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Last update: 1997-05-20
9945-1-90 #18
Classification: No change
There may be a conflict with the 13210 standard, this interpretation
will be forwarded to that group.
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Topic: system documentation
Relevant Sections: 1.3.1.2
Defect Report:
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(1.3.1.2, p. 3, lines 85-88)
Do the words "unless the system documentation is
explicitly mentioned" mean that documentation about a
feature shall not be included in the PCD if it's
required to be present in the system documentation?
My reading is that this negates "shall appear in the
conformance document", but does not negate the
alternative, "may appear in the conformance document".
Specific example: p. 44, lines 113-116. The system's
interpretation of ARG_MAX must be specified in the
system documentation. Does this mean that this
interpretation shall not also be specified in the PCD?
Related issue (may require a change to 9945-1): Where
9945-1 requires that information be provided in the
system documentation, it should also require that a
pointer to this information be provided in the PCD.
Without such a requirement, assertions related to the
system documentation are untestable. Testing them
would require an exhaustive audit to find the
information and verify that it's not contradicted
elsewhere in the documentation.
WG15 response for ISO/IEC 9945-1:1990 (IEEE Std 1003.1-1990)
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a) Lines 85 to 88 mean that all instances of "shall document"
in the standard place a requirement on an implementor of a POSIX
conforming system to include in the POSIX Conformance Document a
description of the referenced feature, unless this standard specifically
requires it to appear in the system documentation.
Information required to be in system documentation may also be in the PCD,
either as a reference to the system documentation or as a copy of the
text. Whether in PCD or not, it must still be in system
documentation.
The related issue is not addressed by the current standard.
Rationale for Interpretation:
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The POSIX Conformance Document need not be a component
of or packaged with the System Documentation,
so including a reference or section in the PCD alone is not sufficient.
Editorial note for future revision of standard (not part of the interpretation)
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The related note should be considered in a future revision.
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