Re: zp_man-db-update-index.dash creates C:\cygwin64\%SystemDrive%

[Brian Inglis <Brian.Inglis@SystematicSw.ab.ca>]

On 2021-11-24 02:06, Миронов Леонид Владимирович via Cygwin wrote:
> Recently when cygwin setup runs windows 10 started creating "C:\cygwin64\%SystemDrive%\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Caches" folder - exactly like that, with %SystemDrive% not expanded, containing the following files
> cversions.2.db
> {104937D1-3D41-4EB0-BE48-1725A96CC3A1}.2.ver0x0000000000000001.db
> {42542F41-6950-48FC-BDFB-3961A7C4A653}.2.ver0x0000000000000001.db
> {6AF0698E-D558-4F6E-9B3C-3716689AF493}.2.ver0x0000000000000001.db
> {DDF571F2-BE98-426D-8288-1A9A39C3FDA2}.2.ver0x0000000000000001.db
> {FAC7F33B-D66E-413B-9358-52C759023A9D}.2.ver0x0000000000000001.db
> and logs a number of similar messages to application windows log from Property System
> Omitted duplicate property.
> Keeping: 'Microsoft.OneNote.TaggedNotes' ({641064BA-9329-47E6-8F36-5FA81AA461A0} 3)  Publisher: 'Microsoft'  Product: 'Windows'  URL: 'windowspropertydescriptions'
> Omitting: 'Microsoft.OneNote.TaggedNotes' ({641064BA-9329-47E6-8F36-5FA81AA461A0} 3)  Publisher: 'Microsoft'  Product: 'OneNote'  URL: 'custom.propdesc'
> Turned out that the culprit is the /etc/postinstall/zp_man-db-update-index.dash script which runs at the end of every setup session, although I couldn't figure why: it just runs mandb with some fancy redirection and nothing untoward happens when it is run manually and with admin privileges, but the folder in question was never created until I ran mandb to create man index which for some reason was not created automatically during installation, and when /var/cache/man/index.db is removed which effectively disables this script this folder is not created. I am baffled.

I noticed that too but could never trace it back to a script. Good work.

That may happen because mandb does some undocumented processing, 
including scanning the system for "cat#..." directories and "handles" 
them, which may include moving them to / root so they will be noticed if 
they are not part of a man hierarchy, or removes empty "cat#..." 
directories.

Windows uses a number of cat... folders for downloaded components which 
man can mess around with.
I submitted a mandb bug report requesting that undocumented behaviour be 
documented, and mandb limit its searches, or suppress cleanup (e.g. -s, 
--no-straycats Do not spend time looking for or adding information to 
the databases regarding stray cats [whatever they are, also 
undocumented, possibly relevant]) or suppressed under Windows, as it 
could affect Windows components or the system:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/catroot_and_catroot2_folder_explained.html

but I don't remember if it was even addressed.

-- 
Take care. Thanks, Brian Inglis, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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