[sv-bc] $fread on dynamic arrays

The LRM does not address the semantics of $fread when the
target array is a dynamic array.

If we have:

    byte a[] = new[20];

and then do:

    count = $fread(a, fileh);

should the size of the array be used to limit
the read or should this be equivalent to an
unbounded read and re-allocation of "a"?

 From 21.3.4.4 we have:
    If present, count shall be the maximum number of locations
    in mem that shall be loaded. If not supplied, the memory
    shall be filled with what data are available.
and also:
    Consecutive words are loaded toward the highest address until
    either the memory is full or the data file is completely read.

So what does "full" or "maximum number of locations" mean for
a dynamic array?

The question boils down to whether
    count = $fread(a, fileh);
should be essentially
    count = $fread(a, fileh, 0, a.size());
or
    a = new[remaining_filesize(fileh)];
    count = $fread(a, fileh, 0, remaining_filesize(fileh));


Since $fread is permitted to have explicit bounds, I'd be inclined
to say that a read into a dynamic array reads the entire file
unless an explicit bound is specified.

Gord.
-- 
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Gordon Vreugdenhil                                503-685-0808
Model Technology (Mentor Graphics)                gordonv@model.com


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