@strong{Portability Note:} The ability to extend the syntax of
@code{printf} template strings is a GNU extension. ISO standard C has
-nothing similar.
+nothing similar. When using the GNU C compiler or any other compiler
+that interprets calls to standard I/O functions according to the rules
+of the language standard it is necessary to disable such handling by
+the appropriate compiler option. Otherwise the behavior of a program
+that relies on the extension is undefined.
@node Registering New Conversions
@subsection Registering New Conversions
The return value is @code{0} on success, and @code{-1} on failure
(which occurs if @var{spec} is out of range).
-You can redefine the standard output conversions, but this is probably
-not a good idea because of the potential for confusion. Library routines
-written by other people could break if you do this.
+@strong{Portability Note:} It is possible to redefine the standard output
+conversions but doing so is strongly discouraged because it may interfere
+with the behavior of programs and compiler implementations that assume
+the effects of the conversions conform to the relevant language standards.
+In addition, conforming compilers need not guarantee that the function
+registered for a standard conversion will be called for each such
+conversion in every format string in a program.
@end deftypefun
@node Conversion Specifier Options