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Conference noted::hackers_v1

Title:-={ H A C K E R S }=-
Notice:Write locked - see NOTED::HACKERS
Moderator:DIEHRD::MORRIS
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 03 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:680
Total number of notes:5456

652.0. "task-string(0=x.com) file length restriction?" by ARVOX::MARK (Mark Gillis, 273-3516, VRO3-3/B6) Wed Jan 06 1988 15:55

Apparently there is a filename length restriction when you are using a
task-specification string in task to task communication. I have run into this
problem several times and would like to know if there is anyway to get around
it. 

Let me illustrate:

$ CREATE SHOW_ME.COM
$ DEFINE SYS$OUTPUT SYS$NET
$ TIME
^Z
$ COPY/LOG SHOW_ME.COM NOBLE""::
%COPY-S-COPIED, $DISK2:[MARK.OFFICE.PLAY]SHOW_ME.COM;1 copied to NOBLE""::SYS$COMMON:[DECNET]SHOW_ME.COM;1 (1 block)
$ TYPE NOBLE""::"0=SHOW_ME.COM"

   6-JAN-1988 13:43:13

Now I would like to build a time stamp into the filename SHOW_ME.COM to ensure
uniqueness - for example - SHOW_ME_88016_122140_39.COM. Trouble is, I can't use
a filespec with a file name longer than 8 characters or a file type longer than
3 characters in between the quoted string. Furthermore, I can't use a device,
directory, version number or logical name either. 

Any suggestions?
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
652.115 character limit(?)CHOVAX::YOUNGBack from the Shadows Again,Fri Jan 08 1988 02:5325
    Yes there is a limit on "0=" task names.  As I recal it is either
    12 or 15 characters.  Its in the guide to networking somewhere.
    
    Still, thats not many characters, ".COM" is the default so you can
    save 4 characters there.  I would recomend something like:
    
    	"0=SHOW_ME_ymdhsss"
    
    Where:
    
    	y  =  Decimal year number (ie. "1"-"9")
    
    	m  =  Hex representation of the month number (ie. "1"-"C")
    
    	d  =  Alphanumeric representation of the day number ("0"-"9","A"-"Z")
    
    	h  =  Alphanumeric repr. of the hour of the day ("0"-"9","A"-"Z")
    
      sss  =  3 character Hex repr. of the second in the hour.
    
    
    Coding this should be a trip.
    
    
    --  Barry
652.2Reduced time stamp to 12 chars.ARVOX::MARKMark Gillis, 273-3516, VRO3-3/B6Mon Jan 11 1988 19:3657
Barry,

RE .1

Thanks for the info, it was very helpful and solved the problem. Here is
an extract of what I have done so far based on your ideas:

            .
            .
            .
$    ! Makes unique time stamp that is easy to read and sorted in a directory
$    ! listing from oldest to newest.
$    
$    time_stamp = F$EXTRACT( 2, 2, F$CVTIME(,,"YEAR") )          + -
                                   F$CVTIME(,,"MONTH")           + -
                                   F$CVTIME(,,"DAY")       + "_" + -
                                   F$CVTIME(,,"HOUR")            + -
                                   F$CVTIME(,,"MINUTE")          + -
                                   F$CVTIME(,,"SECOND")    + "_" + -
                                   F$CVTIME(,,"HUNDREDTH")

            .
            .
            .
$    !
$    ! Task names are limited to 12 characters and default to .COM filetype.
$    ! Reduce the time stamp from 16 to 12 characters by removing the 2
$    ! underscores and converting the 2-character month and hour fields to 
$    ! 1-character letter fields.
$    !
$    time_stamp = time_stamp - "_" - "_"      ! Remove underscores.
$    time_years = F$EXTRACT(0, 2, time_stamp) ! Extract year.
$    time_month = F$EXTRACT(2, 2, time_stamp) ! Extract month.
$    time_days  = F$EXTRACT(4, 2, time_stamp) ! Extract days.
$    time_hours = F$EXTRACT(6, 2, time_stamp) ! Extract hours.
$    time_rest  = F$EXTRACT(8, 6, time_stamp) ! Extract rest of it.
$    !
$    ! Convert number fields to letter fields using ASCII conversion.
$    !
$    month_alpha[0,8] = 64 + time_month ! 1 - 12 --> A - L.
$    hours_alpha[0,8] = 64 + time_hours ! 1 - 24 --> A - X.
$    ! 
$    ! Build new unique 12 character name.
$    !
$    task_name = time_years + month_alpha + time_days + -
                 hours_alpha      + time_rest
$    !
$    ! Transfer the file to the remote node and execute the commands as 
$    ! a network task.
$    !
$    COPY/LOG    'com_filename' 'node_name'""::'task_name'.COM
$    TYPE/OUTPUT='out_filename' 'node_name'""::"0=''task_name'"
$    
            .
            .
            .
Mark Gillis,
652.3Logical names are O.K.UTRTSC::VDBURGJur van der Burg - (van der BUG)Mon Jan 18 1988 06:134
    I've done some testing with a logical name, and it seems to work
    ok. Make sure it will be defined when the remote network process
    is created (for example in LOGIN.COM, or system wide). The logical
    name can point to any long filename.