[net.lang.ada] Answer about text_io

Nelson.Weiderman@A.SEI.CMU.EDU (04/17/86)

  We have recently had the same difficulty reading enumerated data types
  and we also initially thought it was a problem with our compiler (John
  Goodenough please take note).  The answer to the riddle appears in ARM
  paragraph 14.3.5(5).  As long as the user enters characters which are
  valid in an enumeration literal, there are no problems (this seems to be
  the unstated assumption in both Booch and the ARM examples cited).  If the
  user enters an invalid character such as a "." or ";" then the last
  sentence of the cited paragraph comes into effect -- "The character or
  line terminator that causes input to cease remains available for
  subsequent input."  Hence the infinite loop.  Thus the examples are not
  as robust as they first appear, but the compilers are acting correctly.