INFO-VAX Fri, 25 Jan 2008 Volume 2008 : Issue 50 Contents: Re: .MAR file in STARLET.OLB after VMS732_UPDATE V14.0 Re: .MAR file in STARLET.OLB after VMS732_UPDATE V14.0 Re: Anyone interested in building a vms-like OS? Re: Anyone interested in building a vms-like OS? RE: Davos Re: Davos Re: Davos Re: F$UNIQUE library function Re: F$UNIQUE library function Re: F$UNIQUE library function Re: F$UNIQUE library function Re: F$UNIQUE library function Installing MX 4.2 Re: M$IE; was: DSPP Integrity remanufactured h/w... RE: M$IE; was: DSPP Integrity remanufactured h/w... Re: M$IE; was: DSPP Integrity remanufactured h/w... Re: NFS and version numbers Open VMS System Admin Re: Why Writers Buy Asbestos Undies ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 25 Jan 2008 07:51:57 -0600 From: koehler@eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) Subject: Re: .MAR file in STARLET.OLB after VMS732_UPDATE V14.0 Message-ID: In article , VMS is Virus Free writes: > > It just seems strange to see a .MAR in an object library. Seems that > would properly belong in a .TLB. Well, since we've looked and seen that it is an object file and not a source file, an object library is the appropriate place. But it wou;ld have caught my attention, too. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:56:56 -0500 From: John Reagan Subject: Re: .MAR file in STARLET.OLB after VMS732_UPDATE V14.0 Message-ID: Volker Halle wrote: > Please be careful. More than this one module has been replaced in > STARLET.OLB by the VMS732_STARLETOLB-V0100 patch, i.e. most likely all > modules which are named AMAC* ! > In reality, only the AMAC_FLOAT module changed, but due to the build/patch procedures, the whole facility was rebuilt and updated. Here's the comment from the source file (AMAC_FLOAT.M64) for the fix for those of you keeping score at home: X-3 John R. Reagan, QXCM1000441641 11-Jul-2007 The CMPF, CMPD, and CMPG routines were originally written to use the SUBF or SUBG Alpha instructions. At first glance it might seem OK to just subtract the two numbers to determine if they are the same (the result would be zero) or which one is larger by the result being positive or negative. However, if the two numbers are very far apart, for example, FLT1: .FLOAT 1.7E38 FLT3: .FLOAT -1.7014E38 CMPF FLT1,FLT3 The subtraction causes an overflow to be raised. The prior C implementation uses the Alpha CMPGxx instructions which are designed to never overflow. So switch to using CMPGxx instructions instead of SUBF/SUBG. and for those of you wondering why both AMAC_ and AMAC$ entry points... ; These routines were originally written in C, but were re-written in ; MACRO-64 to pass the parameters by value instead of by reference. Since the ; format of the calls has completely changed, the names of all routines were ; changed from AMAC_FLT_opcode to AMAC$FLT_opcode, to prevent code which used ; the old macros from linking against the new routines, and vice versa. -- John Reagan OpenVMS Pascal/Macro-32/COBOL Project Leader Hewlett-Packard Company ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 08:23:50 +0000 (UTC) From: JKB Subject: Re: Anyone interested in building a vms-like OS? Message-ID: Le 24-01-2008, à propos de Re: Anyone interested in building a vms-like OS?, Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply écrivait dans comp.os.vms : > In article <4797EE63.4A10CF34@spam.comcast.net>, David J Dachtera > writes: > >> Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply wrote: >> > >> > In article , JKB >> > writes: >> > >> > > Today, FreeVMS is _only_ a VMS clone. >> > >> > How long has the project been going on? What has it got to offer? Does >> > anyone outside the project take it seriously? >> > >> > > But it is the only chance to >> > > keep VMS alive for a long time. >> > >> > I'm not a lawyer, but presumably if it becomes viable HP can and will >> > take legal action against it. >> >> I rather doubt that. >> >> HP will not spend a cent or lift a finger to keep VMS alive. >> >> I see no reason to believe they would pursue litigation to defend >> something they do not want. > > Did VMS used to be much more popular and well known? Yes. Does HP now > completely neglect VMS? No. It still generates a lot of revenue, most > of that from wealthy customers with whom there is regular contact. I > can understand how someone not in this world would get the impression > that VMS is now completely dead. Maybe. But I see a lot of old VAXen or alpha's that are replaced by Sun, IBM or regular PC servers. I've never seen any other servers replaced by IA64 running VMS for a long time. JKB ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:16:25 -0800 (PST) From: yyyc186 Subject: Re: Anyone interested in building a vms-like OS? Message-ID: <0547e7aa-e18f-4475-ba68-c5b587e28990@s19g2000prg.googlegroups.com> On Jan 24, 7:02 pm, JF Mezei wrote: > Remember that IA64's life is also not assured. And it seems pretty clear > that HP will not port VMS beyond IA64. So starting migrations now will > make the demise of IA64 easier to handle when it comes in a year or two. > > And remember Alpha. On June 24 2001, Compaq were still extoling the > vertues of Alpha and how that IA64 thing would never be able to match > Alpha and was a flawed approach to architecture design etc etc. So you > can expect to see VMS management continue to claim that VMS has a great > future ahead, that it is still actively developped etc right until the > minute before HP announces the end of the line for VMS. Well, they were right about one thing. IA64 (Titanic) is a failed chip the industry didn't need. Designed by the K-G-used-to-Be and HP. Billions poured down the abyss of its development. Intel caught red handed by Digital Equipment thieving Alpha technology to try and make the Titanic float. I'm actually shocked and appalled you think the chip has another year on the market. It should have been killed off before the first unit ever shipped. So far, every company I've encountered which is jumping is jumping completely away from HP. No hardware or software from them, including printers. Xerox and Lexmark (mostly Xerox though) have been replacing all HP printing products at my client sites. One has less than a handful of their printers left. Those are surviving only until the supply cabinet runs out of toner carts which have already been paid for. Replacement printers are already sitting in inventory. It will be interesting to see just how well ink jet cartridge sales hold up HP during a global recession. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:13:44 +0000 From: "Main, Kerry" Subject: RE: Davos Message-ID: > -----Original Message----- > From: JF Mezei [mailto:jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca] > Sent: January 24, 2008 1:10 AM > To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com > Subject: OT: Davos > > Out of curiosity, I checked the attendance list for the World Economic > Forum at Davos. > > http://www.weforum.org/en/events/AnnualMeeting2008/index.htm > > > Our beloved friend Carleton Fiorina doesn't appear in the "public > figures" or "business leaders". She must really miss the limelight, > all > the attention and being seen amongst the rich and famous of the world. > Poor Carly, we should all feel very sorry for her :-) :-) :-) > > > Mark Hurd is not listed. > But Mikey Dell and the chairman of Lenovo are listed. > Intel and AMD are also represented by their respective chairman. > > IBM not listed. (but the list is not complete mind you). > > > Google (Page and Brin), Yahoo and Akamai are present. > > > I wonder if Hurd is really opposed to attending, or whether Carly left > such a bitter taste because she attended purely for the glamour that HP > doesn't really want its CEO to attend. More likely he was doing more important things - like running a $100B+ technology company. Reference: http://tinyurl.com/3d9zjv (Jan 2,2008) BW's Businessperson of the Year - HP's Mark Hurd "Mark Hurd, chief executive officer of the world's largest technology compa= ny, doesn't chase the public limelight. He doesn't go to high-profile internati= onal business conferences like the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He doesn't flaunt a personal flair or high-flying style. All o= f Hurd's energy, it seems, is trained completely on one and only one task: leading Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)." Regards Kerry Main Senior Consultant HP Services Canada Voice: 613-254-8911 Fax: 613-591-4477 kerryDOTmainAThpDOTcom (remove the DOT's and AT) OpenVMS - the secure, multi-site OS that just works. ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 2008 15:08:23 GMT From: billg999@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: Davos Message-ID: <5vucb7F1otlrsU5@mid.individual.net> In article , "Main, Kerry" writes: >> -----Original Message----- >> From: JF Mezei [mailto:jfmezei.spamnot@vaxination.ca] >> Sent: January 24, 2008 1:10 AM >> To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com >> Subject: OT: Davos >> >> Out of curiosity, I checked the attendance list for the World Economic >> Forum at Davos. >> >> http://www.weforum.org/en/events/AnnualMeeting2008/index.htm >> >> >> Our beloved friend Carleton Fiorina doesn't appear in the "public >> figures" or "business leaders". She must really miss the limelight, >> all >> the attention and being seen amongst the rich and famous of the world. >> Poor Carly, we should all feel very sorry for her :-) :-) :-) >> >> >> Mark Hurd is not listed. >> But Mikey Dell and the chairman of Lenovo are listed. >> Intel and AMD are also represented by their respective chairman. >> >> IBM not listed. (but the list is not complete mind you). >> >> >> Google (Page and Brin), Yahoo and Akamai are present. >> >> >> I wonder if Hurd is really opposed to attending, or whether Carly left >> such a bitter taste because she attended purely for the glamour that HP >> doesn't really want its CEO to attend. > > More likely he was doing more important things - like running a $100B+ > technology company. When did he get a new job? Last I saw he ran $100B+ ink company. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:49:43 +0100 From: Wilm Boerhout Subject: Re: Davos Message-ID: <479a213a$0$25500$ba620dc5@text.nova.planet.nl> on 25-1-2008 15:13 Main, Kerry wrote... > Reference: > http://tinyurl.com/3d9zjv (Jan 2,2008) > BW's Businessperson of the Year - HP's Mark Hurd > > "Mark Hurd, chief executive officer of the world's largest technology company, > doesn't chase the public limelight. He doesn't go to high-profile international > business conferences like the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, > Switzerland. He doesn't flaunt a personal flair or high-flying style. All of > Hurd's energy, it seems, is trained completely on one and only one task: > leading Hewlett-Packard (HPQ)." Looks like a Level 5 leader (Jim Collins, "Good to Great") Way to go Mark! -- Wilm Boerhout Zwolle, NL remove OLD PAINT from return address to reply ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 2008 13:08:30 GMT From: billg999@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: F$UNIQUE library function Message-ID: <5vu5adF1o8ic6U1@mid.individual.net> In article <47994ecf$0$90266$14726298@news.sunsite.dk>, Arne Vajhøj writes: > Bill Gunshannon wrote: >> In article , >> koehler@eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) writes: >>> In article <5vkl38F1lpt8bU4@mid.individual.net>, billg999@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) writes: >>>> In article <4794F5BB.80707@comcast.net>, >>>> "Richard B. Gilbert" writes: >>>>> ApplicationS??? I was never a Windows Server person but I got the >>>>> impression that the rule was one application per server! At the very >>>>> least, one application at a time!! >>>> >>>> Who told you that rule? Kerry? You were misinformed. >>> Our MS guru says he got it from MicroSoft. >> >> Well, I just looked at my Sharepoint documentation and they have it >> running IIS, Sharepoint and MSSql all on the same box. Looks like >> MicroSoft doesn't agree. > > SharePoint run in IIS, so they have to be on the same box. > > SQLServer can be deployed on the same box or on another box > depending on the sites preferences. Yes it can. But the statement here was that it must and that this requirement came from MicroSoft and I was merely pointing out the falacy of that notion as MS own instructions include running all three ont he same box. I am sure I could find other examples but that was the easiest. Well, here's one more, but people may not really consider all of these as separate services. To run Terminal services with ThinClients you need Terminal Services, DHCP, RIS and you may have to run your own DNS as well. By default the Server will start all of them on the same machine. And we are not even addressing all the applications that the ThinClients will then run from that same server. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:05:52 -0800 (PST) From: yyyc186 Subject: Re: F$UNIQUE library function Message-ID: <7ba22884-7377-4aa0-a3e0-e3d26b16511d@s13g2000prd.googlegroups.com> On Jan 24, 8:55 pm, Arne Vajh=F8j wrote: > yyyc186 wrote: > > On Jan 21, 4:36 pm, billg...@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) wrote: > >>> ApplicationS??? I was never a Windows Server person but I got the > >>> impression that the rule was one application per server! At the very > >>> least, one application at a time!! > >> Who told you that rule? Kerry? You were misinformed. > > > That is the rule unless you want large publicly visible outages. > > Lots of Windows servers run multiple apps. Maybe the majority of them. > > There are millions of small companies out there using WinSBS (with > either Exchange+IIS eller Exhange+IIS+SQLServer+ISA). > > Arne And there are companies that I've been to who reboot exchange servers a minimum of 3 times per day because of crashes. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:07:31 -0800 (PST) From: yyyc186 Subject: Re: F$UNIQUE library function Message-ID: On Jan 24, 8:51 pm, Arne Vajh=F8j wrote: > > SharePoint run in IIS, so they have to be on the same box. > SharePoint, now THERE is a God-awful product no professional would have designed, developed, or worked on. That thing must be where the team from Microsoft Bob went. ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 2008 14:53:35 GMT From: billg999@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: F$UNIQUE library function Message-ID: <5vubffF1otlrsU1@mid.individual.net> In article <7ba22884-7377-4aa0-a3e0-e3d26b16511d@s13g2000prd.googlegroups.com>, yyyc186 writes: > On Jan 24, 8:55 pm, Arne Vajhøj wrote: >> yyyc186 wrote: >> > On Jan 21, 4:36 pm, billg...@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) wrote: >> >>> ApplicationS??? I was never a Windows Server person but I got the >> >>> impression that the rule was one application per server! At the very >> >>> least, one application at a time!! >> >> Who told you that rule? Kerry? You were misinformed. >> >> > That is the rule unless you want large publicly visible outages. >> >> Lots of Windows servers run multiple apps. Maybe the majority of them. >> >> There are millions of small companies out there using WinSBS (with >> either Exchange+IIS eller Exhange+IIS+SQLServer+ISA). >> >> Arne > And there are companies that I've been to who reboot exchange servers > a minimum of 3 times per day because of crashes. Which may say a lot more about the SA's than about the OS. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 2008 14:57:48 GMT From: billg999@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: F$UNIQUE library function Message-ID: <5vubnbF1otlrsU2@mid.individual.net> In article <4799e92a$0$11544$607ed4bc@cv.net>, sol gongola writes: > Bill Gunshannon wrote: >> In article , >> yyyc186 writes: >>> On Jan 21, 4:36 pm, billg...@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) wrote: >>> >>>>> ApplicationS??? I was never a Windows Server person but I got the >>>>> impression that the rule was one application per server! At the very >>>>> least, one application at a time!! >>>> Who told you that rule? Kerry? You were misinformed. >>>> >>> That is the rule unless you want large publicly visible outages. >> >> Properly set up Windows boxes work just as well as any other servers. >> I don't even remember the last time I had a Windows Server crash. >> Come to think of it, my desktops don't either. Maybe it has more to >> do with how they are set up then the OS itself. >> >> Oh, and I should probably mention that I don't even like Windows and >> so spend as little time messing with it as possible and still I can >> set them up to be secure and stable. >> >> bill >> > > Well that explains you problem. You really need to 'mess' with it :) > > To get windows to misbehave, you need to perform multiple > application installs including internet download of shareware > and trial applications even if try to uninstall or delete > afterwards. You gotta load up on dll's and registry entries > that don't go away. That is what many people do to their machines. What people do to their machines has little to do with the quality of the OS. If I put Crisco in the engine of my Porsche instead of motor oil will it be Dr. Ferdinand's fault when the engine siezes? > > Windows crashes often are a result of driver conflicts, memory > leaks, malicious software. Things you wouldn't normally have on > VMS (or *ix). Or on a properly installed and setup MS Server. > Microsoft make it so easy for an individual to mess > up their system unless it is completely locked down. And if VMS was popular enough to have the installed base that MS does it, too, would have installations run by incompetent SA's who would screw it up. Nothing is idiot proof, not even VMS. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 16:02:11 GMT From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Jan-Erik_S=F6derholm?= Subject: Installing MX 4.2 Message-ID: <7Knmj.3101$R_4.2427@newsb.telia.net> I though I'd install MX on my little box over here. Found a kit at last on the Freeware-4 kit. It's lacking from the later kits, I think I've seen something about it not beeing "free" anymore !? First : > $ tcpip sh ver > > HP TCP/IP Services for OpenVMS Alpha Version V5.6 - ECO 2 > on an AlphaStation XP900 466 MHz running OpenVMS V8.2 > > $ Now, the install failes with : > Now installing the LISTSERV interface image. > >%VMSINSTAL-I-RESTORE, Restoring product save set L ... >%MX-I-LINKING, Linking image MX_LSV... >%LINK-W-MULCLUOPT, cluster multiply defined > in options file DSA10:[SYS0.SYSUPD.MX042]MX_LSV.ALPHA_OPT;3 >%VMSINSTAL-E-INSFAIL, The installation of MX V4.2 has failed. (The other options installs OK, but this makes the install exit...) The OPT file (extracted from the MX042.L saveset) : $ type MX_LSV.ALPHA_OPT VMI$KWD:LSV.ALPHA_OLB/INCLUDE=MX_LSV/LIB VMI$KWD:COMMON.ALPHA_OLB/LIBRARY MX_SHR:/SHARE VMI$KWD:MX_FLQ_SHR.EXE/SHARE NETLIB_SHRXFR:/SHARE $ I'm totaly lost here. If I de-select the "LISTSERV interface" option, the other parts installs fine and I can get the MCP prompt and all, but I *think* I need the LISTSERV option to get the mailing lists (my primary reason to install MX) to run. Anyway clues on what the error message is trying to explain to me ? And, this is the latest available (free) MX kit, right ? Jan-Erik. ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 2008 07:58:16 -0600 From: koehler@eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) Subject: Re: M$IE; was: DSPP Integrity remanufactured h/w... Message-ID: In article , VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG writes: > > Not being able to stick my round peg into the Micro$oft square hole is no > reason for me to whittle my round peg down to a 4 sided plank. These com- > merial sites aren't standard compliant unless the standard is M$. Shoving > M$IE up my arse isn't going to fix these web sites. Meanwhile my kids are running into trouble with their friends emailing them .docx, .xlsx, ... files from Office Vista. Once again Billy boy reaches out and tries to force everyone to buy the latest version by making it incompatable with what you've already got (in our case OpenOffice). And the kiddies have bought into it. "What, you don't have Vista yet?" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:21:33 +0000 From: "Main, Kerry" Subject: RE: M$IE; was: DSPP Integrity remanufactured h/w... Message-ID: > -----Original Message----- > From: Bob Koehler [mailto:koehler@eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org] > Sent: January 25, 2008 8:58 AM > To: Info-VAX@Mvb.Saic.Com > Subject: Re: M$IE; was: DSPP Integrity remanufactured h/w... > > In article , VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG > writes: > > > > Not being able to stick my round peg into the Micro$oft square hole > is no > > reason for me to whittle my round peg down to a 4 sided plank. These > com- > > merial sites aren't standard compliant unless the standard is M$. > Shoving > > M$IE up my arse isn't going to fix these web sites. > > Meanwhile my kids are running into trouble with their friends > emailing them .docx, .xlsx, ... files from Office Vista. > > Once again Billy boy reaches out and tries to force everyone to buy > the latest version by making it incompatable with what you've > already got (in our case OpenOffice). > > And the kiddies have bought into it. "What, you don't have Vista > yet?" Actually, I would not say that is true for all things. My young lad is a pretty big gamer and based on his feedback, Vista is viewed as a joke and the "online view" is that no serious gamer is running Vista. Driver issues, resource issues have caused so much headache that he says most gamers would not touch Vista with a 10 foot pole. If the gamers are saying Vista is bad, you can bet most kids are not running Vista unless they have to. Regards Kerry Main Senior Consultant HP Services Canada Voice: 613-254-8911 Fax: 613-591-4477 kerryDOTmainAThpDOTcom (remove the DOT's and AT) OpenVMS - the secure, multi-site OS that just works. ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 2008 15:05:07 GMT From: billg999@cs.uofs.edu (Bill Gunshannon) Subject: Re: M$IE; was: DSPP Integrity remanufactured h/w... Message-ID: <5vuc53F1otlrsU4@mid.individual.net> In article , koehler@eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) writes: > In article , VAXman- @SendSpamHere.ORG writes: >> >> Not being able to stick my round peg into the Micro$oft square hole is no >> reason for me to whittle my round peg down to a 4 sided plank. These com- >> merial sites aren't standard compliant unless the standard is M$. Shoving >> M$IE up my arse isn't going to fix these web sites. > > Meanwhile my kids are running into trouble with their friends > emailing them .docx, .xlsx, ... files from Office Vista. > > Once again Billy boy reaches out and tries to force everyone to buy > the latest version by making it incompatable with what you've > already got (in our case OpenOffice). You mean like Apple did when they came out with OSX? > > And the kiddies have bought into it. "What, you don't have Vista > yet?" "What, your still driving a 2007 Toyota!" Welcome to the real world!! bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves bill@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include ------------------------------ Date: 25 Jan 2008 07:54:38 -0600 From: koehler@eisner.nospam.encompasserve.org (Bob Koehler) Subject: Re: NFS and version numbers Message-ID: <1Zx09wj9GLin@eisner.encompasserve.org> In article , healyzh@aracnet.com writes: > JF Mezei wrote: >> Due to a rare alignement of the stars relative to the direction of the >> wind and the happiness level of the neighbour's dog, I found myself with >> a mounted NFS drive on my mac. I can now use the finder on the Mac to >> display files on my VMS SYS$LOGIN. I have no idea whether this is >> repeatable or not. I haven't dared reboot my Mac :-) > > Have you determined if this amazing state is repeatable, and more > importantly how others can replicate it? I used to do this all the time by setting up the NFS service under Multinet and forcing the Mac to use an older version of the protocol. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:31:42 -0800 (PST) From: dubeyamit31@gmail.com Subject: Open VMS System Admin Message-ID: <3d497f70-201a-406c-86bd-c114b7ba3167@e10g2000prf.googlegroups.com> Need somebody who can join the project asap. 2-3 years of experience with Open VMS. urgent requirement Location : Seattle , WA Duration : 3-4 Months Rate : 25-35$/hr on W2 Regards Amit Dubey Pyramid Consulting, Inc. (Direct) 212-381-1120 x 537 amit.dubey@pyramidci.com www.pyramidci.com http://www.linkedin.com/in/amitdubey007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CMMi IV Certified ABC - 15th Fastest Growing Private Company in Atlanta - 2006 "To remove email to remove@pyramidconsultinginc.com" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 06:01:03 -0800 (PST) From: yyyc186 Subject: Re: Why Writers Buy Asbestos Undies Message-ID: On Jan 24, 8:42 pm, Neil Rieck wrote: > On Jan 17, 1:48 pm, yyyc186 wrote: > > > > > Here is what the Kirkus reviewer had to say. I guess this explains > > why there were no OpenVMS books in their review database. > > > This hefty tome provides brief and > > rambling introductions to programming on OpenVMS in a number of > > languages. In overall structure, this guide to programming on an > > OpenVMS platform is logically laid out. An introduction to OpenVMS is > > followed by overviews of source control systems, programming to > > interact with VMSMAIL, reporting services and finally, a number of > > programming languages: DCL, BASIC, Fortran, COBOL, C and C++. The same > > application--a simple lottery demonstration with input and out- put > > datasets--is re-implemented in each of the languages. At its simplest, > > this is a common and straight-forward layout for an introductory > > programming manual. The individual chapters, however, are incoherent. > > The introduction to VMS wanders from simple concepts such as logging > > in and symbol assignment to a sweeping and unclear description of > > system logicals to the complexity of ACLs. The chapter on Fortran > > interrupts a discussion of Fortran fundamentals such as line numbers > > and numeric operators with several paragraphs on the history of > > Fortran batch processing. The COBOL chapter wonders why the owners of > > the OpenVMS operating system haven't modified all programming > > languages implemented on the operating system to match functionality > > that text finds desirable in COBOL. The chapter on C and C++ treats C+ > > + as a mere functional enhancement of C, and scoffs at the object- > > oriented functionality of C++. OpenVMS-specific variables, constants > > and extensions are usefully listed, but the context does not allow for > > clear explanation of their functionality. A clos- > > ing chapter of "Ruminations and Observations" is an incoherent and > > ranting distraction from what utility the technical chapters provide. > > A nice idea but lacks clarity. > > Well I've read three of your books, including this one, and found them > all worth every penny of the purchase price. So maybe the reviewer is > just envious of the fact that you actually followed trhough on getting > something published while he never got off his ass. > > Neil Rieck > Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge, > Ontario, Canada.http://www3.sympatico.ca/n.rieck/docs/folding_at_home.html Thank you for those kind words. ------------------------------ End of INFO-VAX 2008.050 ************************