--- ../bash-3.2/variables.c	2006-09-08 13:33:32.000000000 -0400
+++ variables.c	2007-01-11 07:52:34.000000000 -0500
@@ -513,6 +513,7 @@
     {
       sv_history_control ("HISTCONTROL");
       sv_histignore ("HISTIGNORE");
+      sv_histtimefmt ("HISTTIMEFORMAT");
     }
 #endif /* HISTORY */
 
--- hsuser.texi	2007-01-11 08:43:09.000000000 -0500
+++ ../bash-3.2/lib/readline/doc/hsuser.texi	2006-03-21 09:54:48.000000000 -0500
@@ -96,13 +96,8 @@
 to contain no more than @env{$HISTFILESIZE}
 lines.  If @env{HISTFILESIZE} is not set, no truncation is performed.
 
-If the @env{HISTTIMEFORMAT} is set, even if null, the time stamp
-string associated with each history entry is written to the history
-file on a line after the entry, preceeded by the history comment
-character.  Whenever the history file is read, lines beginning with
-the history comment character are interpreted as timestamps belonging
-to the previous history line.  The value itself is used only for
-displaying the information.
+If the @env{HISTTIMEFORMAT} is set, the time stamp information
+associated with each history entry is written to the history file.
 
 The builtin command @code{fc} may be used to list or edit and re-execute
 a portion of the history list.
@@ -186,16 +181,6 @@
 No intervening blank is printed between the formatted time stamp
 and the history line.  
 
-The value of @env{HISTTIMEFORMAT} has nothing to do with the storage
-of timestamps in the history file, but if @env{HISTTIMEFORMAT} is
-unset when the file is written, no timestamps are saved.  In contrast,
-the optional third character of the @code{histchars} variable (the
-history comment character, default @samp{#}) is used to distinguish
-timestamp lines in the history file from ordinary lines.  In order
-avoid incompatible history files, users who change @code{histchars}
-must ensure that the same comment character is always used
-whenever history files are read or written.
-
 Options, if supplied, have the following meanings:
 
 @table @code
@@ -293,8 +278,6 @@
 
 The shell allows control of the various characters used by the
 history expansion mechanism with the @code{histchars} variable.
-Changing the history comment character adversly affects the format 
-of timestamps written to or read from the history file.
 @end ifset
 
 @menu