Case insensitivity (was Re: browse keys (@bk))

[Brian K. White]

Fairlight wrote:
> You'll never BELIEVE what Kenneth Brody said here...:
>> Fairlight wrote:
>> [...]
>>> I wholly disagree.  I can't even enumerate the large number of
>>> "unique" identifiers I've seen in -many- industries, which make use
>>> of letters.  Try UPS shipping numbers, for an off-the-cuff example.
>> [...]
>>
>> But, are UPS shipping numbers case-sensitive?  (I don't have a
>> tracking number at the moment for me to test.)
>
> I doubt it.  My point was not that they were.  My point was that
> Brian's assertion that you should -never- use letters any a unique
> identifier is highly questionable.

I said you should avoid it, or at least not expect or demand
case-sensativity.

BTW: I don't consider such things as http/cgi session id's in this category.
They are unique identifiers, but they are never meant to be remembered,
written down, or typed in by a human.

ups tracking number is a borderline case to me between being like an invoice
number and being like a session id. (ok it's more like an invoice number)
If they are case sensative then presumably ups has their reasons for it, but
I would say they should not be if anyone is ever meant to handle them
manually and people certainly do.

Brian K. White  --  brian at aljex.com  --  http://www.aljex.com/bkw/
+++++[>+++[>+++++>+++++++<<-]<-]>>+.>.+++++.+++++++.-.[>+<---]>++.
filePro BBx  Linux SCO  Prosper/FACTS AutoCAD  #callahans Satriani