docs/177429: dd(1) man page is unclear about semantics of conv=sync

[Ronald F.Guilmette]

>Number:         177429
>Category:       docs
>Synopsis:       dd(1) man page is unclear about semantics of conv=sync
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       medium
>Responsible:    freebsd-doc
>State:          open
>Quarter:        
>Keywords:       
>Date-Required:
>Class:          doc-bug
>Submitter-Id:   current-users
>Arrival-Date:   Thu Mar 28 03:30:00 UTC 2013
>Closed-Date:
>Last-Modified:
>Originator:     Ronald F. Guilmette
>Release:        FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE amd64
>Organization:
entr0py
>Environment:

FreeBSD 9.1-RELEASE amd64

>Description:

The man page for dd(1) describes the "sync" parameter of the "conv=" option
thusly:

              sync     Pad every input block to the input buffer size.  Spaces
                       are used for pad bytes if a block oriented conversion
                       value is specified, otherwise NUL bytes are used.

This verbage is entirely unclear. What is a "block oriented conversion value"
and how would a user know whether or not he had specified one?

The man page should make this more clear & explicit.

>How-To-Repeat:

man 1 dd

>Fix:

I don't know what the fix is because I don't have the vaguest idea what a
"block oriented conversion value" is.

>Release-Note:
>Audit-Trail:
>Unformatted: