good reason, and i mean a very good one :]]]

Rather, give me a reason to limit myself to 3 characters...

-- 
Edward E. Elzey         Senior Systems Analyst         Seay Systems, Inc.
edward@seaysystems.com  Voice: (214) 522-2324          Fax: (214) 522-1306

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