[Author Prev][Author Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Author Index (this month)][Thread Index (this month)][Top of Archive]

Re: Extensions and dots in filenames

Subject: Re: Extensions and dots in filenames
From: John Garison <john -at- garisons -dot- com>
To: Peter Neilson <neilson -at- windstream -dot- net>
Date: Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:04:10 -0500

I have been around a long time (I worked for years before there were cathode ray tube monitors). While I can't claim to be an expert in all operating systems, as long as I can remember there's always been a dot between the filename and the filetype.

But anyone today who is worried about alienating the three people still alive who might remember the situation Peter is referring to will certainly not confuse the 99.99999999999% of the people who expect to see a dot before the file extension.

My 2¢,

John Garison

Peter Neilson wrote:

At one time (on some operating systems) there was no
dot and the filename was ABCDEF XYZ .

If my math is correct, you can fit nine characters taken
from the restricted set [0-9][A-Z] into 48 bits. That's
four 12-bit words on a PDP-8, or six 8-bit bytes on some
other machines. 36^9 is less than half of 2^48. Each
character, nominally six bits, was compressed into about
five-and-a-third bits. These kinds of bit-twiddled malarky
were once Very Important. Now all they do is to speak
volumes about the kind of person who would bother
remembering the stuff.



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WebWorks ePublisher Pro for Word features support for every major Help format plus PDF, HTML and more. Flexible, precise, and efficient content delivery. Try it today! http://www.webworks.com/techwr-l

Easily create HTML or Microsoft Word content and convert to any popular Help file format or printed documentation. Learn more at http://www.DocToHelp.com/TechwrlList

---
You are currently subscribed to TECHWR-L as archive -at- infoinfocus -dot- com -dot-
To unsubscribe send a blank email to techwr-l-unsubscribe -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
or visit http://lists.techwr-l.com/mailman/options/techwr-l/archive%40infoinfocus.com


To subscribe, send a blank email to techwr-l-join -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com

Send administrative questions to admin -at- techwr-l -dot- com -dot- Visit
http://www.techwr-l.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.

Follow-Ups:

References:
Extensions and dots in filenames: From: Cardimon,Craig
Re: Extensions and dots in filenames: From: John Garison
Re: Extensions and dots in filenames: From: Peter Neilson

Previous by Author: Re: Extensions and dots in filenames
Next by Author: Re: Extensions and dots in filenames
Previous by Thread: Re: Extensions and dots in filenames
Next by Thread: Re: Extensions and dots in filenames

[Top of Archive] | [Author Index (this month)] | [Thread Index (this month)]

What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:

Sponsored Ads