ietf-mta-filters
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non-UTF-8 sequences in Sieve scripts

2006-09-15 03:01:41

Hi everyone,

I think there is rough consensus to have an extension that would introduce new strings with proper escaping mechanism. The new strings will allow for UTF-8 (as is) + non-UTF-8 can be escaped. As nobody volunteered to do this, I will write a short proposal on this.

But I would like to get general feeling of the Working Group about non-UTF-8 sequences in existing 3028bis strings. draft-ietf-sieve-3028bis-09.txt doesn't prohibit them. However, what should our long term solution be? I see two choices:

1). draft-ietf-sieve-3028bis stays as it is now, i.e. it allows for non-UTF-8 sequences, but recommends UTF-8. Eventually implementations will implement new strings with proper escaping mechanism, but existing strings will stay as described till the end of time.

2). draft-ietf-sieve-3028bis gets updated to only describe UTF-8 sequences with no escaping (*). The draft can describe existing situation with non-UTF-8 sequences, or it can remain completely silent on the issue. This wouldn't affect existing implementations, as long as non-UTF-8 sequences in scripts are not explicitly prohibited. The draft will also explicitly state that future revisions of this document would not allow for non-UTF-8 sequences.

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So basically 2) would state the desire to deprecate use of unescaped non-UTF-8 sequences in scripts, while 1) would allow for them indefinitely.

Do people see other choices?

Please reply with your preferences till September 29th.

Thanks!
Alexey

(*) - "MUST accept UTF-8 sequences, MAY accept non-UTF-8 sequences"