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Problem Report 0715 Details

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This page provides all information on Problem Report 0715.

Report 0715 Actions

    Problem Report Number 0715
    Submitter's Classification Specification problem
    State Resolved
    Resolution Permanent Interpretation (PIN)
    Problem Resolution ID PIN.X.0108
    Raised 1970-01-01 08:00
    Updated 2003-03-13 08:00
    Published 1995-09-07 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 XOPEN.cmd/nl 1010,1015
    Specification Commands and Utilities Issue 4 Version 2
    Location in Spec See Problem Text
    Problem Summary PIN4C.00006 Alternate test behavior was recommended by VWG/053/092593
    Problem Text
    The X/Open interpretation request (VWG/053/092593) was recently resolved.
    The outcome of the resolution was that the standard was "incorrect" or
    more correctly not what was intended. The wording was changed and
    recommended to be included in a future revision.
    Test Output

    Assertion #1010 (A): Verify that 'nl -h t' number header lines with text in current locales's graph character classification.
    There is an X/Open interpretation request (VWG/053/092593) concerning the behaviour of the "t" option argument.
    Command failed: '[ `grep -c 1 out.stdout` -eq 1 ]'
    Assertion Result: FAIL

    Assertion #1015 (A): Verify that 'nl -f t' number footer lines with text in current locales's graph character classification.
    There is an X/Open interpretation request (VWG/053/092593) concerning the behaviour of the "t" option argument.
    Command failed: '[ `grep -c 1 out.stdout` -eq 1 ]'
    Assertion Result: FAIL

    Review Information

    Review Type TSMA Review
    Start Date null
    Completed null
    Status Complete
    Review Recommendation No Resolution Given
    Review Response
    VWG/053/092593 states

    Problem:

    In the XCU4 specification, the -b t option of the nl command is
    described as causing nl to number only lines with text consisting
    entirely of characters in the current locale's "graph" character
    classification. This is the default action of nl as well.

    The graph character classification in the POSIX locale does not
    include the space character (nor the tab character for that matter).
    This causes the default (-b t) action of nl to NOT number lines that
    contain a space character. This does not seem to be what was intended.

    Historical versions of this command simply do not number empty lines
    in the text (i.e. lines that consist only of a new-line character).
    SVID 3 (see below) states that only lines with printable text will be
    numbered.

    It seems that neither of these definitions are completely
    accurate or reflective of the expected functionality from nl.
    However, the description as translated from SVID 3 seems to be the
    closest to the desired behaviour. Therefore, we would suggest that
    a change be made to the description of the -b t (and default) option
    of nl to number only lines consisting of characters in the print
    character class.

    Relevant references:

    The SVID 3 specification of the nl command states that the default
    option 't' numbers lines with printable text only. If you translate
    this to mean characters in the "print" class, then the space character
    would be included. Note, however, that a <tab> is not in the "print"
    class, so any line with a <tab> in it would NOT be numbered by default.


    X/Open Resolution:
    ---------------------------

    Historical practice has been for the -b t option to number only
    non-empty lines, where this is defined in the XBD as:

    empty line
    A line consisting of only a newline character.


    It is recommended that the description be changed to this
    in a future revision and that either description be conforming
    for this edition of the specification.

    This resolution does not specifically reference the -h
    and -f options which are being tested above. But the
    current spec states

    -h type Specify the same as b type except for
    header. The default type for logical page
    header is n (no lines numbered).

    -f type Specify the same as b type except for
    footer. The default for logical page footer
    is n (no lines numbered).

    We assume the resolution intended to define new behavior for
    these options as well.

    A permanent 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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