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Re: using octal codes for special characters



Craig (Scrooge) Markwardt (craigmnet@astrog.physics.wisc.edu) writes:

> Soapbox: May I recommend that *nobody* use double-quote octal codes in
> their new IDL programs.  They are abominable to look at, can be
> ambiguous, and are confusing.  The fact that the second quote never
> appears is particularly insidious.
> 
> The "single-quote" form is not much better, but at least it is
> consistent in the sense that there are two matching quote characters.
> 
> These two expressions perform the same operation:
> 
>   a = '355'OB    ; SINGLE QUOTE FORM
>   a = "355b      ; DOUBLE QUOTE FORM
> 
> I believe the first form should always be preferred.

This takes *all* the fun out of adding octal codes to
your programs. I'm *completely* against it. :^)

And a Merry Christmas to you, Sir!

David
-- 
David Fanning, Ph.D.
Fanning Software Consulting
Phone: 970-221-0438 E-Mail: davidf@dfanning.com
Coyote's Guide to IDL Progamming: http://www.dfanning.com/
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