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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
00007311003.1(2013)/Issue7+TC1Shell and Utilitiespublic2013-08-09 19:462019-06-10 08:55
Reporterfjanda Assigned To 
PrioritynormalSeverityCommentTypeClarification Requested
Status ClosedResolutionAccepted As Marked 
NameFelix Janda
Organization
User Reference
Sectionsplit
Page Number3217
Line Number107808
Interp StatusApproved
Final Accepted TextSee 0000731:0001718.
Summary0000731: split: Behavior when input file is empty
DescriptionThe desciption of the split utility does not specifically specify whether split shall create an empty file or do nothing when its input file is empty. The first sentence of the desciption

 The split utility shall read an input file and write one or more output files.

seems to indicate that split will create exactly one empty output file in this case.


On the other hand I have not found any implementation with this behavior.
Desired ActionClarify the behavior of split in the case of an empty input file.
Tagstc2-2008

Activities

Don Cragun

2013-08-15 15:23

manager   bugnote:0001718

Last edited: 2013-08-15 15:34

 Interpretation response
------------------------
The standard states that split produces one or more output files, and conforming implementations must conform to this. However, concerns have been raised about this which are being referred to the sponsor.

Rationale:
-------------
When the input is an empty file, historical practice has been to produce no output files. We see no reason why conforming implementations should be required to created an empty output file in this case.

Notes to the Editor (not part of this interpretation):
-------------------------------------------------------
In the NAME section, change:
     "split files into pieces"
to:
     "split a file into pieces"

In the SYNOPSIS section, change "[file[name]]" on both lines to "[file [name]]".

Change "one or more" in the DESCRIPTION section on P3217, L107808
to "zero or more",

Add to the end of the paragraph on P3217, L107821:
    "If the input is an empty file, no output file shall be created and this shall
     not be considered to be an error."

ajosey

2013-09-06 04:52

manager   bugnote:0001801

Interpretation Proposed 6 Sep 2013

ajosey

2013-10-14 13:08

manager   bugnote:0001899

Interpretation approved 14 October 2013

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
2013-08-09 19:46 fjanda New Issue
2013-08-09 19:46 fjanda Name => Felix Janda
2013-08-09 19:46 fjanda Section => split
2013-08-09 19:46 fjanda Page Number => *
2013-08-09 19:46 fjanda Line Number => *
2013-08-15 15:23 Don Cragun Page Number * => 3217
2013-08-15 15:23 Don Cragun Line Number * => 107808
2013-08-15 15:23 Don Cragun Interp Status => Pending
2013-08-15 15:23 Don Cragun Note Added: 0001718
2013-08-15 15:23 Don Cragun Status New => Interpretation Required
2013-08-15 15:23 Don Cragun Resolution Open => Accepted As Marked
2013-08-15 15:28 Don Cragun Note Edited: 0001718
2013-08-15 15:30 Don Cragun Note Edited: 0001718
2013-08-15 15:31 Don Cragun Final Accepted Text => See 0000731:0001718.
2013-08-15 15:31 Don Cragun Tag Attached: tc2-2008
2013-08-15 15:32 Don Cragun Note Edited: 0001718
2013-08-15 15:34 Don Cragun Note Edited: 0001718
2013-09-06 04:52 ajosey Interp Status Pending => Proposed
2013-09-06 04:52 ajosey Note Added: 0001801
2013-10-14 13:08 ajosey Interp Status Proposed => Approved
2013-10-14 13:08 ajosey Note Added: 0001899
2019-06-10 08:55 agadmin Status Interpretation Required => Closed