Re: The Denis Prize

Wolfram Roesler <wr_at_grp.de> wrote in message news:<Xns948AADEBDE78Dwrgrpde_at_130.133.1.17>...

> Of course, using Program Files shouldn't be mandatory, but it
> should be possible. Which, in the case of Oracle, it isn't.
> (It'll install right away but fail at some later time with
> something like "path too long".)

And don't even try to run DS with ANY path that is more than about 10 characters long... Forms dies a quick death! Flaming ridiculous!

> Also, Program Files isn't for the operating system (which is
> in \windows or similar) but for applications. If a machine is
> a DB server, and Oracle is the only software installed on it
> apart from the OS, putting the DB software in Program Files
> (being just about the only thing there) seems just as sensible
> to me. Data files should of course go elsewhere.

Yes, very much so. It shouldn't matter one bit what the folder is called. The darn OUI uses up oodles of Mb ANYWAY, what is the problem with giving it a REALLY BIG buffer for pathnames?

> Using Program Files properly seems to be too difficult for the
> average Windows programmer anyway. You can see that on a localized
> Windows version where it isn't named "Program Files" but some
> localized version thereof; however, many applications (including
> big popular ones like McAfee) still insist on creating the English
> "Program Files" like there was no environment variable or whatever
> to query for the proper location.

Yup. Classic...

> > You should also bear in mind that the Universal installer is, as the
> > name somewhat suggests, not a windows program, but a program that will
> > also run on windows if you see what I mean.
>
> I was told by Oracle people that Windows was one of Oracle's
> primary development platforms. If so, they should be able to use
> that OS's defaults and conventions properly. Anyway, OUI runs on
> Windows, so it's - by definition - a Windows program, so it should
> behave like one - regardless whether it was written in Visual C++,
> Java or whatever.

Well, actually the problem is wider. In Unix and Loonix, it is perfectly possible to create folders (directories) with embedded spaces in the name. And it has been since AT&T System V Unix, about 20 years ago. There were a few glitches early in the piece with Unix versions that insisted on staying BSD compatible (namely Sun and HP) but since about 1990 it's been possible to use long file names in Unix pretty much across the spectrum.

Now, the OUI is supposed to run on UNIX and Windows systems, which BOTH support long file names. What does it go and do? It messes up in BOTH environments if you use long file names for folders/directories.

Quite ridiculous, I'm afraid.

Cheers
Nuno Souto
wizofoz2k_at_yahoo.com.au.nospam Received on Mon Feb 09 2004 - 18:48:19 CST