Bug#2409: xbase always asks question about xdm, and conffiles prompt

[Chris Fearnley <cjf@netaxs.com>]

'Ian Jackson wrote:'
>
>Package: xbase
>Version: 3.1.2-7
>
>When you install xbase it always asks whether you want to start xdm or
>not.  It should only ask this the first time, and should use the
>answer it has stored on subsequent installations.
>
>Furthermore, it should not store the answer in /etc/init.d/xdm itself,
>as this causes a confusing conffile prompt if the user answered `yes'
>and the distributed file has changed.

Is there a scratch directory where packages can store such
information?  Something like /etc/configs?  I find the clutter in /etc
with papersize and so on too complicating.  I'd prefer a subdirectory
of /etc where this type of info can be stored.  Red Hat uses a
subdirectory /etc/sysconfig.  I much prefer their approach here.

Note:  This is the same problem as with gpm which we discussed
recently.

--
Christopher J. Fearnley            |    UNIX SIG Leader at PACS
cjf@netaxs.com                     |    (Philadelphia Area Computer Society)
http://www.netaxs.com/~cjf         |    Design Science Revolutionary
ftp://ftp.netaxs.com/people/cjf    |    Explorer in Universe
"Dare to be Naive" -- Bucky Fuller |    Linux Advocate