[Bug 2095541] Re: man hangs with COLUMNS set on v2.9.1

[Launchpad Bug Tracker]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

** Changed in: man-db (Ubuntu)
       Status: New => Confirmed

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to man-db in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2095541

Title:
  man hangs with COLUMNS set on v2.9.1

Status in man-db package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed

Bug description:
  Hello, I am encountering issues when using man -l with a specified
  COLUMNS env variable. The package I run this command on is manpages-zh
  version 1.6.4.1-1. I retrieved the package from
  http://http.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/m/manpages-zh/manpages-
  zh_1.6.4.1-1_all.deb

  If I run the following command on man version 2.9.1 (after expanding the archive), it hangs and shows a blank screen:
  COLUMNS=100 man --no-hyphenation -l manpages-zh_1.6.4.1-1_all/usr/share/man/zh_TW/man1/df.1.gz

  if I update the columns variable to 115, the command outputs the man page as expected:
  COLUMNS=115 man --no-hyphenation -l manpages-zh_1.6.4.1-1_all/usr/share/man/zh_TW/man1/df.1.gz

  I have tested the original command on man version 2.12.0 (on Ubuntu
  24.04), and it outputs as expected.

  I also replicated the issue in a fresh focal virtual machine (via lxc
  launch ubuntu:20.04 --vm). Here is a pastebin with the commands I ran
  to replicate this bug in the VM:
  https://pastebin.ubuntu.com/p/2cQvgRd5dw/.

  Here is the output when I run the failing command, but Ctrl-C out of
  the blank screen: https://pastebin.ubuntu.com/p/QJBKHY489X/

  Would it be possible to backport a newer version to focal to remedy
  this issue? Thanks

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/man-db/+bug/2095541/+subscriptions