Issue: TIME-ZONE-NON-INTEGER

[chapman%aitg.DEC@decwrl.dec.com]

Issue:        TIME-ZONE-NON-INTEGER
References:   Section 25.4.1 (Time Functions) (p. 443-444)
Category:     CLARIFICATION
Edit history: 1-MAR-89, Version 1 by Chapman


Problem Description:

CLtL states that the time zone part of Decoded Time is an integer. However,
it is possible to have a non-integer time-zone.

Proposal (TIME-ZONE-NON-INTEGER:ALLOW)

Specify that the time zone part of Decoded Time is a rational number
(either an integer or a ratio).

Rationale:

For CL to accommodate all possible time designations, it is necessary
to allow time zone to be non-integer.
Some places in the world are on half-hour or quarter-hour times.

Current Practice:

VAX LISP allows time zone to be non-integer.

Adoption Cost:

Shouldn't be too big a change.

Benefits:

See Rationale.

Conversion Cost:

See Adoption Cost.

Aesthetics:

None.

Discussion: