ISAC: new IR 2094 Attribute specifications of overloaded subprograms is limited

From: Chuck Swart <cswart_at_.....>
Date: Fri May 05 2006 - 15:06:07 PDT
This IR is also in the database.
Any takers for the analysis?

Chuck Swart


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VHDL Issue Number:        2094    

Language_Version          VHDL-2002
Classification            Language Modeling Enhancement or Deficiency
Summary                   Attribute specifications of overloaded subprograms is limited
Relevant_LRM_Sections     5.1 Attribute specification
Related_Issues            
Key_Words_and_Phrases     attribute specification, entity class, overloading
Authors_Name              Lance Thompson
Authors_Phone_Number      507.253.0145
Authors_Fax_Number        
Authors_Email_Address     lancet@us.ibm.com
Authors_Affiliation       IBM
Authors_Address1          
Authors_Address2          
Authors_Address3          

Current Status:           Submitted

Superseded By:

------------------------
Date Submitted:           5 May 2006
Date Analyzed:
Author of Analysis:
Revision Number:          0
Date Last Revised:

Description of Problem
----------------------

Consider the following:
    
    attribute a :
    boolean;
    
    function sp( d:integer ) return integer;
    procedure sp( d:integer; z:integer );
    
    attribute a of sp:function is true;
    attribute a of sp:procedure is true;
    
    There is a rule in 5.1 that basically prohibits this.  

    "If a list of entity designators is supplied, then the attribute
    specification applies to the named entities denoted by those
    designators. It is an error if the class of those names is not the
    same as that denoted by the entity class."
    
    The rule seems to be overly restrictive.

Proposed Resolution
-------------------

Could the rule be extended to consider entities of the class denoted
in the specification?  That would almost eliminate the need for the
error specification.  Maybe something like:
    
    If a list of entity designators is supplied, then the attribute
    specification applies to the named entities denoted by those
    designators and of the class denoted in the
    specification. <delete?>It is an error if the class of those names
    is not the same as that denoted by the entity class.<end delete>

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

VASG-ISAC Recommendation for IEEE Std 1076-2002
-----------------------------------------------
TBD

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


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Received on Fri May 5 15:06:08 2006

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