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From: btb@ncoast.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.lang.pascal
Subject: Re: VMS Pascal help needed
Message-ID: <2073@ncoast.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Feb-87 14:13:15 EST
Article-I.D.: ncoast.2073
Posted: Sun Feb 15 14:13:15 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 17-Feb-87 05:59:14 EST
References: <382@umnd-cs-gw.umnd-cs.UUCP> <4020001@nucsrl.UUCP>
Reply-To: btb@ncoast.UUCP (Brad Banko)
Organization: Cleveland Public Access UNIX, Cleveland, OH
Lines: 56


actually, the way a file name is associated with a file variable is left
somewhat open to interpretation in Jensen & Wirth... to be strictly true
to the definition, all file names would be associated with file variables
outside of the pascal program, and the program statement would declare
the variables to the program:

		'set logical filevar1 = filename1'

		program main(input, output, filevar1);

			...

i have heard of some implementations of pascal that do adhere to this
strict, pure definition..., otherwise, the problem is not well-defined,
and various interpretations include:

	vax pascal adding an open statement:

		open ( filevar, filename, history := ... );

		reset(filevar)
		rewrite(filevar)	<= strict jensen & wirth

		where in my experience, filename must be a PACKED
		array of char...

	kyan pascal for the atari 8-bit line (and apple II's):
		(claims to be iso standard)

		reset(filevar, filename)
		rewrite(filevar, filename)

unfortunately, these types of details come up again and again in different
'standard implementations of languages...  i/o is usually a problem, 
other examples are how i/o is buffered in a C implementation, etc....

	if you write your programs carefully, these type of problems are
not difficult to fix... i port kyan pascal programs to our vax all of the
time.


-- 
			Brad Banko
			...!decvax!cwruecmp!ncoast!btb
			Cleveland, Ohio

"The only thing we have to fear on this planet is man."
			-- Carl Jung, 1875-1961
-- 
			Brad Banko
			...!decvax!cwruecmp!ncoast!btb
			Cleveland, Ohio

"The only thing we have to fear on this planet is man."
			-- Carl Jung, 1875-1961