From: gazelle@shell.xmission.com   
      
   In article ,   
   Robert Prins   wrote:   
   ...   
   >We're living in 2021, why write convoluted code when there are much better   
   >languages to do this? REXX (available for about every OS) can do it in one   
   line,   
   >and if you only use Windoze, PowerShell would probably do it.   
      
   Because those are the rules of this newsgroup.  Like several other Usenet   
   newsgroups, this group is kind of an abstraction.  I.e., the issue isn't   
   solving specific problems by whatever means work - i.e., if it works, it is   
   good mentality.  Rather, it is solving the problem using only a specific   
   set of tools - sort of like "straight edge and compass" problems in   
   geometry.   
      
   The rules - which, BTW, I didn't make up, and I, of course, have no   
   authority to enforce, but which I have gleaned from years of observing this   
   group - is that you can only solve problems using functionality found in   
   CMD.EXE itself (and COMMAND.COM before then).  You are not allowed to use   
   any external tools or languages.  To do so would be cheating.   
      
   Note, BTW, that you are sort of allowed (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) to cheat   
   semi-legally by using things like WishScript, or JavaScript, or   
   WhateverScript or PowerShell, because you can sort of make a case that   
   these things are now builtin on most modern Windows installs.  But the   
   point is that most people still using DOS/Windows (without any external   
   tools) are probably doing so on older machines (I still have several XP   
   machines), and those tools won't be present on those older machines.   
      
   In fact, many of the people still using CMD.EXE batch language, are   
   probably running their PCs by oil light, in a cave somewhere in Afghanistan   
   (or similar).   
      
   BTW, REXX?  Seriously???   
      
   --   
   "Only a genius could lose a billion dollars running a casino."   
   "You know what they say: the house always loses."   
   "When life gives you lemons, don't pay taxes."   
   "Grab 'em by the p***y!"   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)