Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 15:23:51 -0700
Reply-To: Dale McLerran <dmclerra@MY-DEJA.COM>
Sender: "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From: Dale McLerran <dmclerra@MY-DEJA.COM>
Subject: Re: Names of formats in version 8 still only 8 characters long?
Content-Type: text/plain
For those who are interested, birdies do keep track of what goes on
on SAS-L. And a birdie says that they are pretty confident at SI
that they will have support for long format names in version 9.
They thought about it for version 7/8, but at first decided to
stick with the 8 character limit because of features of the MVS
operating system. They got a lot of flack on this, but were too
far along in the version 7/8 development cycle to implement longer
names there. But this appears to be of real concern at SI for
version 9. So, we have to wait a little while, but we are at
least moving in the right direction!
Dale
>Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 10:55:57 -0700
>Reply-To: "William W. Viergever" <wwvierg@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
>From: "William W. Viergever" <wwvierg@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
>Subject: Re: Names of formats in version 8 still only 8 characters long?
>To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>
>PMFJI, but aren't FORMATs wriiten out under MVS as members in a PDS? ... in
>which case it *is* the same issue as FILENAMEs and LIBNAMEs.
>
>Where the heck is the MVS Man when we need 'im?
>
>
>
>
>At 09:42 AM 4/4/2001 -0700, Dale McLerran wrote:
>>Jack,
>>
>>
>>
>>You are correct that allowing longer formats will necessitate a
>>
>>change to the SAS dataset architecture. Changing the architecture
>>
>>of the dataset is what SI just did with version 8. The window was
>>
>>wide open for allowing format names to be expanded beyond the 8
>>
>>character limit at that time. SI blew it on this one. They should
>>
>>come up with a solution for this. At least that is my opinion.
>>
>>
>>
>>While there would be some reworking of the architecture of the
>>
>>dataset, I don't believe that allowing format names lengths to
>>
>>expand beyond the 8 character limit would be nearly the same
>>
>>degree of difficulty as enabling long variable names in the first
>>
>>place. Anyone know a birdie who could address this issue?
>>
>>
>>
>>Dale
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 09:35:31 -0400
>>
>> >Reply-To: Jack Shoemaker <JShoemaker@ACCORDANT.NET>
>>
>> >From: Jack Shoemaker <JShoemaker@ACCORDANT.NET>
>>
>> >Subject: Re: Names of formats in version 8 still only 8 characters
>> long?
>>
>> >To: SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>>
>> >
>>
>> >Doug,
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Also, FILENAMES and LIBNAMES are still only 8. The reason for that
>>
>> >unpleasantness is to remain MVS (OS/390) compatible. Remember DDNAMES? If
>>
>> >you don't consider yourself lucky.
>>
>> >
>>
>> > The format name-space issue is a little different. FORMATS are written
>>
>> >to the header portion of the SAS data set. So, expanding the name-space
>>
>> >there is a relative BIG DEAL since it means a change to the architecture of
>>
>> >the SAS data set - a pretty import SAS data object. Whether the decision to
>>
>> >leave formats at eight characters was a conscious decision or an oversight
>>
>> >is a matter of SAS legend. In any event, I think we are stuck with eight
>>
>> >characters for a while. - Jack
>>
>> >
>>
>> >--
>>
>> >Jack N Shoemaker / JShoemaker@Accordant.net
>>
>> >Visit our patient communities at http://www.accordant.com or our corporate
>>
>> >site http://www.accordant.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>---------------------------------------
>>
>>Dale McLerran
>>
>>Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
>>
>>mailto: dmclerra@fhcrc.org
>>
>>Ph: (206) 667-2926
>>
>>Fax: (206) 667-5977
>>
>>---------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>
>>------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>--== Sent via Deja.com ==--
>>
>>http://www.deja.com/
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>William W. Viergever Voice : (916) 483-8398
>Viergever & Associates Fax : (916) 486-1488
>Sacramento, CA 95835 E-mail : wwvierg@attglobal.net
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Dale McLerran
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
mailto: dmclerra@fhcrc.org
Ph: (206) 667-2926
Fax: (206) 667-5977
---------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
--== Sent via Deja.com ==--
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