Questions: RIPE DB / Handles with no numbers / LONGACK

Hello,

I haves questions about the current operation of the RIPE-Database:

>From ripe-157:
> RIPE NIC-handle: <Initials><0-999>-RIPE 

There are person-objects in the RIPE-Database that do not
conform to this format, eg. AA-RIPE and MB10000-RIPE.

The numbers greater than 999 are no problem,
but Handles without number are a nuissance,
e.g. when testing for a valid format in a field...

So, are Handles without a number offically allowed ?


> If you require a detailed acknowledgement, put the 
> keyword "LONGACK" in the `Subject' line of your e-mail. 

We have a script for sending mail to auto-dbm at ripe.net,
and it always uses LONGACK - so the answer-mails 
should all look alike.
But as a result, we get mails in different formats, e.g. short:
>>>
From: RIPE Database Management <ripe-dbm at ripe.net>
To: Nacamar Guardian <gurt at gargoyle.nacamar.de>
Subject: SUCCEEDED: LONGACK
..
The following objects were processed.

New OK: [person] IB179-RIPE (Ivonne Bankwitz)
<<<

Sometimes the reply ist "long", it also quotes the content of our mail:
>>>
Date: 17 Sep 1999 08:12:10 -0000
From: RIPE Database Management <ripe-dbm at ripe.net>
To: Nacamar Guardian <gurt at gargoyle.nacamar.de>
Subject: SUCCEEDED: LONGACK
..
The following objects were processed.

New OK: [person] IB179-RIPE (Ivonne Bankwitz)

person:      Ivonne Bankwitz
...
<<<

I have no idea, why, and on what condition the database 
returns the "short" or the "full" answer.
Can someone tell ?


Best Regards,
 HaJo Gurt

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