Having just seen this message in c.l.perl.misc:
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comp.lang.perl.misc #4458 (66 more) [1]
From: "Daniel M. DiPasquo" <dipasquo@tc.cornell.edu>
[1] Formats -- baffling
Date: Thu Aug 24 15:53:30 BST 1995
Lines: 9
Perhaps this is due to my inexperience with using output formats, but I've come
across a baffling situation, trying to debug a script written by someone who is
no longer around.
I have this format:
format STDOUT =
^<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<~~ ^<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
$formlabel $formvalue
End of article 4458 (of 4491) -- what next? [npq]
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Spot the problem.
:-)
I think it would be a good idea if there was an alternative format
termination character.
Using a dot made more sence when perl was young and people were used
to using a dot to terminate text entry into mail. Times change.
Allowing a format to be terminated with a semicolon on a line by itself
seems reasonable and would avoid nasty surprises when posting examples.
It seems unlikely that anyone would have a format line with just a
semicolon on it so compatibility shouldn't be a problem (and easy
to fix for the odd case where it might be).
Tim.
--- snip ---
comp.lang.perl.misc #4458 (66 more) [1]
From: "Daniel M. DiPasquo" <dipasquo@tc.cornell.edu>
[1] Formats -- baffling
Date: Thu Aug 24 15:53:30 BST 1995
Lines: 9
Perhaps this is due to my inexperience with using output formats, but I've come
across a baffling situation, trying to debug a script written by someone who is
no longer around.
I have this format:
format STDOUT =
^<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<~~ ^<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
$formlabel $formvalue
End of article 4458 (of 4491) -- what next? [npq]
--- snip ---
Spot the problem.
:-)
I think it would be a good idea if there was an alternative format
termination character.
Using a dot made more sence when perl was young and people were used
to using a dot to terminate text entry into mail. Times change.
Allowing a format to be terminated with a semicolon on a line by itself
seems reasonable and would avoid nasty surprises when posting examples.
It seems unlikely that anyone would have a format line with just a
semicolon on it so compatibility shouldn't be a problem (and easy
to fix for the odd case where it might be).
Tim.