Re: ARCH_NAME nomenclature question

From: Hoff Hoffman (hoff_at_hp.nospam)
Date: 09/06/05 

Date: Tue, 06 Sep 2005 17:08:34 GMT

In article <431BDBC9.E508137E@teksavvy.com>, JF Mezei <jfmezei.spamnot@teksavvy.com> writes:
:Is there an assurance that f$getsyi("ARCH_NAME") will always return a
:value that can be used to build a symbol name or a file name on ODS2
:disks ?
:
:(eg: no spaces, limited to digits and letters) ?

  I am aware of no such guarantees within the OpenVMS documentation.

  If this sort of construct is a consideration within within your DCL
  symbols or other such code, do consider an alternative -- such as the
  use of f$getsyi("ARCH_TYPE") -- instead.

:For instance, a few years ago, arch_name for that IA64 thing was
:supposed to be "IA-64" but changed to "IA64". Had it remained at IA-64,
:some DCL would break:

:$library_'f$getsyi("ARCH_NAME")' = "mylibrary_''f$getsyi("ARCH_NAME")'.OLB"

  I was the one that provided the original text for the documentation for
  the return string -- to allow folks some basis to start the port -- but
  it was subsequently decided -- after the earliest documentation shipped
  and before the code and the full documentation was shipped out -- to
  change the returned string to keep it entirely alphanumeric.

  I do regularly use f$getsyi("ARCH_NAME") within filenames, but I tend
  to follow a subset approach with my use of DCL symbols.

        --

  And as I expect this is really a troll seeking to extract information
  and/or to generate follow-up postings, and that this has nothing to do
  with the question actually posed, I am aware of no plans to port OpenVMS
  to any new platforms.

  I am aware of no plans for a native port of OpenVMS for Power, EM64T,
  AMD64 or other 64 bit platform.

  I'd be personally flabbergasted if there were ever any future porting
  plans ever even remotely considered for a port backwards to a 32-bit
  platform. To any 32-bit platform. But again, I am aware of no plans
  for any new OpenVMS port -- to any platform, whether 8-, 16-, 32-, 64-
  or 128-bit, or otherwise.

  Intel Itanium is the path forward for OpenVMS 64-bit computing.

 ---------------------------- #include <rtfaq.h> -----------------------------
    For additional, please see the OpenVMS FAQ -- www.hp.com/go/openvms/faq
 --------------------------- pure personal opinion ---------------------------
        Hoff (Stephen) Hoffman OpenVMS Engineering hoff[at]hp.com

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OpenVMS Itanium port progressing well says Gorham!
    ... do with the actual port itself. ... This was the BS spouted about OpenVMS when it apparently ... >>have been asking for a port to a low cost commodity platform ... >>100,000 for a 4 way server is commodity pricing. ...
    (comp.os.vms)
  • Re: Portability (was: Re: An increasingly-rare island of corporate inspiration)
    ... to take Unix code and compile/link/run on VMS. ... Each software provider -- whether a commercial offering or an open-source package -- also seeks to add value and APIs and features that make the platform a good choice, though these same new features and additions and benefits can also effectively make out-bound ports more difficult. ... As for out-bound ports of OpenVMS applications, there are examples of efforts seeking to allow OpenVMS applications to operate on Linux, including the FreeVMS project. ...
    (comp.os.vms)
  • RE: Operating System Security Survey
    ... One of the biggest issues imho, with many magazines today is that they ... was OpenVMS. ... every OS platform has "legacy" versions. ...
    (comp.os.vms)
  • Re: Some bold predictions?
    ... One factor which has greatly transformed the hobby in the last ten years is the increased availability of documentation from official sources. ... Also, there are many other states which don't necessarily publish plans online at the time of letting or choose to make them available only through paid sources, but do have plans available in electronic format. ... At the turn of the millennium, it was rare to see environmental documentation put online, but now it is routinely expected and done for all but the smallest projects. ...
    (misc.transport.road)
  • Re: OpenVMS, Alpha still rule roost in Intel fabs (2005-09)
    ... not survive the death of IA64". ... plans could then be made. ... new platform come along that is better, ... instead of "we have no plans to port VMS". ...
    (comp.os.vms)