diff --git a/al/al.spec b/al/al.spec
index 3793d87819..0f9816ecb9 100644
--- a/al/al.spec
+++ b/al/al.spec
@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@
 ##
 
 #   package options
-%{!?with_ex:                 %define  with_ex                 no}
+%ifndef       with_ex
+%define       with_ex  no
+%endif
 
 #   package information
 Name:         al
@@ -47,15 +49,22 @@ BuildPreReq:  OpenPKG, openpkg >= 20020206
 PreReq:       OpenPKG, openpkg >= 20020206
 %if "%{with_ex}" == "yes"
 BuildPreReq:  ex
+PreReq:       ex
 %endif
 AutoReq:      no
 AutoReqProv:  no
 
 %description
-    An abstract datatype of a data buffer
+    OSSP al defines an abstract data type of a data buffer that can
+    assemble, move and truncate chunks of data in a stream but avoids
+    actual copying. It was built to deal efficiently with communication
+    streams between software modules. It especially provides flexible
+    semantical data attribution through by-chunk labeling. It also
+    has convenient chunk traversal methods and optional OSSP ex based
+    exception handling.
 
     Options: 
-    --define 'with_ex                   %{with_ex}'
+    --define 'with_ex %{with_ex}'
 
 %prep
     %setup -q