VHDL Issue Number:      0008
Classification:         Language Definition Problem
Language Version:       VHDL-87
Summary:                Are deferred constants still deferred after their full
                        declaration?
Related Issues:         0020, 0059
Relevant LRM Sections:  2.6, 4.3.1.1
Key Words and Phrases:  Deferred constants,
                        full declaration of deferred constants
Current Status:         Superseded
1076-1993 Disposition:  Superseded (ISAC Issues Outstanding
Disposition Rationale:  N/A
Superseded By:          1004
-----------------------
Date Submitted:         1989/02/23
Author of Submission:   Paul Menchini
Author's Affiliation:   CAD Language Systems, Inc.
Author's Post Address:  P.O. Box 13036
                        Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-3036
Author's Phone Number:  (919) 361-1913
Author's Fax Number:    
Author's Net Address:   mench@clsi.com
-----------------------
Date Analyzed:          TBD
Author of Analysis:     TBD
Revision Number:        $Revision: 1.10 $
Date Last Revised:      $Date: 1995/07/26 18:16:17 $


Description of Problem
----------------------
The LRM is unclear on the semantics deferred constants after their full
declaration in a package body.

To illustrate, consider the following example:

        package P is
          constant C: Integer;
        end P;

        package body P is
          constant C: Integer := 0;

          -- "C" is clearly a globally static primary here, but
          -- is "C" a locally static primary here?

        end P;

Except for the fact that the declaration of C in the package body is the full
declaration of the deferred constant in the package interface, the name "C" in
the package body meets all the requirements of a locally static primary.

Note that if the deferred constant declaration of C in the package interface
was not present, then a reference to C in the package body (after the
declaration of C) would clearly be a locally static expression.


Proposed Resolution
-------------------
Explicitly state in Section 4.3.1.1 that the name of a full declaration of a
constant is to be treated no differently that a "normal" constant declaration
in the subsequent text of the design unit containing the full declaration.


VASG-ISAC Analysis & Rationale
------------------------------
TBD


VASG-ISAC Recommendation for IEEE Std 1076-1987
-----------------------------------------------
TBD


VASG-ISAC Recommendation for Future Revisions
---------------------------------------------
TBD