[Info-vax] Notable VMS "feature"

[David Froble]

VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG wrote:
> In article <4779702f-8074-4cdd-b809-1cf36c20a162 at googlegroups.com>, Tom Adams <tadamsmar at gmail.com> writes:
>> On Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 2:28:33 PM UTC-5, VAXman- wrote:
>>> In article <aec0b901-1099-48bb-899c-70d9952e1010 at googlegroups.com>, Tom Adams <tadamsmar at gmail.com> writes:
>>>> I have defined a logical name that I cannot deassign
>>>>
>>>> A logical name that is 255 characters long that ends with a colon.
>>>>
>>>> Here's a command procedure than will do it.
>>>>
>>>> $A = "X"
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = A+A
>>>> $A = F$EXTRACT(0,254,A)
>>>> $A = A+":"
>>>> $WRITE SYS$OUTPUT "''F$LENGTH(A)'"
>>>> $DEFINE 'A FOOBAR
>>>> $!Cannot deassign using the name because the colon is stripped
>>>> $ON ERROR THEN CONTINUE
>>>> $DEASS 'A
>>>> $!Cannot deassign by adding a extra colon because the name it too long
>>>> $B = A+':'
>>>> $DEASS 'B
>>>>
>>>> Is there anyway to get rid of this logical name other than logging out?
>>>>
>>> 	PROGRAM MY_TERMINAL
>>> 	IMPLICIT NONE
>>>
>>> 	INCLUDE '($DSCDEF)'
>>> 	INCLUDE '($JPIDEF)'
>>> 	INCLUDE '($STSDEF)'
>>> 	INCLUDE '(LIB$ROUTINES)'
>>> 	INCLUDE '(STR$ROUTINES)'
>>>
>>> 	INTEGER*4 STATUS
>>>
>>> 	RECORD	/DSCDEF1/ LOGICAL
>>>
>>> 	LOGICAL.DSC$W_MAXSTRLEN = 0
>>> 	LOGICAL.DSC$B_DTYPE = DSC$K_DTYPE_T
>>> 	LOGICAL.DSC$B_CLASS = DSC$K_CLASS_D
>>> 	LOGICAL.DSC$A_POINTER = 0
>>>
>>> 	STATUS = STR$DUPL_CHAR(LOGICAL,254,%REF('X'))
>>> 	IF (.NOT.(STATUS.AND.STS$M_SUCCESS)) THEN
>>> 	  CALL SYS$EXIT(%VAL(STATUS))
>>> 	ENDIF
>>>
>>> 	STATUS = STR$APPEND(LOGICAL,%DESCR(':'))
>>> 	IF (.NOT.(STATUS.AND.STS$M_SUCCESS)) THEN
>>> 	  CALL SYS$EXIT(%VAL(STATUS))
>>> 	ENDIF
>>>
>>> 	STATUS = LIB$DELETE_LOGICAL(LOGICAL,)
>>> 	CALL SYS$EXIT(%VAL(STATUS))
>>>
>>> 	END
> 
> Oops.  I just noticed I forgot to change the program name.  Oh, the horrors
> of cut and paste!
> 

See, even Brian isn't infallible ....

:-)


Then there is the obvious, just shoot the fool that set up a logical name 
anywhere near that long ....