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Last update: 10 April,2001

								1003.1-90  #78

 _____________________________________________________________________________

	Interpretation Number:	78
	Topic:               opendir() error return value
	Relevant Sections:   5.1.2.4

Interpretation Request: (Defect Report)
-----------------------

	Date: Mon, 9 Sep 1996 15:10:13 -0400 (EDT)

		Standard:1003.1-1996 (second edition 1996-07-12)
		SubSection:5.1.2.4 (line 118)

		function shall return -1 and set errno to the corresponding
		value


Question:

	The following sources document the return value as NULL:
		1003.1-1996 subsection 5.1.2.3		line 94
		1003.1b-1993 subsection 5.1.2.3		line 74
		1003.1b-1993 subsection 5.1.2.4		line 96
		2003.1-1992 subsection 5.1.2.2.4	line 253

	Does line 118 of std 1003.1-1996 subsection 5.1.2.4 indicate
	a new contradiction or a typographical error?

Suggested Correction:

	The clause should be changed to:

		function shall return NULL and set errno to the corresponding
		value



Interpretation response
------------------------
This is a typographical error. The published IEEE Std 1003.1-1996
is inconsistent with IEEE Std 1003.1-1990 and IEEE Std 1003.1b-1993.

Clauses 5.1.2.4 ll 102 & 114  should be changed to say:
		function shall return NULL and set errno to the corresponding
		value

It is recommended that this be fixed by applying the IEEE erratta process.

Rationale
-------------
The approved IEEE Std 1003.1-1990  does not include
this wording. IEEE Std 1003.1-1996 is a re-publication
of 1003.1-1990 merged together with the amendments. Since
there are intended to be no substantive changes apart
from the merging of the amendments, this would appear to be
a problem introduced with the merge.

Forwarded to Interpretations group: Sep 17 1996
Review start: Oct 22 1996
Finalised: Nov 24 1996