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Last update: 1997-05-20
9945-2-114
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Topic: mailx default command
Relevant Sections: 4.40.7
Defect Report:
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Date: Thu, 20 Apr 1995 16:11:50 -0700
From: [email protected] (ken dawson)
Dear Standards Board,
I would like to request a formal interpretation on the following
issue concerning the mailx utility in POSIX.2.
In section 4.40.7, the Extended Description of the
mailx command, (P342, L6328-L6330), it says:
Regular commands are of the form
[command] [msglist] [argument...]
If not command is specified in command mode, print shall be assumed...
While this language is clear, and corresponds well with the language in
the SVID (mailx(au_cmd, p 6-44)), the actual historical behavior of this
command should be expressed as follows:
Regular commands are of the form
[command] [msglist] [argument...]
If not command is specified in command mode, next shall be assumed...
I believe that this variance from actual historic practice was not
intended. The rationale for mailx seems to carefully point out the cases
where the standard differs from historic practice, but does not mention
this issue.
Interpretation response
------------------------
The standard states the behavior for the form of regular commands in mailx,
and conforming implementations must conform to this. However, concerns have
been raised about this which are being referred to the sponsor.
Rationale:
None
Forwarded to Interpretations group: Apr 21 1995
Proposed resolution circulated: May 16th
Comments due: June 15th
Finalised: June 16th 1995