GNU bug report logs - #7241
Possible bug on split ?

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Message #14 received at 7241 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
To: Ulf Zibis <Ulf.Zibis <at> gmx.de>
Cc: 7241 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#7241: Possible bug on split ?
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:24:04 -0700

On 10/19/10 07:42, Ulf Zibis wrote:
> In many FAQs the small letter spelling is suggested, e.g.:
> 
> ntfsclone -s -o - <source> | gzip -c | split -a 3 -b 700m - <destination>
> 
> So IMO small letter writing for "MB" should be allowed

But "mb" is SI syntax for "millibit", which
is a very small unit of information.  Having "mb"
be an alias for "megabyte" would be confusing
to those used to the standard notation.  (Having
"mb" be an alias for "megabit", or for "millibyte",
would be bad as well.)

We have to support plain "m" as an alias for "MiB",
because POSIX requires support for plain "m".
But let's not compound POSIX's mistake by supporting
even more usages that are contrary to SI.

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