[sv-cc] Mantis item 1395: Open arrays: unsized packed dimensions

A new Mantis item has been filed to interpret and clarify what is legal
for 
unsized, packed dimensions in DPI import declarations: item 1395.
 
Most of the material is contained in the first Bugnote but a summary
follows:
-----------
 
The current LRM material on open array packed dimensions should
explicitly state whether 
unsized dimensions can be arbitrarily mixed with sized ones in
multidimensional, packed arrays
(which is the case for unpacked dimensions).  The grammar appears to
allow this.  The text 
states that multiple packed dimensions are allowed but I can find no
text that explicitly allows or
forbids arbitrary mixes of sized and unsized packed dimensions (e.g., in
F.6.1, F.6.5, F.6.6).
 
There are three basic possibilities:
a. An unsized packed dimension "[]" can only appear as a solitary
dimension.
b. A single unsized dimension can appear interspersed with one or more
sized packed dimensions.
c. Unsized and sized packed dimensions can be arbitrarily mixed.
 
The existing LRM appears to essentially default to possibility 'c.' 
 
Resolving this issue will facilitiate:
1. Clearly stating all legal scenarios and their ranges (i.e., whether
various ranges are normalized or not).
2. How actual and formal dimensions are to be matched, when one or more
unsized dimensions 
    are involved.
-----------
 
The practical implications of the various possible interpretations
differ significantly, so any time 
spent in considering this issue will be much appreciated.
 
Ralph Duncan
Mentor Graphics
San Jose, CA