[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: Netscape: How about some Unix instructions



jim wrote:
> 
> Netscape doesn't include any instructions for setting up helper
> apps. w/ unix.  For example, I want to run VRML directly from
> netscape.  Great!  So, I go to preferences/Navigator/Applications
> and create a new mime-type called x-world/x-vrml.  I then tell it that
> this is for extension wrl.  I tell it to execute the shell string
> /usr/local/bin/vrweb -URL '%u' -remote %s.  This is perfect as far
> as I'm concerned.  HOWEVER, what netscape does is truly twisted.
> Instead of just issuing this command string, it genererates
> ((/usr/local/bin/vrweb -URL 'http:/website.com/*.wrl' -remote
> /tmp/MO*.wrl); rm /tmp/MO*.wrl)& and issues that.
> 
> Now this appears to be fine, however, it doesn't execute.  Netscape
> complains:
> 
> sh: -c: line 1: missing closing ')' for arithmetic expression
> sh: -c: line 1: syntax error near unexpected token `;'
> sh: -c: line 1: ((<command line here>); rm /tmp/MO*.wrl)&
> 
> So to humor netscape, I add an extra ')' at the end of my incantation
> which gets rid of errors 1 and 2 BUT replaces them with an error
> which indicates that the & is too close to the ')' and my shell is
> confused.
> 
> WHAT the HELL is going on here???   When they say unsupported, I
> guess they mean truly untested by human hands.  I'm going to start
> downloading .wrl files via amaya and I may just go to using that
> on a permanent basis.
> 
> But if anyone can tell what the heck gives with this stuff, I'd
> be glad to fix my end :)
> 

This is actually a bash-2.0 bug.  If you try:

sh -c "((pwd);pwd)"

you'll see the same errors. But,

sh -c "( (pwd);pwd)"

works well.  Bash incorrectly considers (( to be an
arithmetic expression introducer when really, it's $((. 
This is fixed in bash-2.01 which has not yet been
debianized.  You can bash-2.01 from /pub/gnu at your
favorite mirror.

This bug has already been documented.
See http://www.debian.org/Bugs/db/10598.html

--Bob


--
TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to
debian-user-request@lists.debian.org . 
Trouble?  e-mail to templin@bucknell.edu .


Reply to: