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Last update: 1997-05-20
9945-2-3
Class: The ambiguous situation
No conformance distinction can be made between alternative
implementations based on this. This is being referred to the
Sponsors of the standard for clarifying wording in the next amendment.
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Topic: dd
Relevant Sections: 4.16.2
Defect Report:
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In Section 4.16 - Convert and copy a file, the standard
states that ``if the swab conversion is specified, each pair
of input data bytes shall be swapped. If there are an odd
number of bytes in the input block, the results are
unspecified.'' [Draft 12 of ISO/IEC 9945-2:1993 (July
1992), p. 258, lines 3072-3074]
Then, on page 260, the standard contradicts itself, saying
the swab conversion means ``swap every pair of input bytes.
If the current input record is an odd number of bytes, the
last byte in the input record shall be ignored.'' [Ibid.,
p. 260, lines 3151-3153]
Which of these two passages is valid?
WG15 response for 9945-2:1993
-----------------------------------
This is a conflict in the standard, (and neither section matches
historic practice.) In this case the implementation is allowed to choose
either behavior. Concerns about this have been referred to the Sponsors
of the standard for possible amendment.
Rationale for Interpretation:
-----------------------------
None.
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