[aprssig] spaces in object names PROPOSAL

[Curt, WE7U]

On Thu, 13 Aug 2009, Bob Bruninga  wrote:

> Can we all agree to the following fundamental principles:
>
> 1) The NAME of a "thing" in APRS is the fundamental key to its
> existence.  This means that if the NAME is the same, then it does
> not matter the source, or the type, be it station or object or
> item, if it has the same name, then it is the same thing and it
> REPLACES it.

+1, even though it means work for our project.  It's the same
position you've had for years.


> 2) To make this work with STATIONS having a variable length field,
> and OBJECTS having a fixed length field padded with spaces, these
> "padded" spaces are only significant in maintianing the fixed
> format, and do not have any significance when received with
> respect to the name.  IE, trailing spaces are dropped or ignored.

+1


> 3) Leading spaces are a user mistake, and an anathma to me, so I'll leave this open.  TO me they are an error..

+1.  I'll go further and suggest that leading spaces from
Objects/Items/Station also be removed.


> 4) ...I believe that embedded spaces (not trailing ones) should be
> retained as sent by the sender.  THough, I think it is generally a
> poor idea. (though it works well for Dstar).

+1


> Can we all sign on to these interpretations:
> 1) Drop trailing spaces
> 2) Retain embedded spaces
> 3) Treat all resulting names independent of how they were received
> as the same "thing" with respect to replacement, overwriting,
> and/or killing.
> 4) And of course, retain in your data base the distinction of
> whether it is an object or a station as needed for user selection,
> manipulation and display, and so that ownership is preserved until
> replaced.  But in all cases the latest "identically named" thing
> replaces any other.

Yes, plus #3 addition above?

-- 
Curt, WE7U.                         <http://www.eskimo.com/~archer>
    APRS:  Where it's at!                    <http://www.xastir.org>
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