[Info-vax] Notable VMS "feature"

[Tom Adams]

On Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 4:56:54 PM UTC-5, David Froble wrote:
> 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 ....

Try this!:

define :: ::