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From: throopw@rtp47.UUCP (Wayne Throop)
Newsgroups: net.unix-wizards
Subject: more on file \"attributes\"
Message-ID: <122@rtp47.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 4-Aug-85 13:55:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: rtp47.122
Posted: Sun Aug  4 13:55:45 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 6-Aug-85 08:31:35 EDT
References: <3398@decwrl.UUCP>
Organization: Data General, RTP, NC
Lines: 18

> [Using fortran-specific headers] seems like a reasonable approach,
> except that existing FORTRANs do not put such cruft at the beginning of
> files now. [...] What I was suggesting, though it might have not been
> clear, is an "invisible" file header, one which you look at in a
> slightly different way than the real data (the bytes in the file).

Now let me get this straight.  Putting formatting information in the
file itself is a good idea, but the lack of FORTRAN systems that do this
today causes you to suggest adding an independant data area to all files
to keep formatting information.

*Now* I see the light!  All those existing FORTRANs that use Unix
"invisible file headers"!  How silly of me.

(In case it isn't clear, I think adding an "invisible file header" to
 Unix is a Bad Thing.)
-- 
Wayne Throop at Data General, RTP, NC
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