Re: Abort, Retry, Fail

[Gary Dettmers <garyd -at- TEKELEC -dot- COM>]

In DOS, "abort, retry, fail" has specific meaning. Each one provides
different actions taken by the system.

Abort means that "all" command processes invoked from the command line or a
batch file are to be terminated.

Retry means to do just that, retry the command that failed.

Fail means to ignore the command that failed and move on to the next command
if any more exist. This one could be dangerous, or unexpected results would
be forthcoming, if the following commands depend on a successful completion
of the one that failed.

____________________________________________________________________
Gary Dettmers                    |                                  |
Sr. Technical Writer             | My opinions are just that, mine! |
Tekelec                          | Do not confuse them as misguided |
garyd -at- mailhost -dot- oh -dot- tekelec -dot- com    | company policy.                  |
____________________________________________________________________|



> These three words have stumped me more than once too. I noticed
> different software will cause my computer to Abort or to Fail
> differently. Perhaps this shows the programmers aren't even clear just
> what these two words mean, or maybe it is an internal structure thing.

> In any case, I think Retry is clear enough. Does anyone disagree?

> I looked up Abort and Fail in my handy 1994 IBM Dictionary of
> Computing (c). Here is what it has:

> Abort
>    In data communications, a function invoked by a sending primary,
> secondary, or combined station that causes the recipient to discard and
> ignore all bit sequences transmitted by the sender since the
> preceding flag sequences or to discard and ignore all data transmitted
> by the sender since the previous checkpoint.

> Failure (Fail is not listed, but this is close.)
>    (1) The termination of the ability of a functional unit to perform
> its required function. Synonymous with malfunction.
>    (2) Contrast with error, fault, mistake.

> What does this mean? I think Abort includes an implied Restore,
> because it will ignore data that has already been sent. Fail
> is a mystery, but probably does not include a Restore.

> I always encourage meaningful messages that will not alarm, mystify,
> frighten, or mislead people. My favorite system error I have received
> was on a Mac running System 6. I forget the text, but remember the
> icon--a bomb! Yes, a bomb with the fuse almost gone. The window had
> just one button: OK. It rebooted the system.

> David Oberstadt                       Santa Teresa Lab, San Jose
> daveo -at- vnet -dot- ibm -dot- com                    California

> "Omit needless words."
>    Strunk & White, The Elements of Style