On the equivalence of codes over finite rings (Q1885353)

Let \(R\) be a finite (not necessarily commutative) ring with identity. The authors call \(R\) a `left (right) MacWilliams ring' if for each \(n\geq 1\) and linear code \(C \subseteq R^n\), every left (right) isometry \(C\rightarrow R^n\) extends to a monomial transformation of \(R^n\). It is well known that finite fields are (left and right) MacWilliams. \textit{J. A. Wood} [Am. J. Math. 121, No. 3, 555--575 (1999; Zbl 0968.94012)] showed that a finite Frobenius ring is MacWilliams and that a finite commutative MacWilliams ring is Frobenius. Here the authors consider whether every finite MacWilliams ring is Frobenius. Their main result is that if \(R\) is a direct sum of local rings or a direct sum of homogeneous semilocal rings then \(R\) is MacWilliams if and only if it is Frobenius. This gives another proof of Wood's results.