FW: error resolution assistance needed

[Ed Barkmeyer]

Thomas Hendrix wrote:
> 10303-11:1994 and its DAM 1 , 9.2.3.4  
> 
> "Rules and restrictions:  a)" seems to disallow the use of RENAME 
 > for attribute redeclaration unless the renamed attribute is
 > constrained by an additional change. Is this the intent?
 > If so, propose relaxing this restriction.

This is really a subtle point:  rule (a) requires a "redeclaration" in 
the full syntax thereof, but it is nowhere stated that a "redeclaration" 
must actually constrain the data type of the attribute!

The purpose of redeclaration (before, and therefore other than, RENAME) 
was to constrain the type, and there was formerly no reason to have a 
redeclaration that does not further constrain the type.  But a 
redeclaration of an attribute that declares it to be of exactly the 
original type appears to meet all the requirements for a valid 
redeclaration.

OTOH, it does seem that a simpler syntax for changing only the name 
would be useful.

-Ed

-- 
Edward J. Barkmeyer                       Email: edbark at nist.gov
National Institute of Standards & Technology
Manufacturing Systems Integration Division
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