Dear Karl, dear all,
here on the Debian side we got a very strange bug report which we believe
begin a memory corruption. I spare you the long story, here is a way
how I can reprouce it with install-info from 4.13. The outcome is that
the dir file is garbled and there are strange chars hanging around.
The original poster (in Cc) did a terrific job and could trace it down
to a filled dir file and maplev.gz a distributed by emacs-goodies.
> Attached a base dir file
> (dir.ok, md5: e72d028e3fa665a9368b88b07f094864)
> I then do:
> $ cp dir.ok dir
> $ ginstall-info /usr/share/info/maplev.gz dir
> now the dir file broken.
(The ginstall-info is GNU install-info). I can confi
I attach dir.ok and maplev.gz, as well as the dir.bad that I generated from
the above call. I checked maplev.gz and the only strange thing I saw is that
there are two INFO-DIR-SECTIONs:
INFO-DIR-SECTION Emacs
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* maplev: (maplev). Emacs major mode for Maple V
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
INFO-DIR-SECTION Emacs
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* maplev: Emacs major mode for Maple V
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
As soon as I remove one of these blocks it works on my computer again.
The OP also did some tests with valgrind:
> For me this looks like some memory corruption in ginstall-info. I can
> only successfully reproduce it using a quite filled dir as base. Running
> ginstall-info under valgrind the output file looks ok.
Hope you can make something out of that, and all the best
Norbert
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norbert Preining preining@{jaist.ac.jp, logic.at, debian.org}
JAIST, Japan TU Wien, Austria Debian TeX Task Force
gpg DSA: 0x09C5B094 fp: 14DF 2E6C 0307 BE6D AD76 A9C0 D2BF 4AA3 09C5 B094
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHIFNAL (n.,vb.)
An awkward shuffling walk caused by two or more people in a hurry
accidentally getting into the same segment of revolving door. A
similar effect is achieved by people entering three-legged races
unwisely joined at the neck instead of the ankles.
--- Douglas Adams, The Meaning of Liff
Dies ist die Datei .../info/dir, die den obersten Knoten der
Info-Hierarchie enth���lt, genannt (dir)Top.
Beim ersten Aufruf von Info geht es bei diesem Knoten los.
File: dir, Node: Top Dies ist der Beginn des INFO-Baums
Dieser Verzeichnis-Knoten zeigt ein MenÃ?Â?Ã?Â? aller Hauptpunkte an.
�¢����q�¢���� beendet Info, �¢����?�¢���� listet alle Info-Befehle auf, �¢����d�¢���� kehrt hierher
zur����ck, �¢����h�¢���� gibt eine Einsteiger-Hilfe, �¢����mEmacs<Return>�¢���� besucht das
Emacs-Manual, etc.
Im Emacs kann man mit dem zweiten Mausknopf auf einen MenÃ?Â?Ã?Â?eintrag oder
einen Querverweis klicken, um einen solchen ausw���hlen.
* Menu:
Emacs
* Ada mode: (emacs-23/ada-mode).
Emacs mode for editing and compiling Ada code.
* Auth-source: (emacs-23/auth). The Emacs auth-source library.
* Autotype: (emacs-23/autotype).
Convenient features for text that you enter
frequently in Emacs.
* CC Mode: (emacs-23/ccmode). Emacs mode for editing C, C++, Objective-C,
Java, Pike, AWK, and CORBA IDL code.
* CL: (emacs-23/cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
* Calc: (emacs-23/calc). Advanced desk calculator and mathematical tool.
* D-Bus: (emacs-23/dbus). Using D-Bus in Emacs.
* Debian-el: (debian-el). Debian-specific tools for Emacs
* Dired-X: (emacs-23/dired-x). Dired Extra Features.
* ERC: (emacs-23/erc). Powerful, modular, and extensible IRC client
for Emacs.
* EUDC: (emacs-23/eudc). An Emacs client for directory servers (LDAP,
PH).
* EasyPG Assistant: (emacs-23/epa).
An Emacs user interface to GNU Privacy Guard.
* Ebrowse: (emacs-23/ebrowse). A C++ class browser for Emacs.
* Ediff: (emacs-23/ediff). A visual interface for comparing and merging
programs.
* Elisp: (emacs-23/elisp). The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
* Emacs: (emacs-23/emacs). The extensible self-documenting text editor.
* Emacs FAQ: (emacs-23/efaq). Frequently Asked Questions about Emacs.
* Emacs Lisp Intro: (emacs-23/eintr).
A simple introduction to Emacs Lisp
programming.
* Emacs MIME: (emacs-23/emacs-mime).
Emacs MIME de/composition library.
* Eshell: (emacs-23/eshell). A command shell implemented in Emacs Lisp.
* Flymake: (emacs-23/flymake). A universal on-the-fly syntax checker.
* Forms: (emacs-23/forms). Emacs package for editing data bases by
filling in forms.
* Gnus: (emacs-23/gnus). The newsreader Gnus.
* IDLWAVE: (emacs-23/idlwave). Major mode and shell for IDL files.
* MH-E: (emacs-23/mh-e). Emacs interface to the MH mail system.
* Mairix: (emacs-23/mairix-el). Emacs interface to the Mairix mail indexer.
* Message: (emacs-23/message). Mail and news composition mode that goes with
Gnus.
* Newsticker: (emacs-23/newsticker).
A Newsticker for Emacs.
* Org Mode: (emacs-23/org). Outline-based notes management and organizer
* PCL-CVS: (emacs-23/pcl-cvs). Emacs front-end to CVS.
* PGG: (emacs-23/pgg). Emacs interface to various PGP implementations.
* Rcirc: (emacs-23/rcirc). Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client.
* RefTeX: (emacs-23/reftex). Emacs support for LaTeX cross-references and
citations.
* Remember: (emacs-23/remember).
Simple information manager for Emacs
* SASL: (emacs-23/sasl). The Emacs SASL library.
* SC: (emacs-23/sc). Supercite lets you cite parts of messages
you're replying to, in flexible ways.
* SES: (emacs-23/ses). Simple Emacs Spreadsheet
* SMTP: (emacs-23/smtpmail). Emacs library for sending mail via SMTP.
* Sieve: (emacs-23/sieve). Managing Sieve scripts in Emacs.
* Speedbar: (emacs-23/speedbar).
File/Tag summarizing utility.
* URL: (emacs-23/url). URL loading package.
* VIP: (emacs-23/vip). An older VI-emulation for Emacs.
* VIPER: (emacs-23/viper). The newest Emacs VI-emulation mode. (also, A
VI Plan for Emacs Rescue or the VI PERil.)
* Widget: (emacs-23/widget). The "widget" package used by the Emacs
Customization facility.
* WoMan: (emacs-23/woman). Browse UN*X Manual Pages "W.O. (without) Man".
* nXML Mode: (emacs-23/nxml-mode).
XML editing mode with RELAX NG support.
General Commands
* Screen: (screen). Full-screen window manager.
GNU Emacs
* TRAMP: (emacs-23/tramp). Transparent Remote Access, Multiple Protocol
GNU Emacs remote file access via rsh and rcp.
Information
* Debian menu: (menu). The Debian menu system
Math
* bc: (bc). An arbitrary precision calculator language.
Programming & development tools
* GDBM: (gdbm). The GNU database manager.
Texinfo documentation system
* Info: (emacs-23/info). How to use the documentation browsing system.
* info standalone: (info-stnd). Read Info documents without Emacs.
* infokey: (info-stnd)Invoking infokey.
Compile Info customizations.
Text creation and manipulation
* grep: (grep). Print lines matching a pattern.
The Algorithmic Language Scheme
* Gauche (ja): (gauche-refj.info).
An R5RS Scheme implementation.
* SLIB: (slib). Scheme Library
World Wide Web
* URL: (emacs-23/url). URL loading package.
Attachment:
maplev.gz
Description: Binary data
Dies ist die Datei .../info/dir, die den obersten Knoten der
Info-Hierarchie enthÃ?â?¬lt, genannt (dir)Top.
Beim ersten Aufruf von Info geht es bei diesem Knoten los.
File: dir, Node: Top Dies ist der Beginn des INFO-Baums
Dieser Verzeichnis-Knoten zeigt ein MenÃ?Å? aller Hauptpunkte an.
�q� beendet Info, �?� listet alle Info-Befehle auf, �d� kehrt hierher
zurÃ?Å?ck, âÂ?Â?hâÂ?Â? gibt eine Einsteiger-Hilfe, âÂ?Â?mEmacs<Return>âÂ?Â? besucht das
Emacs-Manual, etc.
Im Emacs kann man mit dem zweiten Mausknopf auf einen MenÃ?Å?eintrag oder
einen Querverweis klicken, um einen solchen auswÃ?â?¬hlen.
* Menu:
Emacs
 _* Ada mode: (emacs-23/ada-mode).
Emacs mode for editing and compiling Ada code.
* Auth-source: (emacs-23/auth). The Emacs auth-source library.
* Autotype: (emacs-23/autotype).
Convenient features for text that you enter
frequently in Emacs.
* CC Mode: (emacs-23/ccmode). Emacs mode for editing C, C++, Objective-C,
Java, Pike, AWK, and CORBA IDL code.
* CL: (emacs-23/cl). Partial Common Lisp support for Emacs Lisp.
* Calc: (emacs-23/calc). Advanced desk calculator and mathematical tool.
* D-Bus: (emacs-23/dbus). Using D-Bus in Emacs.
* Debian-el: (debian-el). Debian-specific tools for Emacs
* Dired-X: (emacs-23/dired-x). Dired Extra Features.
* ERC: (emacs-23/erc). Powerful, modular, and extensible IRC client
for Emacs.
* EUDC: (emacs-23/eudc). An Emacs client for directory servers (LDAP,
PH).
* EasyPG Assistant: (emacs-23/epa).
An Emacs user interface to GNU Privacy Guard.
* Ebrowse: (emacs-23/ebrowse). A C++ class browser for Emacs.
* Ediff: (emacs-23/ediff). A visual interface for comparing and merging
programs.
* Elisp: (emacs-23/elisp). The Emacs Lisp Reference Manual.
* Emacs: (emacs-23/emacs). The extensible self-documenting text editor.
* Emacs FAQ: (emacs-23/efaq). Frequently Asked Questions about Emacs.
* Emacs Lisp Intro: (emacs-23/eintr).
A simple introduction to Emacs Lisp
programming.
* Emacs MIME: (emacs-23/emacs-mime).
Emacs MIME de/composition library.
* Eshell: (emacs-23/eshell). A command shell implemented in Emacs Lisp.
* Flymake: (emacs-23/flymake). A universal on-the-fly syntax checker.
* Forms: (emacs-23/forms). Emacs package for editing data bases by
filling in forms.
* Gnus: (emacs-23/gnus). The newsreader Gnus.
* IDLWAVE: (emacs-23/idlwave). Major mode and shell for IDL files.
* MH-E: (emacs-23/mh-e). Emacs interface to the MH mail system.
* Mairix: (emacs-23/mairix-el). Emacs interface to the Mairix mail indexer.
* Message: (emacs-23/message). Mail and news composition mode that goes with
Gnus.
* Newsticker: (emacs-23/newsticker).
A Newsticker for Emacs.
* Org Mode: (emacs-23/org). Outline-based notes management and organizer
* PCL-CVS: (emacs-23/pcl-cvs). Emacs front-end to CVS.
* PGG: (emacs-23/pgg). Emacs interface to various PGP implementations.
* Rcirc: (emacs-23/rcirc). Internet Relay Chat (IRC) client.
* RefTeX: (emacs-23/reftex). Emacs support for LaTeX cross-references and
citations.
* Remember: (emacs-23/remember).
Simple information manager for Emacs
* SASL: (emacs-23/sasl). The Emacs SASL library.
* SC: (emacs-23/sc). Supercite lets you cite parts of messages
you're replying to, in flexible ways.
* SES: (emacs-23/ses). Simple Emacs Spreadsheet
* SMTP: (emacs-23/smtpmail). Emacs library for sending mail via SMTP.
* Sieve: (emacs-23/sieve). Managing Sieve scripts in Emacs.
* Speedbar: (emacs-23/speedbar).
File/Tag summarizing utility.
* URL: (emacs-23/url). URL loading package.
* VIP: (emacs-23/vip). An older VI-emulation for Emacs.
* VIPER: (emacs-23/viper). The newest Emacs VI-emulation mode. (also, A
VI Plan for Emacs Rescue or the VI PERil.)
* Widget: (emacs-23/widget). The "widget" package used by the Emacs
Customization facility.
* WoMan: (emacs-23/woman). Browse UN*X Manual Pages "W.O. (without) Man".
* maplev: (maplev). Emacs major mode for Maple V
* nXML Mode: (emacs-23/nxml-mode).
XML editing mode with RELAX NG support.
Emacs
* maplev: (maplev). Emacs major mode for Maple V
 _
General Commands
* Screen: (screen). Full-screen window manager.
GNU Emacs
* TRAMP: (emacs-23/tramp). Transparent Remote Access, Multiple Protocol
GNU Emacs remote file access via rsh and rcp.
Information
* Debian menu: (menu). The Debian menu system
Math
* bc: (bc). An arbitrary precision calculator language.
Programming & development tools
* GDBM: (gdbm). The GNU database manager.
Texinfo documentation system
* Info: (emacs-23/info). How to use the documentation browsing system.
* info standalone: (info-stnd). Read Info documents without Emacs.
* infokey: (info-stnd)Invoking infokey.
Compile Info customizations.
Text creation and manipulation
* grep: (grep). Print lines matching a pattern.
The Algorithmic Language Scheme
* Gauche (ja): (gauche-refj.info).
An R5RS Scheme implementation.
* SLIB: (slib). Scheme Library
World Wide Web
* URL: (emacs-23/url). URL loading package.