Issue 0270: wint_t is not the promoted version of wchar_t

This issue has been automatically converted from the original issue lists and some formatting may not have been preserved.

Authors: Clive D.W. Feather <clive@demon.net>, UK C Panel
Date: 2001-09-07
Submitted against: C99
Status: Fixed
Fixed in: C99 TC2
Converted from: summary-c99.htm, dr_270.htm

Problem

In the fprintf conversion specifier "%lc", the corresponding argument is of type wint_t, but is then treated as if it contained a wchar_t value. In 7.19.6.1#18, the last call is:

  fprintf(stdout, "|%13lc|\n", wstr[5]);

This argument has the type wchar_t.

There is no requirement in the Standard that the default argument promotions convert wchar_t to wint_t. Therefore this example exhibits undefined behaviour on some implementations. Nonetheless, the code looks like it ought to work, and WG14 should consider changing the definition of wint_t to force it.

The current definition of wint_t is in 7.24.1#2:

wint_t

which is an integer type unchanged by default argument promotions that can hold any value corresponding to members of the extended character set, as well as at least one value that does not correspond to any member of the extended character set (see WEOF below);269) and

269wchar_t and wint_t can be the same integer type.

Three possible solutions are:

  1. Fix the example.
  2. Change the definition of wint_t to be the promoted version of wchar_t.
  3. Change the definition of %lc to take promoted wchar_t rather than wint_t.

Suggested Technical Corrigendum 1

Change the quoted line of 7.19.6.1#18 to:

  fprintf(stdout, "|%13lc|\n", (wint_t) wstr[5]);

Suggested Technical Corrigendum 2

Change the cited portion of 7.24.1#2 to:

wint_t which is the integer type resulting when the default argument promotions are applied to the type wchar_t;269) and

Suggested Technical Corrigendum 3

[Italics are used to show the changed text.]

Change 7.19.6.1#7 and 7.24.2.1#7, l modifier, to:
l (ell) Specifies that a following d, i, o, u, x, or X conversion specifier applies to a long int or unsigned long int argument; that a following n conversion specifier applies to a pointer to a long int argument; that a following c conversion specifier applies to an argument whose type is that resulting when the default argument conversions are applied to the type wchar_t; that a following s conversion specifier applies to a pointer to a wchar_t argument; or has no effect on a following a, A, e, E, f, F, g, or G conversion specifier.

Change 7.19.6.1#8, c specifier, second paragraph, to:

If an l length modifier is present*, the argument - whose type is that resulting when the default argument conversions are applied to the type wchar_t* - is converted as if by an ls conversion specification with no precision and an argument that points to the initial element of a two-element array of wchar_t, the first element containing the argument to the lc conversion specification and the second a null wide character.

Change 7.24.2.1#8, c specifier, second paragraph, to:

If an l length modifier is present, the argument is converted to wchar_t and written.

Comment from WG14 on 2002-03-07:

Technical Corrigendum

Change the quoted line of 7.19.6.1#18 to:

  fprintf(stdout, "|%13lc|\n", (wint_t) wstr[5]);