I was also going to report this. Just adding the bits of my report that aren't covered by Neil.
Subject: tex-common: First installation crashes with an error about /usr/local/texmf/emacs Package: tex-common Version: 1.11.1 Severity: grave Justification: installation fails with an error The postinst script: a) Mixes /usr/local/share/texmf and /usr/local/texmf b) Crashes the first time it is run, unless /usr/local/texmf/emacs already exists. c) Successfully runs the second time it is run. Which points to this bit of the postinst, added in 1.11.1: # create empty dirs in /usr/local/share/ if [ ! -e /usr/local/share/texmf ] then if mkdir -p /usr/local/share/texmf 2>/dev/null then chown root:staff /usr/local/texmf/emacs chmod 2775 /usr/local/share/texmf fi fi This creates files that apt-file can't find an owning package for. Here's the installation log under aptitude. The package system automatically retries the installation. Setting up tex-common (1.11.1) ... Replacing config file /etc/texmf/texmf.d/85Misc.cnf with new version Replacing config file /etc/texmf/texmf.cnf with new version chown: cannot access `/usr/local/texmf/emacs': No such file or directory dpkg: error processing tex-common (--configure): subprocess post-installation script returned error exit status 1 Processing triggers for menu ... Errors were encountered while processing: tex-common E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1) A package failed to install. Trying to recover: Setting up tex-common (1.11.1) ... Press return to continue. Steve -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]