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From: ado@elsie.UUCP
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Subject: cancel <2@elsie.UUCP>
Message-ID: <5124@elsie.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-May-85 11:23:25 EDT
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Posted: Thu May 16 11:23:25 1985
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In regard to using the draft standard's # (enstring) operator to
	#define CTRL(x) (# x [0] & 037)
it was noted in a recent article that

> . . .CTRL('F') beats CTRL(F) any day, but the idea was to replace an
> existing macro WITHOUT having to change all of the calls to it.  I
> really didn't expect any changes made to the standard to replace this
> silliness, but when I noticed that it could be done, I felt I ought to
> let everyone know.

I'll agree that it's okay for folks to know it, as long as folks are wise
enough to avoid using it.  Given the realities of software conversion (how
many sites are still running old versions of "news" when new versions are
available for free?) we'll be in the next millenium before everybody has
an ANSI standard compiler.  So when you have a choice, use a construct
(like CTRL('F')) that can be ported to systems with "primitive" compilers
in preference to using a construct (like (CTRL(F) as implemented above)
that requires ANSI standard capabilities.
--
X is a Motion Pictures Association of America rating.
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