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

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Message #17 received at 7241 <at> debbugs.gnu.org (full text, mbox):

From: Ulf Zibis <Ulf.Zibis <at> gmx.de>
To: Paul Eggert <eggert <at> cs.ucla.edu>
Cc: 7241 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: Re: bug#7241: Possible bug on split ?
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:51:58 +0200

 Am 19.10.2010 21:24, schrieb Paul Eggert:
> 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.

Ok, so the docs should be better detailed.
BTW: this problem is not restricted on the split command, it concerns allmost all GNU coreutils and 
more, e.g. ntfsprogs.

-Ulf

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