From owner-freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Mar 28 03:30:01 2013 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-doc@smarthost.ysv.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206a::19:1]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C5CE0D6F for ; Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:30:01 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from gnats@FreeBSD.org) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (freefall.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:1900:2254:206c::16:87]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 95FA23F5 for ; Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:30:01 +0000 (UTC) Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.14.6/8.14.6) with ESMTP id r2S3U1LD059902 for ; Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:30:01 GMT (envelope-from gnats@freefall.freebsd.org) Received: (from gnats@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.14.6/8.14.6/Submit) id r2S3U1GE059901; Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:30:01 GMT (envelope-from gnats) Resent-Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:30:01 GMT Resent-Message-Id: <201303280330.r2S3U1GE059901@freefall.freebsd.org> Resent-From: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org (GNATS Filer) Resent-To: freebsd-doc@FreeBSD.org Resent-Reply-To: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@FreeBSD.org, "Ronald F.Guilmette" Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.FreeBSD.org [8.8.178.115]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4667BC03 for ; Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:21:16 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from rfg@tristatelogic.com) Received: from outgoing.tristatelogic.com (segfault.tristatelogic.com [69.62.255.118]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2A2A1396 for ; Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:21:15 +0000 (UTC) Received: by segfault.tristatelogic.com (Postfix, from userid 1237) id F349B3B3F7; Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:21:11 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <20130328032111.F349B3B3F7@segfault.tristatelogic.com> Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:21:11 -0700 (PDT) From: "Ronald F.Guilmette" To: FreeBSD-gnats-submit@freebsd.org X-Send-Pr-Version: 3.113 Subject: docs/177429: dd(1) man page is unclear about semantics of conv=sync Cc: rfg@tristatelogic.com X-BeenThere: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.14 Precedence: list Reply-To: "Ronald F.Guilmette" List-Id: Documentation project List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:30:01 -0000 >Number: 177429 >Category: docs >Synopsis: dd(1) man page is unclear about semantics of conv=sync >Confidential: no >Severity: non-critical >Priority: medium >Responsible: freebsd-doc >State: open >Quarter: >Keywords: >Date-Required: >Class: doc-bug >Submitter-Id: current-users >Arrival-Date: Thu Mar 28 03:30:00 UTC 2013 >Closed-Date: >Last-Modified: >Originator: Ronald F. Guilmette >Release: FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE amd64 >Organization: entr0py >Environment: FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE amd64 >Description: The man page for dd(1) describes the "sync" parameter of the "conv=" option thusly: sync Pad every input block to the input buffer size. Spaces are used for pad bytes if a block oriented conversion value is specified, otherwise NUL bytes are used. This verbage is entirely unclear. What is a "block oriented conversion value" and how would a user know whether or not he had specified one? The man page should make this more clear & explicit. >How-To-Repeat: man 1 dd >Fix: I don't know what the fix is because I don't have the vaguest idea what a "block oriented conversion value" is. >Release-Note: >Audit-Trail: >Unformatted: