[Bug 1773008] [NEW] automake fails when using add-missing option

[Bob Parker]

Public bug reported:

automake --add-missing --copy does not create or copy any missing files.
I `apt purge autoconf` then `apt install autoconf` in case the Gnu required files had gone missing from my system for any reason.
The work-around is easy of course, just `touch README` etc.

>> lsb_release -rd
Description:	Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS
Release:	16.04

>> apt-cache policy autoconf
autoconf:
  Installed: 2.69-9
  Candidate: 2.69-9
  Version table:
 *** 2.69-9 500
        500 http://th.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://th.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

>> automake --add-missing --copy
I expected it add a missing README file

This happened instead.
Makefile.am: error: required file './README' not found

** Affects: autoconf (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1773008

Title:
  automake fails when using add-missing option

Status in autoconf package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  automake --add-missing --copy does not create or copy any missing files.
  I `apt purge autoconf` then `apt install autoconf` in case the Gnu required files had gone missing from my system for any reason.
  The work-around is easy of course, just `touch README` etc.

  >> lsb_release -rd
  Description:	Ubuntu 16.04.4 LTS
  Release:	16.04

  >> apt-cache policy autoconf
  autoconf:
    Installed: 2.69-9
    Candidate: 2.69-9
    Version table:
   *** 2.69-9 500
          500 http://th.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main amd64 Packages
          500 http://th.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu xenial/main i386 Packages
          100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

  >> automake --add-missing --copy
  I expected it add a missing README file

  This happened instead.
  Makefile.am: error: required file './README' not found

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