Re: GNAT Ada for DOS - Reading Integers Problem

[bobduff@world.std.com (Robert A Duff)]

In article <4gfsuq$10f5@watnews1.watson.ibm.com>,
Norman H. Cohen <ncohen@watson.ibm.com> wrote:
>   type Byte_Swapped_Half_Word is new Half_Word;
>
>   for Byte_Swapped_Half_Word'Bit_Order use High_Order_First;
>
>causing Byte_Swapped_Half_Word to inherit the literal text
>
>    Low  at 0 range 0 .. 7;
>    High at 0 range 8 .. 15;
>
>from its parent's record representation clause, but to interpret that
>text big-endianly instead of little-endianly!

>(Fortunately, the Founding Fathers follow this newsgroup and can provide
>a definitive answer about their Original Intent.)

Well, *this* Founding Father can't.  I have to admit that I never
thought about this particular example.

However, I think that's what the RM says -- you inherit the record rep
clause, but you override the bit order.  That seems like the only
reasonable intepretation.

Note that the above is illegal if there are any inherited subprograms
lurking around (which is quite often the case).

- Bob