Subject: Bug#3410: some problems/bugs/suggestions with install-info

From: Ian Jackson <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 7 Jul 96 16:43 BST

Juergen Menden writes ("Bug#3410: some problems/bugs/suggestions with install-info"):
> Package: dpgk
> Version: 1.2.3elf
> 
> * dpkg can not install dpkg if no /usr/info/dir file exists:
>   install-info is unable to lock the file and aborts.
> * if /usr/info/dir is empty install-info seems to lock
>   (dpkg -i dpkg had to be stopped by ^C in install-info
>   after about 10 minutes)
> * if install-info is killed by ^C it leaves /usr/info/dir.lock
>   and the further install-info is again unable to lock dir.
> 
> suggestion:
> * new option to install-info: --build-empty-dir-file
>   which simply writes the dir file just like the postrm of
>   the base package.
> * if /usr/info/dir doesn't exist, or is empty, write an empty
>   dir file. evtl ask the user for confirmation
> * the base package should run install-info --build-empty-dir-file
>   in postinst. 
> * if aborted due to a signal remove dir.lock
> 
> i'm not sure if the problem exists on newer versions of dpkg,
> sorry, i'm a bit out of sync... ;-))

I don't have time to deal with all of this.  If you'd like to take
over install-info that would be wonderful :-).  You'll need to
negotiate with the base maintainer for some of that, of course.

Ian.