Debian bug report logs - #1408
xfig always asks about colour/mono

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From cus.cam.ac.uk!iwj10 Thu Sep 21 13:50:39 1995
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From: Ian Jackson <iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>
To: Debian bugs submission address <debian-bugs@pixar.com>
Subject: Re: Bug#1408: xfig always asks about colour/mono 
In-Reply-To: <199509210122.VAA23476@gregor.com>
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	<199509210122.VAA23476@gregor.com>
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D. J. Gregor writes ("Re: Bug#1408: xfig always asks about colour/mono "):
> 	I need a few clarifications of things.  I have been very busy
> lately with my workload at school, and I have not been able to keep up.
> 
> 	First, the postinst in my Xfig package checks for the existence
> of the Xfig app-defaults file, and if it exists, it does not ask you if
> you want color or mono.  Secondly, the postrm removes the Xfig link.
> 
> 	Now, my question is - does dpkg run a "remove" and then an
> "install" again when it is updating packages?  That would explain why
> you are getting asked more than once.

dpkg runs the postrm script, yes.  See
project/standards/maintainer-script-args.txt (this may still be in
Incoming).  You can tell from the arguments to the maintainer script
whether the package is being removed or upgraded.

In any case, you shouldn't remove the link unless the package's
configuration files are purged (dpkg --purge, postrm script called
with `purge').

>   (BTW - the version of dpkg that I
> am using does not do this...)

Wibble.  What version are you running ?  I believe all versions since
around 0.93.10 (November 1994) do.

> 	Also, the app-defaults file is simply that - an application
> _default_.  It is meant to be there in case there are no other
> resources for that application.  I am sorry to be hard-headed, and
> it is probably caused by my not being up to date on things, but I
> think that the current means of dealing with color or monochrome
> support for the app-defaults in fine.  I will change it if there is
> a good reason to do so. (again, I am not up to date, so I do not know
> of any good alternatives).  If you could give me a little explanation
> of one or two ways to do it, or point me to some documentation, I will
> be happy to consider it.

I'm suggesting you arrange for
 /usr/..../app-defaults/Xfig -> /etc/X11/xfig-appdefaults
in the package.

Then, the postinst arranges for
 /etc/X11/xfig-appdefaults -> /usr/.../app-defaults/Xfig.colour
(with a prompt) if it doesn't find one already, and this link is only
removed during postrm purge.

Ian.

Message received at debian-bugs:

From gregor.com!dgregor Wed Sep 20 18:12:39 1995
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To: Ian Jackson <iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>, debian-bugs@Pixar.com
Subject: Re: Bug#1408: xfig always asks about colour/mono 
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 21 Sep 1995 00:11:00 -0000."
             <m0svYIm-0002ZjA@chiark.al.cl.cam.ac.uk> 
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Date: Wed, 20 Sep 1995 21:22:05 -0400
From: "D.J. Gregor" <dgregor@gregor.com>


Ian,

	I need a few clarifications of things.  I have been very busy
lately with my workload at school, and I have not been able to keep up.

	First, the postinst in my Xfig package checks for the existence
of the Xfig app-defaults file, and if it exists, it does not ask you if
you want color or mono.  Secondly, the postrm removes the Xfig link.

	Now, my question is - does dpkg run a "remove" and then an
"install" again when it is updating packages?  That would explain why
you are getting asked more than once. (BTW - the version of dpkg that I
am using does not do this...)

	Also, the app-defaults file is simply that - an application
_default_.  It is meant to be there in case there are no other
resources for that application.  I am sorry to be hard-headed, and
it is probably caused by my not being up to date on things, but I
think that the current means of dealing with color or monochrome
support for the app-defaults in fine.  I will change it if there is
a good reason to do so. (again, I am not up to date, so I do not know
of any good alternatives).  If you could give me a little explanation
of one or two ways to do it, or point me to some documentation, I will
be happy to consider it.


	Thanks for the bug report :-),
	--D.J. Gregor,
	dgregor@gregor.com

Message received at debian-bugs:

From cus.cam.ac.uk!iwj10 Wed Sep 20 16:50:34 1995
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Message-Id: <m0svYIm-0002ZjA@chiark.al.cl.cam.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 95 00:11 BST
From: Ian Jackson <iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk>
To: Debian bugs submission address <debian-bugs@pixar.com>
Subject: xfig always asks about colour/mono
Precedence: air-mail

Package: xfig
Version: 3.1.3-4

 Setting up xfig ...
 There are two application defaults (app-defaults) files for xfig -- Xfig-mono
 and Xfig-color.  Which one would you like to use? [c/m] c
 Linking Xfig-color to Xfig...done

 [later]

 chiark:binary> really dpkg -i graphics/xfig-3.1.3-4.deb 
 (Reading database ... 16249 files and directories currently installed.)
 Preparing to replace xfig (using graphics/xfig-3.1.3-4.deb) ...
 Unpacking replacement xfig ...
 Setting up xfig ...
 There are two application defaults (app-defaults) files for xfig -- Xfig-mono
 and Xfig-color.  Which one would you like to use? [c/m] c
 Linking Xfig-color to Xfig...done

It should only ask once, and it should put the link in /etc (in
/etc/alternatives or /etc/X11, probably) so that it can be
reconfigured by the sysadmin.   The postrm should remove the link from
/etc when invoked with `purge' (see maintainer-script-args.txt).

Ian.