[Bug 1918] New: RQ-150b: adjust minimum implementation requirements for decimal

http://www.w3.org/Bugs/Public/show_bug.cgi?id=1918

           Summary: RQ-150b:  adjust minimum implementation requirements for
                    decimal
           Product: XML Schema
           Version: 1.1
          Platform: PC
               URL: http://www.w3.org/TR/xmlschema11-1/reqs.html#Minimum-
                    number-of-digits-for-decimal
        OS/Version: Linux
            Status: NEW
          Severity: normal
          Priority: P2
         Component: XSD Part 2: Datatypes
        AssignedTo: cmsmcq@w3.org
        ReportedBy: cmsmcq@w3.org
         QAContact: www-xml-schema-comments@w3.org


XML Schema 1.0 requires all implementations to support at least
18 digits in the decimal type.  This has two problems:

    * If an implementation strictly implements a 18 digit decimal 
      facility, it cannot accomodate long which requires 20 digits.
    * 18 decimal digits cannot be accommodated in 64 bits.

In April 2004 the WG decided to resolve this thus:

    * Note that the existence of types with infinite value spaces
      commits us already to allowing implementations which support
      some but not all values; the minimum implementation limits
      we specify are intended to provide some guidance in the
      matter.

      So it's legal to have only a partial implementation of long.
      (Whether it's smart is a different question.)

    * In 1.1, the minimum implementation requirement is to be
      16 digits.

Wording to this effect was adopted in January 2005, but RQ-150b
has remained open because some concern was expressed over whether
the words adopted in January 2005 were correct.

Received on Tuesday, 30 August 2005 18:31:31 UTC