Re: gawk 3.1.6 and locale/decimal separator

[Aharon Robbins]

Greetings.  Re this:

> Date: Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:46:13 +0200
> From: Hermann Peifer <address@hidden>
> Subject: gawk 3.1.6 and locale/decimal separator
> To: address@hidden
>
> Gawk-3.1.6 doesn't seem to observe that locale de_DE.UTF-8  has the 
> comma as decimal separator. This looks like a bug to me.
>
> Regards, Hermann

This is on purpose. Please note these items in the NEWS file for 3.1.6:

2. Too many people the world over have complained about gawk's use of the
   locale's decimal point for parsing input data instead of the traditional
   period.  So, even though gawk was being nicely standards-compliant, in
   a Triumph For The Users, gawk now only uses the locale's decimal point
   if --posix is supplied or if POSIXLY_CORRECT is set.  It is the sincere
   hope that this change will eliminate this FAQ from being asked.

20. A new option, --use-lc-numeric, forces use of the locale's decimal
    point without the rest of the draconian restrictions imposed by
    --posix. This softens somewhat the stance taken in item #2.

Thanks for the report,

Arnold