*Synopsis*: /usr/bin/printf does not recognize positional arguments like %n$
CR 6631969 changed on Jan 7 2010 by <User 1-5Q-1267>
=== Field ============ === New Value ============= === Old Value =============
See Also 1248335
====================== =========================== ===========================
*Change Request ID*: 6631969
*Synopsis*: /usr/bin/printf does not recognize positional arguments like %n$
Product: solaris
Category: utility
Subcategory: shell
Type: Defect
Subtype:
Status: 3-Accepted
Substatus:
Priority: 3-Medium
Introduced In Release:
Introduced In Build:
Responsible Engineer:
Keywords: opensolaris, oss-request
=== *Description* ============================================================
Category
utility
Sub-Category
other
Description
/usr/bin/printf does not recognize positional arguments. printf(3c) says:
-- snip --
Conversions can be applied to the nth argument after the
format in the argument list, rather than to the next unused
argument. In this case, the conversion specifier % (see
below) is replaced by the sequence %n$, where n is a decimal
integer in the range [1, NL_ARGMAX], giving the position of
the argument in the argument list. This feature provides for
the definition of format strings that select arguments in an
order appropriate to specific languages (see the EXAMPLES
section).
-- snip --
However an attempt to use this feature with /usr/bin/printf results in
gibberish:
$ /usr/bin/printf "%2\$x %1\$d\n" 14 2
ffbffcd7 -4195116
ksh -c 'printf "%2\$x %1\$d\n" 14 2'
Frequency
Always
Regression
No
Steps to Reproduce
Run /usr/bin/printf like this:
$ /usr/bin/printf "%2\$x %1\$d\n" 14 2
Expected Result
The arguments "14" and "2" printed in reverse order:
-- snip --
2 14
-- snip --
Actual Result
Some hexadecimal numbers which look completely unrelated to the input
arguments:
-- snip --
ffbffcd7 -4195116
-- snip --
Error Message(s)
-
Test Case
See above.
Workaround
Use ksh93's "printf" builtin, e.g.
-- snip --
$ ksh93 -c 'printf "%2\$x %1\$d\n" 14 2'
2 14
-- snip --
Submitter wants to work on bug
Yes
Additional configuration information
Solaris 11/B72
*** (#1 of 1): 2007-11-20 01:42:32 GMT+00:00 <User 1-F4SZV>
=== *Public Comments* ========================================================
=== *Workaround* =============================================================
=== *Additional Details* =====================================================
Targeted Release:
Commit To Fix In Build:
Fixed In Build:
Integrated In Build:
Verified In Build:
See Also: 1248335, 6619428, 6649911
Duplicate of:
Hooks:
Hook1:
Hook2:
Hook3:
Hook4:
Hook5:
Hook6: <email address omitted>
Program Management:
Root Cause:
Fix Affects Documentation: No
Fix Affects Localization: No
=== *History* ================================================================
Date Submitted: 2007-11-20 01:42:31 GMT+00:00
Submitted By: <User 1-F4SZV>
Status Changed Date Updated Updated By
3-Accepted 2009-02-24 13:54:53 GMT+00:00 <User 1-1SURPB>
=== *Service Request* ========================================================
Impact: Limited
Functionality: Nonessential
Severity: 5
Product Name: solaris
Product Release: solaris_nevada
Product Build: snv_72
Operating System: solaris_nevada
Hardware: generic
Submitted Date: 2007-11-20 01:42:32 GMT+00:00
=== *Multiple Release (MR) Cluster* - 0 ======================================
