[Subject Prev][Subject Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Subject Index][Thread Index]

Re: (no subject)



On Tue, 6 Jun 2000, Rajeev Jha wrote:



> hi list
> binand, i think by this u mean that every file in unix is a series of
> bytes , no special bytes , whether text or binary files. just one query,
> what exactly is an ascii text file  , as listed by the $ file <filename>
> command ? i mean is ascii just means that some programs( cat , more
> etc)  can output it neatly on the screen ? 
> 

Well, yes.
A byte can be used to represent 256 different values/characters. Of
these, all have been assigned a special meaning, eg, EOF,'/n' '/t'
etc are just one of these combinations having been assigned a
special meaning. Similarly the normal alphanumeric characters such
as 'a' ... 'z' ..1,2, * %..etc have a corresponding hexadecimal
value, which is interpreted by cat, more etc as text, as per the
ASCII standard.

So there is no ascii file as such. It only depend on the
interpretation.

pallav.


___________________________________________________________________
O Sun of refulgent glory, I made you what you are.
					 - Mandakyo Upnishad
____________________________________________________________________
Pallav Nawani        |    Visit me at                              |
M-41,                |  http://www.angelfire.com/co/pallav         |           
IISc Bangalore       | --------------------------------------------| 
PIN 560012           |                                             |
Phone : 3092453      |                                             |
_____________________|_____________________________________________|