Re: Adding filters in printcap
Hi,
>>"Francesco" == Francesco Potorti` <F.Potorti@cnuce.cnr.it> writes:
Francesco> I suggest that the policy makes clear that packages should
Francesco> add proper filter entries in /etc/printcap. For example,
Francesco> the package tetex-bin should add an fx entry in all
Francesco> printers in /etc/termcap.
Umm, is there a program to allow packages to add such entries?
/etc/printcap belongs to (on my machine) lprng, and, moreover, is a
conffile.
Policy explicitly forbids packages from modifying a file that
does not belong to them (3.3.7. Configuration files). It goes on to
say:
______________________________________________________________________
If two or more packages use the same configuration file, one of these
packages has to be defined as *owner* of the configuration file, i.e.,
it has to list the file as `conffile' and has to provide a program
that modifies the configuration file.
The other packages have to depend on the *owner* package and use that
program to update the configuration file.
______________________________________________________________________
Also, I am not sure this deserves being in the policy manual
itself; surely the owner of /etc/printcap can come to an
accomodation with other package maintainers without having to e
bludgeoned on the head with a policy directive?
One possible obstacle would lie in the complexity of the
script involved; Care would havbe to be taken to preserve the
structure of the entries (and comments), and allow deletion as well
as addition of entries, and ensure the update script is idempotent.
manoj
--
Operating-system software is the program that orchestrates all the
basic functions of a computer. The Wall Street Journal, Tuesday,
September 15, 1987, page 40
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@acm.org> <http://www.datasync.com/%7Esrivasta/>
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