xterm -e fails randomly

[Guest knapkin]

I'm trying to open a new xterm that will execute a shell script like this:

]$ xterm -e script.sh

Most of the time this results in a blank xterm. About 2-3 times in 20, the script is run. Below is the script:

]$ cat script.sh 
#!/bin/bash 
echo "How are you?" 
read state 
echo $state

It seems that only programs that run inside the xterm fail, lynx for example. An 'xterm -e echo "Hello there"' fails randomly as well.

 

Programs that spawn their own windows seem to always succeed, xclock for example.

 

For reference, I am using Mandrake 10.2/Mandriva LE 2005

]$ xterm -v

X.Org 6.8.1.904(200)

 

I will be happy to provide any additional information. Thank you.

Edited August 9, 2005 by knapkin

[theYinYeti]

Hello, Welcome to the boards!

 

Honnestly, I have no clue about any possible cause for your problem. Maybe with more information, we could get some hint... So:

- Did you install Mdv "from scratch", or did you update a previous installation of Mandrake?

- What is the result of the following command:

# rpm -qif "$(which xterm)"

- Does the problem occur the same with other terminal emulators (rxvt, aterm, konsole, gnome-terminal...)?

 

Yves.

[Guest knapkin]

- Did you install Mdv "from scratch", or did you update a previous installation of Mandrake?

Installed from scratch.

- What is the result of the following command:

# rpm -qif "$(which xterm)"

]$ rpm -qif "$(which xterm)"

Name : xterm Relocations: (not relocatable)

Version : 200 Vendor: Mandrakesoft

Release : 2mdk Build Date: Mon 07 Mar 2005 10:40:46 AM EST

Install Date: Wed 29 Jun 2005 04:35:20 PM EDT Build Host: n4.mandrakesoft.com

Group : Terminals Source RPM: xterm-200-2mdk.src.rpm

Size : 337936 License: MIT

Signature : DSA/SHA1, Wed 06 Apr 2005 09:24:47 AM EDT, Key ID e7898ae070771ff3

Packager : Pablo Saratxaga <pablo@mandrakesoft.com>

URL : http://dickey.his.com/xterm

Summary : The standard terminal emulator for the X Window System

Description :

The XTerm program is the standard terminal emulator for the X Window System. It

provides DEC VT102/VT220 and Tektronix 4014 compatible terminals for programs

that can't use the window system directly. If the underlying operating system

supports terminal resizing capabilities (for example, the SIGWINCH signal in

systems derived from 4.3bsd), xterm will use the facilities to notify programs

running in the window whenever it is resized.

- Does the problem occur the same with other terminal emulators (rxvt, aterm, konsole, gnome-terminal...)?

I never thought to check this, being an xterm loving fool. The problem does not occur in rxvt (the only other terminal I have installed). I will install a few others and edit this post with the results.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[EDIT] Here are the results:

xterm : no

rxvt: yes

konsole: yes

aterm: yes

Eterm: yes

gnome-terminal: yes

Edited August 9, 2005 by knapkin

[theYinYeti]

This is an absolute wild guess... but could it be a font problem? As far as I know, xterm is the one that has the most complete support for UTF8, so maybe there's a config issue with UTF8 fonts or something like that?

 

Your problem is very strange... And obviously xterm-only-related.

 

Yves.

[Guest knapkin]

Now it gets really interesting. Since all the other terminal emulators work just fine, I downloaded and compiled the xterm source, and it does not exhibit this problem.

 

I compiled both the most recent version (204), and the version corresponding to the one I have installed (200). Neither has any problem. This leads me to believe that the problem is neither with xterm nor my usage of it, but with the mdv packaging of it.

 

If this problem can be confirmed I will file a bug report.

[theYinYeti]

It's nice you found the problem. It looks like a bug report with the facts is a good idea.

 

Yves.