If success is uninteresting, then return an uninteresting result, that is, "". Then return the reason for failure (as a string, coded number, whatever) in the case of failure. system() already acts this way so it should not be too confusing for people (that is what documentation is for).

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")

In reply to (tye)Re: Nice style for interesting error messages by tye
in thread Nice style for interesting error messages by dash2

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