VHDL Issue Number:      1014
Classification:         Language Definition Problem
Language Version:       VHDL-93
Summary:                The LENGTH attribute is ill-defined.
Related Issues:         0102, 0103
Relevant LRM Sections:  14.1
Key Words and Phrases:  LENGTH attribute, Pre-defined attributes.
Current Status:         Submitted
1076-1993 Disposition:  N/A
Disposition Rationale:  N/A
Superseded By:          N/A
-----------------------
Date Submitted:         1988/05/25
Author of Submission:   Paul Menchini
Author's Affiliation:   Menchini & associates
Author's Post Address:  2 Davis Drive
                        P.O. Box 13036
                        Research Triangle Park, NC  27709-3036
Author's Phone Number:  919.990.9506
Author's Fax Number:    919.990.9507
Author's Net Address:   mench@mercury.interpath.net
-----------------------
Date Analyzed:          TBD
Author of Analysis:     TBD
Revision Number:        $Revision: 1.4 $
Date Last Revised:      $Date: 1995/05/15 20:07:17 $


Description of Problem
----------------------
The kind of the LENGTH attribute (LRM page 14-5) is specified as a value.  
However, the other array attributes (with the exception of RANGE and 
REVERSE_RANGE) are functions; moreover, the evaluation of A'LENGTH involves 
(at least conceptually) the evaluation of A'HIGH and A'LOW, both of which are 
functions.  Since values may be "pre-evaluated", while functions are to be 
evaluated upon demand, it seems that the LENGTH attribute should be a function 
to preserved the semantics of its definition.


Proposed Resolution
-------------------
Change the kind of the LENGTH attribute from "value" to "function."


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


VASG-ISAC Recommendation for IEEE Std 1076-1993
-----------------------------------------------
TBD


VASG-ISAC Recommendation for Future Revisions
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TBD