VHDL Issue Number:      0018
Classification:         Language Definition Problem
Language Version:       VHDL-87
Summary:                The rules for package elaboration do not consider the
                        case of package bodies written in a foreign language.
Related Issues:         None.
Relevant LRM Sections:  2.5, 12.1
Key Words and Phrases:  Elaboration, package declarations, package bodies,
                        foreign language interface
Current Status:         Submitted
1076-1993 Disposition:  Closed (All Issues Completely Addressed)
Disposition Rationale:  LRM is clear now, Section 12.3 addresses this.
Superseded By:            N/A
-----------------------
Date Submitted:         1989/02/07
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: 1.9 $
Date Last Revised:      $Date: 1995/05/13 19:34:42 $


Description of Problem
----------------------
Section 2.5 explicitly states (in a note) that subprograms written in languages
other than VHDL can be made available by defining their interfaces within
package declarations that have no corresponding bodies.  The foreign "bodies"
are then associated with these interfaces via some implementation-dependent
mechanism.  Section 12.1, in defining the elaboration of package interfaces and
their associated bodies, makes no provision for the case where the body is
implemented in some language other than VHDL.


Proposed Resolution
-------------------
Change the second-to-last sentence of fourth paragraph in Section 12.1 to read:

        "Elaboration of a package additionally consists of the
         elaboration of the declarative part of the package
         declaration, followed by elaboration of the declarative
         part of the corresponding package body, if the corresponding
         package body exists and does not represent one or more
         subprograms written in another language.  Elaboration of
         a package body representing one or more subprograms written
         in another language occurs in an implementation-dependent
         fashion."

Alternatively, sections on the elaboration of packages and package bodies
(perhaps 12.1.1 and 12.1.2) could be added; in the latter section the
elaboration of foreign-language package bodies could be described.


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


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


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