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Last update: 10 April,2001

                                                                1003.1-90 #35
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	Interpretation Number:	(to be assigned by the IEEE)
	Topic:			PATH_MAX
	Relevant Sections:	2.4
	Classification:		No Change required.


Interpretation Request: (Defect Report)
-----------------------
1. PATH_MAX  appears to limit the length of a pathname as it is passed
on a call to a function. There does not appear to be a defined  Error
Number in section 2.4 to address the situation when the pathname is less
than or equal to PATH_MAX, but when combined with the current working
directory exceeds the limit of the conforming implementation.
It would appear such a definition should be added to ENAMETOOLONG.

(Paul Wanish IBM)

IEEE Interpretation for 1003.1-1990 (9945-1:1990):
--------------------------------------------------

No, the interpretations committee disagrees.

Rationale for Interpretation:
-----------------------------

The [ENAMETOOLONG] error condition refers to pathname arguments supplied
to the implementation, not to any pathnames that might be internally
generated by the implementation.

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