Re: Missing terminfo data in XFree86 4.2.0

Re: Missing terminfo data in XFree86 4.2.0

[Charles Wilson]

I maintain the ncurses and terminfo packages for cygwin.  I've been 
wondering, should I update the "official" cygwin terminfo entry for 
xterm using the XFree86-4.2.0 one?  I've been hesistant to do that until 
now, for fear of backwards incompatibilities.  However, now that there 
are official, setup-compatible packages for cygwin-xfree86 -- then the 
actual xterm.exe that is provided by the official cygwin package system 
IS the one from XFree86.  So, I suppose cygwin's terminfo database 
should reflect that?

Comments?

--Chuck

Harold Hunt wrote:

> Michael,
> 
> Have you tried installing Cygwin/XFree86 via Cygwin's setup.exe?  I'd like
> to know if the described problem is prevented from occuring with this new
> method (within the last two weeks).  If so, I can check this item off my
> to-do list, as very few users will install via the Xinstall.sh script.
> 
> Harold
> 
> 
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: cygwin-xfree-owner@cygwin.com
>>[mailto:cygwin-xfree-owner@cygwin.com]On Behalf Of Michael
>>Sent: Friday, April 05, 2002 9:49 AM
>>To: cygwin-xfree@cygwin.com
>>Subject: Missing terminfo data in XFree86 4.2.0
>>
>>
>>Hi
>>
>>I ran into the following problem with the current XFree86
>>distribution, but
>>could not find any mention of any solution here or elsewhere.
>>
>>SYMPTOMS
>>--------
>>* "vt102" terminal setting (TERM) in xterm windows instead of "xterm"
>>* "WARNING: terminal is not fully functional" error messages from
>>/bin/less
>>* Missing /usr/share/terminfo/x/xterm and other terminfo data files
>>
>>CAUSE
>>-----
>>1. The current XFree86 for Cygwin distribution is missing the file
>>   xterm.terminfo (but not xterm.termcap) in Xlib.tgz.  (However this is
>>   not true for other distributions, eg FreeBSD.)  It is missing in the
>>   distribution available from the Cygwin mirrors and the distribution
>>   available directly from XFree86.
>>2. After unpacking the distribution files, the script Xinstall.sh asks the
>>   user whether to update the terminfo entries.  The default is
>>no, but the
>>   blurb notes that new features will be unavailable otherwise.
>>
>>If the user says yes:
>>3. The script moves a number of existing terminfo entries to *.bak
>>4. The script tries to run tic on /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/etc/xterm.terminfo to
>>   replace them
>>5. Since this file is not present, tic fails
>>6. The following terminfo files are subsequently effectively
>>missing: xterm,
>>   xterms, xterm-24, xterm-vi, xterm-65, xterm-bold, xtermm, xterm-boldso,
>>   xterm-ic, xterm-r6, xterm-old, xterm-r5, vs100
>>
>>INTERIM SOLUTIONS
>>-----------------
>>During install (pre-emptive):
>>	* Do not elect to update terminfo entries
>>After install (treatment):
>>	* Setting the TERM variable to another value such as cygwin
>>or ansi is
>>	  a temporary workaround
>>	* Moving the renamed files back to their original names reverses the
>>	  damage ("mv xterm.bak xterm" etc)
>>
>>DISTRIBUTION FIX?
>>-----------------
>>Include the file or change the installation script
>>
>>QUESTIONS
>>---------
>>* Is there some reason xterm.terminfo is missing, or is this an error?
>>* Is it possible to use e.g. the FreeBSD distribution's
>>xterm.terminfo file?
>>* Is it advised against updating the terminfo data?
>>* If so, then what about updating termcap entries (suggested by
>>Xinstall.h)?
>>* What is lost by not using the new terminfo data?
>>
>>Thanks
>>Michael
>>
>>
> 
> 



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