Package: debhelper Version: 5.0.17 >From (eg) dh_install(1):
OPTIONS -Xitem, --exclude=item Exclude files that contain "item" anywhere in their filename from being installed. I found a usage in the firefox debian/rules which assumed that (i) it's a glob pattern (ii) anchored at both ends. A quick survey here suggests that the idea that it's a glob pattern is not uncommon So I went to check the code, and found this in Dh_Lib.pm: $x=escape_shell($x); $x=~s/\./\\./g; $dh{EXCLUDE_FIND}.="-regex .\\*$x.\\* -or "; Here $x is the actual parameter string as supplied by the caller, and the $dh{EXCLUDE_FIND} will be substituted into a big shell string. The effect is that the argument to -X is treated as a regexp except that `.' is a literal `.' instead of `any character'. The exact syntax should be sane, and documented. I would suggest that the best syntax is probably: glob pattern, unanchored, except that it may starts with ^ or end with $ to indicate anchoring. This will probably be sufficiently backward-compatible with existing practice that no compat version specific handling will be needed. Ian. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]