There are 4 prefixes allowed to be used when globally cataloging programs:

1. "$"  // Used for custom conversion codes (which need to support the call signature "(ANS,STATUS,InputData,TYPE)"
2. "*"  // Globally cataloged programs the command processor will run as a normal main BASIC program
3. "-" 
4. "!"

The "-" and "!" are used by subroutines supplied with UV.

Does anyone know if there are specific features/functions for the "-" and "!" prefixes, or are they just available to be used and have no specific handling?

Does anyone know if the "$" and "*" prefixes have other behaviours/constraints?

Thanks

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Gregor Scott
Software Architect
Pentana Solutions Pty Ltd
Mount Waverley VIC AU
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Gregor,

I believe the '!' prefix is purely for Prime Information compatibility where ! was used - e.g. !AMLC which was a (bugged) serial port controller interface.  Unsure about the '-', possibly someone else cold pitch ijn?

Regards

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John Jenkins
Thame, Oxfordshire
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Gregor,

I believe the '!' prefix is purely for Prime Information compatibility where ! was used - e.g. !AMLC which was a (bugged) serial port controller interface.  Unsure about the '-', possibly someone else cold pitch ijn?

Regards

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John Jenkins
Thame, Oxfordshire
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To the best of my knowledge, the different prefix characters were used for classification. The '-' and '!' prefix were used for Prime related functionality included with UniVerse. The '$' was for PICK related functionality. And the '*' was for UV specific functionality.

The only difference in functionality I can see is that the "*" prefix allows for the running the cataloged program directly at TCL as you noted in your post.

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Neil Morris
Universe Advanced Technical Support
Rocket Software
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To the best of my knowledge, the different prefix characters were used for classification. The '-' and '!' prefix were used for Prime related functionality included with UniVerse. The '$' was for PICK related functionality. And the '*' was for UV specific functionality.

The only difference in functionality I can see is that the "*" prefix allows for the running the cataloged program directly at TCL as you noted in your post.

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Neil Morris
Universe Advanced Technical Support
Rocket Software
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The other difference is that the "$"-prefixed routines can be used as conversion codes.

For example, the global catalog entry for "$50BB" can be used like this:  VAR = OCONV("","U50BB")

This does facilitate custom conversion codes, so long as the correct subroutine parameter signature is used.

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Gregor Scott
Software Architect
Pentana Solutions Pty Ltd
Mount Waverley VIC AU
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The other difference is that the "$"-prefixed routines can be used as conversion codes.

For example, the global catalog entry for "$50BB" can be used like this:  VAR = OCONV("","U50BB")

This does facilitate custom conversion codes, so long as the correct subroutine parameter signature is used.

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Gregor Scott
Software Architect
Pentana Solutions Pty Ltd
Mount Waverley VIC AU
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Hi Gregor,
That is correct about the "$" prefix and is in line with the "$" prefix items being PICK related. The user exits (i.e. U50BB) are something which originated in the PICK world. UniVerse simulated that ability by naming the programs with the same hexadecimal address names. Thanks for the clarification.
Neil

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Neil Morris
Universe Advanced Technical Support
Rocket Software
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