Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!lll-winken!uwm.edu!linac!midway!valley From: valley@uchicago (Doug Dougherty) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.programmer Subject: Re: cntl-alt-del trap Message-ID: Date: 30 Jan 91 23:50:56 GMT References: <24752@grebyn.com> <43301@ut-emx.uucp> <1991Jan29.164715.20309@dg-rtp.dg.com> Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator) Distribution: na Organization: University of Chicago Lines: 45 hagins@gamecock.rtp.dg.com (Jody Hagins) writes: >|> >|> I should have been more verbose. I was hoping people would be able to >|> read between the lines. My overall point is that trapping c/a/b is not >|> a technical issue at all; it is a training issue. You need to train >|> your users that there are a few things they shouldn't do when using your >|> software; the following lists some, but by no means all, of these things: >|> >|> 1) c/a/b >|> 2) reset >|> 3) turning the machine off >|> 4) unplugging the machine >|> 5) pouring Coke on the keyboard >|> 6) dropping the machine >|> 7) etc... >|> >|> What trapping c/a/b really does is make it harder for the support >|> programmer to deal with the machine, while not making it any harder for >|> the user (intentionally or not) to do something "bad". >|> >|> (This probably doesn't belong in this [technical] conference at all, but that >|> is my $0.86 worth) >|> >This brings up the debate of what is expected of the user. In general, >I have come to assume that all users are brain dead, and completely >incompenent. This assumption (the only safe assumption to ever make when >writing software) keeps me at the keyboard an extra 10-20 percent doing >extra testing, and error trapping. However, it does keep the users happy, >which, in turn keeps them coming back for more. >By the way, I do NOT trap c/a/d (or cntrl-alt-panic as i have come to know it). >The way I figure it, I cant trap the power switch, which could do the same, >if not worse, damage, so I don't trap the sequence either. The only thing it >protects you from is a malicious user, which in that case, you pay to have >your system secured, which would include keyboard locking, etc. I agree completely with your last paragraph. Exactly the point. (BTW, it is c/a/d, not c/a/b. For some reason, I was thinking control/alt/break...)