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

[Alexander Lukens]

Public bug reported:

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

** Affects: man-db (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2095541

Title:
  man hangs with COLUMNS set on v2.9.1

Status in man-db package in Ubuntu:
  New

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

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