Foreword to this version of the Ada Reference Manual
The International Standard for the programming language
Ada is ISO/IEC 8652:1995(E).
The Ada Working Group ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 22/WG 9 is
tasked by ISO with the work item to interpret and maintain the International
Standard and to produce Technical Corrigenda, as appropriate. The technical
work on the International Standard is performed by the Ada Rapporteur
Group (ARG) of WG 9. In September 2000, WG 9 approved and forwarded Technical
Corrigendum 1 to SC 22 for ISO approval, which was granted in February
2001. Technical Corrigendum 1 was published in June 2001.
In October 2002, WG 9 approved a schedule and guidelines
for the preparation of an Amendment to the International Standard. WG
9 approved the scope of the Amendment in June 2004. In April 2006, WG
9 approved and forwarded the Amendment to SC 22 for approval, which was
granted in August 2006. Final ISO/IEC approval is expected by early 2007.
The Technical Corrigendum lists the individual changes
that need to be made to the text of the International Standard to correct
errors, omissions or inconsistencies. The corrections specified in Technical
Corrigendum 1 are part of the International Standard ISO/IEC 8652:1995(E).
Similarly, Amendment 1 lists the individual changes
that need to be made to the text of the International Standard to add
new features as well as correct errors.
When ISO published Technical Corrigendum 1, it did
not also publish a document that merges the changes from the Technical
Corrigendum into the text of the International Standard. It is not known
whether ISO will publish a document that merges the changes from Technical
Corrigendum and Amendment 1 into the text of the International Standard.
However, ISO rules require that the project editor for the International
Standard be able to produce such a document on demand.
This version of the Ada Reference Manual is what
the project editor would provide to ISO in response to such a request.
It incorporates the changes specified in the Technical Corrigendum and
Amendment into the text of ISO/IEC 8652:1995(E). It should be understood
that the publication of any ISO document involves changes in general
format, boilerplate, headers, etc., as well as a review by professional
editors that may introduce editorial changes to the text. This version
of the Ada Reference Manual is therefore neither an official ISO document,
nor a version guaranteed to be identical to an official ISO document,
should ISO decide to reprint the International Standard incorporating
an approved Technical Corrigendum and Amendment. It is nevertheless a
best effort to be as close as possible to the technical content of such
an updated document. In the case of a conflict between this document
and Amendment 1 as approved by ISO (or between this document and Technical
Corrigendum 1 in the case of paragraphs not changed by Amendment 1; or
between this document and the original 8652:1995 in the case of paragraphs
not changed by either Amendment 1 or Technical Corrigendum 1), the other
documents contain the official text of the International Standard ISO/IEC
8652:1995(E) and its Amendment.
As it is very inconvenient to have the Reference
Manual for Ada specified in three documents, this consolidated version
of the Ada Reference Manual is made available to the public.