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Problem Report 0683 Details

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Report 0683 Actions

    Problem Report Number 0683
    Submitter's Classification Specification problem
    State Resolved
    Resolution Permanent Interpretation (PIN)
    Problem Resolution ID PIN.X.0076
    Raised 1970-01-01 08:00
    Updated 2003-03-13 08:00
    Published 1997-07-07 08:00
    Product Standard Commands and Utilities V2 (UNIX 95)
    Certification Program The Open Brand certification program
    Test Suite VSC version 4.1.4
    Test Identification POSIX.cmd/locale 19
    Specification Commands and Utilities Issue 4 Version 2
    Location in Spec See Problem Text
    Problem Summary PIN4C.00038 This test may fail if implementations output CHAR_MAX rather than -1 when a numeric locale keyword is undefined.
    Problem Text
    This test may fail if implementations output CHAR_MAX rather than
    -1 when a numeric locale keyword is undefined.

    Note: Please refer to SR# 2358.
    Please refer to X/Open Interpretation #1170/157.

    This waiver has been refused, however, we are submitting this waiver
    request to correspond to the outcome of X/Open Interpretation 1170/157
    which is being forwarded by the X/Open Base Working Group to the
    POSIX (1003.2) Shell and Utilities Working Group for Interpretation.

    The text of the interpretation request is as follows:

    ----------------- text of interpretation request begins ------------

    We believe that there is a grey area in the XPG4.2 specification for
    locale -k.

    On page 423 of the XCU, the -k option is defined as:

    -k Write the names and values of selected keywords. ...

    where it is clearly defined what keywords are acceptable. However,
    it is NOT defined in the specification as to what form the values for
    those keywords should take. The only other mention is on page 425, where
    it describes the format the output for the locale -k option is to take, but
    also fails to describe where the value comes from.

    The definitions on page 68 of the SID in the table at the top of the page
    indicates two possible values for the specified symbols, the localeconv() value
    and the localedef value. We can find no indication in the XPG4.2 specification
    defining which of these values or other possible implementation defined
    values are valid for the -k option for locale.

    The most that the specification says about this is on page 46 of the SID in
    Section 5.2:

    "All systems provide a POSIX locale, also known as the C locale. The
    behaviour of standard utilities and functions in the POSIX locale is as
    if the locale was defined via the localedef utility with input data from
    the POSIX locale tables in Section 5.3."

    However, the specification for the localedef utility does not define the
    format or content of the output. It DOES talk about the input as specified
    in Section 5.3 of the SID, but not the output. (Example: acceptable values
    output from localedef of the localeconv() value is not denied by the
    specification).

    Further, the specification does not document nor does it discuss that a
    translation from localedef to locale should or should not happen. (e.g.
    the specification does not mandate that what goes into localedef, has to
    come out of locale).

    Lastly, the POSIX.2-1992 standard is not any clearer on the subject.
    The standard is even more vague with regards to this subject area.
    On pages 316-319, it also clearly defines the keyword and the output format,
    but fails to define the values to be returned.

    We believe that the failure of the specification to clearly define what
    values are acceptable to be returned to locale -k constitutes a grey area
    in the specification and as such no conformance distinction can be made
    based upon it.

    ----------------------- end interpretation text -----------------------------

    Test Output
    ************************************************************************
    /tset/POSIX.cmd/locale/locale.ex 1 Failed


    Test Information:
    Assertion #19 (A): 'locale -k <args...>' with expected numeric values.
    "frac_digits=-1" wasn't found in standard output
    "int_frac_digits=-1" wasn't found in standard output
    ************************************************************************

    Review Information

    Review Type TSMA Review
    Start Date null
    Completed null
    Status Complete
    Review Recommendation No Resolution Given
    Review Response
    Because of the pending POSIX interpretation, a temporary
    interpretation is recommended.

    Review Type SA Review
    Start Date null
    Completed null
    Status Complete
    Review Resolution Permanent Interpretation (PIN)
    Review Conclusion
    A Permanent Interpretation is granted.

    Problem Reporting System Options:

     

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