critical impact:

iconv, iconv_open, iconv_close - compatible APIs; different implementation (CrCh237)

Problem description

The iconv, iconv_open, and iconv_close functions are provided in libiconv on Tru64 UNIX; they are in libc on HP-UX. There are also some Tru64 specific codeset converter features.

The iconv, iconv_open, and iconv_close functions convert a string of characters from one codeset to another.

The following codeset converter features are available on Tru64 only:

• LOCPATH environment variable for changing search path of converters.

• Tru64 UNIX specific iconv features:

  • UTF-16 (with surrogate pairs) support
  • Direct conversion to and from UTF-32/UCS-4
  • Environment variables providing control over the conversion behavior:
    • ICONV_ACTION
    • ICONV_BYTEORDER
    • ICONV_NOBOM
    • ICONV_DEFSTR
    • ICONV_PHRCONV

  • Detailed customizing system for the iconv converters of Japanese mainframe codesets (ibmkanji, KEIS, and JEF)

Identifiers

-liconv	iconv_close	ICONV_PHRCONV
iconv	ICONV_DEFSTR	libiconv.a
ICONV_ACTION	ICONV_NOBOM	libiconv.so
ICONV_BYTEORDER	iconv_open

See also

• Background information on internationalization and localization impacts
• Background information on libraries impacts
• iconv(3)
• iconv_intro(5)

Solution description

The iconv, iconv_open, and iconv_close functions are in libc on HP-UX.

Review the Makefiles to remove any libiconv reference.

Applications that use these functions might work properly depending on how the codeset converters are used. Review the applicable manpages and code to determine if unexpected behavior will result.

See also

• iconv(3C)
• Migrating I18N and L10N Applications and Data from Tru64 UNIX to HP-UX

Problem summary