Re: Using ${description}, and debian/substvars.

[Shaul Karl <shaulk@actcom.net.il>]

On Thu, Sep 11, 2003 at 05:30:15PM -0700, Neil Spring wrote:
> 
> On Thursday, Sep 11, 2003, at 14:31 US/Pacific, Shaul Karl wrote:
> >Can you tell where using ${description} and debian/substvars being
> >documented, and give some examples for package which are made from a
> >single source package and automate using the description in
> >sub-packages?
> >--  
> 
> I figured out how to do this for a package not in debian.  If using  
> debhelper,
> 
> http://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/2003/debian-devel-200307/ 
> msg00630.html
> 
> may help you.
> 
> As an aside, I don't think substvars is well suited to this purpose  
> (for example, you need to use ${Newline} to format a description  
> properly), and I'd prefer if those who don't use it didn't recommend  
> using it.
> 


  I was able to get dpkg-gencontrol do what I need after the creation of
a suitable debian/substvars file. However when using pdebuild to build
the packages, I get:

    dpkg-gencontrol: warning: unknown substitution variable ${Description}
    dpkg-gencontrol: internal error: field Description has blank lines >nut
    stands for Network UPS Tools. This is the core system.
    
     .
     This package contains the core system.  In many cases it is sufficient
     for
     a basic UPS monitoring and control system.<
    dh_gencontrol: command returned error code 6400
    make: *** [binary-arch] Error 1
    pbuilder: Failed autobuilding of package
   
  I guess that the blank line is the result of not using
debian/substvars. But issuing a manual dpkg-gencontrol command was
successful. I didn't try to get every package that is made from the
source package its own package.substvars file because that is 
pointless: I could expand the control file by myself.

  Why dh_gencontrol fails while a manual invocation of dpkg-gencontrol
succeeds? The invoked dpkg-gencontrol manually with

    dpkg-gencontrol -ppackageName -O

Should I file a bug against dh_gencontrol?

  Here is my debian/substvars file:

    Description=nut is a client/server uninterruptible power supply
    (UPS) monitor and${Newline} control system.  It permits using one or
    more UPSs between one or more${Newline} machines.  The nut most
    important feature is for a server(s) to monitor${Newline} the UPS(s)
    and notify the client(s) when a UPS is on battery or is
    about${Newline} to shut off.  In addition, the client(s) can inquire
    the UPSs for their${Newline} status.  Depending on the UPS(s) capabilities,
    the client might be able${Newline} to control the UPS(s) behavior.
    The NUT home page is at${Newline} http://www.exploits.org/nut.
    
-- 

    Shaul Karl,    shaulk @ actcom . net . il