WG15 Defect Report Ref: 9945-2-108
Topic: mailx edit command edits messages in sequence


This is an approved interpretation of 9945-2:1993.

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Last update: 1997-05-20


								9945-2-108

 _____________________________________________________________________________

	Topic:                  mailx edit command edits messages in sequence
	Relevant Sections:      4.40.7.2.8

Defect Report:
-----------------------


Dear Standards Board,
        I would like to request a formal interpretation on the following
issue concerning the mailx utility in POSIX.2.


In section 4.40.7.2.8 (Edit Messages), the Extended Description of the
mailx command, (P349, L6628-6631), it says:

    Synopsis:    e[dit] [msglist]

    Edit the given messages.  The messages shall be placed in a temporary
    file and the utility named by the EDITOR variable (see 4.40.5.3)
    shall be invoked to edit the file.  The default editor is
    unspecified.

While this language is clear, and corresponds well with the language in
the SVID (mailx(au_cmd, p 6-46)), the actual historical behavior of this
command should be expressed as follows:

    Edit the given messages.  Each message shall be placed in a temporary
    file and the utility named by the EDITOR variable (see 4.40.5.3)
    shall be invoked to edit each file in sequence.  The default editor
    is unspecified.

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 edit, 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 19 1995
Proposed resolution circulated: May 16th
Comments due: June 15th
Date Finalised: June 16th