Bug#2646: textutils-1.11-4.deb install problem

[Bill Mitchell <mitchell@mdd.comm.mot.com>]

PACKAGE: textutils
Version 1.11-4

This problem seems to come from a line in the preinst file.  It
looks like this package requires a version of dpkg later than I currently
have installed.  However, the error message isn't very user-informative.
Perhaps it ought to have a version-sensitive dependency on dpkg.

root:/root# dpkg --version
Debian GNU/Linux `dpkg' package management program version 1.0.15.
Copyright 1994,1995 Ian Jackson, Bruce Perens.  This is free software;
see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or later for copying
conditions.  There is NO warranty.  See dpkg --licence for details.

root:/root# dpkg --install textutil*
(Reading database ... 15011 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace textutils (using textutils-1.11-4.deb) ...
dpkg: unknown option --assert-support-predepends

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages;
Use dselect for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files.
dpkg: error processing textutils-1.11-4.deb (--install):
 subprocess pre-installation script returned error exit status 2
Errors were encountered while processing:
 textutils-1.11-4.deb

mitchell@mdd.comm.mot.com (Bill Mitchell)