from the AD: content-length is invalid within multipart

• From: Keith Moore <moore@cs.utk.edu>
• Date: Wed, 07 May 1997 12:22:06 -0400
• To: http-wg@cuckoo.hpl.hp.com
• Cc: moore@cs.utk.edu
• Message-Id: <199705071622.MAA09253@spot.cs.utk.edu>

(this is with my AD hat on)

The MIME multipart definition, for better or worse, is set in stone.

The end of a component of a multipart is specified by its boundary
marker.  Any Content-Length field in a component of a multipart is
nonstandard, irrelevant, and must be ignored.

It is always possible to define a new length-delimited multi-component
content-type if there is a need for one.  But HTTP can't change the
definition of an existing and well-established content-type.

Keith Moore

p.s this is somewhat redundant with a statement that I made a couple
of days ago, but an editing glitch made that statement somewhat muddy.

Received on Wednesday, 7 May 1997 09:31:12 UTC