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   REPLYADDR cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid   
   REPLYTO 3:770/3.0 UUCP   
   MSGID:  201435f9   
   REPLY:  73e42d8b   
   PID: SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
   On 2024-08-14, Dennis  wrote:   
      
   > On 8/14/24 07:27, Single Stage to Orbit wrote:   
   >   
   >> I suppose you'll now tell us about the joys of using punched cards.   
   >> I don't envy you the joys of sorting a pile of punched cards that's   
   >> been dropped on the floor ...   
   >   
   > That is why you put a sequence number in col 73-80. A few passes on the   
   > sorter and no problem.   
      
   Sometimes you got lucky, and the dropped deck would smear itself   
   across the floor in such a way that, if you were careful, you could   
   gather the cards up in sequence.   
      
   The sequence numbers in columns 73-80 were primarily for source code.   
   Data decks were usually sorted on various other columns (e.g. customer   
   number and/or date).   
      
   I soon gave up on punching sequence numbers in source decks.   
   Our programs were subject to frequent modifications that required   
   moving large blocks of code around, which meant that the sequence   
   numbers became meaningless.  You would have to re-punch the deck   
   using a utility that re-generated the sequence numbers - and then   
   you'd need to run the new deck through an interpreter so you could   
   read what was on the cards.  It usually wasn't worth the effort.   
      
   --   
   /~\  Charlie Gibbs                  |  We'll go down in history as the   
   \ /        |  first society that wouldn't save   
    X   I'm really at ac.dekanfrus     |  itself because it wasn't cost-   
   / \  if you read it the right way.  |  effective.  -- Kurt Vonnegut   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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