Subject: Bug#3959: Netscape postinst has a syntax error

From: Christian Hudon <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 13:48:54 -0700 (PDT)

Package: netscape
Version 3.0b5a

The netscape postinst fails complaining about "install, syntax error. See
install --help for usage."

Turns out the App-default/Netscape file was installed but not the
hot-convert or movemail files. And the line that installs hot-convert
reads:

#ystem "install -m 755 ...(etc)";

^
Oops.

   Christian

---

From: "Brian C. White" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 1996 21:44:59 -0400

> #ystem "install -m 755 ...(etc)";

This line is commented out on purpose as "hot-convert" no longer comes with
the netscape distribution.  It would (should!) be the next line that is
causing the error.  However, I get no such error on my system.  Could you
send me the output of the following commands:

	dpkg --status fileutils perl
	ls -l /usr/bin/install

                                        Brian
                               ( [email-masked] )

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    In theory, theory and practice are the same.  In practice, they're not.

---

From: Christian Hudon <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 09:00:45 -0700 (PDT)

> 	dpkg --status fileutils perl

Indeed, this line doesn't cause the problem. After a few cycles of dpkg
--build, dpkg --install, dpkg --purge, I found the line that causes the
problem. It is:

foreach ("") {
	system "install -m 755 $_ /usr/lib/netscape/plugings";
}

Commenting these out makes the problem go away. My guess is that it does
the loop once, with $_ set to "". And that should cause an "install: too
few arguments" error, if the install manpage is to be believed. 

What's funny is that you don't get that error... Can you try 'updating' to
the Debian 1.1.2 fileutils and perl packages, then purge and install
netscape?

The machine is plain Debian 1.1.2 (except for the kernel... and the
netscape package). So:

fileutils: 3.12-4
perl:      5.003-2

and /usr/bin/install is size 11541

   Christian