Re: RCS files with extension can no longer be read

[Vincent Lefevre]

On 2017-06-04 05:57:44 +0200, Thien-Thi Nguyen wrote:
> As you might know, the RCS 5.8 (2011-08-30) NEWS mentions:
> 
>  - RCS file top-level grammar frozen.
[...]

Thanks for the details. When I searched for the meaning of the error
message, I just found: https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?35149 where it
it is said that the grammar was frozen, but with no details.

> I suppose the middle way would be to add back support for
> "newphrases", in read-only mode (not passthrough).  However, i
> am loathe to do that and would rather improve the documentation
> (by writing it, first, and iterating, subsequently) on how to
> batch-convert ,v files to embed their extra metainfo in the
> ‘integrity’ field.

I think that such documentation may indeed be a better solution.

Moreover, the error message should be more informative, allowing the
user to easily find the cause of the problem and how to avoid it.

-- 
Vincent Lefèvre <address@hidden> - Web: <https://www.vinc17.net/>
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Work: CR INRIA - computer arithmetic / AriC project (LIP, ENS-Lyon)