> Perl should be able to distinguish between printable strings and
> packed binary data stored as strings (presumed to not be printable
> text)
All strings are "printable" in perl, since print just calls fwrite(). I
can and do use perl to "print" binary data. print $a is perfectly fine
even if $a is a packed binary thing. In fact, since there is no other way
to call fwrite() [write does format things, and syswrite bypasses stdio,
which may not be appropriate] print $a is probably the best way to output
a packed binary thing.
> If anyone knows of common constructs/idioms which would break under
> this scheme and where it's too painful to add C<pack("a*",...)> or
> C<"..."> as appropriate ... well I don't have to ask to have them
> pointed out, do I? :-) The only cases I've been able to think of are
> JAPHs or code samples.
"too painful" is, of course, a judgment call. I do use the
read/unpack/modify/pack/print cycle a fair amount dealing with image data.
I guess I'd say working around RFC 258 might be annoying but not painful.
--
Andy Dougherty [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Dept. of Physics
Lafayette College, Easton PA 18042
