Bug#2904: install-info doesn't cope with nonexistent /usr/info/dir file

[Ian Jackson <ian@chiark.chu.cam.ac.uk>]

Michael Alan Dorman writes ("Bug#2904: install-info doesn't cope with nonexistent /usr/info/dir file"):
> Package: dpkg
> Version: 1.1.6elf
>
> The install-info script does not deal gracefully with the case where
> /usr/info/dir (which doesn't seem to reside in any package, and thus has
> little if any protection from being overwritten) doesn't exist.
>
> Where it would seem reasonable to silently create the file (possibly with
> some number of default entries), install-info instead complains about
> being unable to get a lock and falls over.

The file has information in it that isn't in any of the info files, so
you can't really recreate it.  Also, if the file disappears it's a
problem that ought to be noted.  It ought to be fixed by reinstalling
the base package, probably.

> While I understand that it might be worth notifying the user that their
> /usr/info/dir file has disappeared, this is _not_ a good way to do
> it---it took me several tries before I realized what the actual problem
> was.

Yes, the error message is probably suboptimal.  install-info needs its
locking strategy changing.

Ian.