netpbm: "anytopnm" doesn't recognize some file types

[Peter Selinger]

/usr/bin/anytopnm uses the output of "file" to recognize the image format of the input file.
Apparently the output of "file" has changed, and therefore it is no longer correctly recognized by anytopnm. Example:

$ file /tmp/x.ppm
/tmp/x.ppm: Netpbm image data, size = 5100 x 6600, rawbits, pixmap

However, /usr/bin/anytopnm (line 64) looks for the strings *PBM* | *PGM* | *PPM* )

For example:

$ cat /tmp/x.ppm | anytopnm
/usr/bin/anytopnm: unknown file type: Netpbm image data, size = 5100 x 6600, rawbits, pixmap

Suggested fix: update /usr/bin/anytopnm to recognize the string "Netpbm" in addition to PBM, PGM, PPM.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[scruss (scruss)]

Ubuntu's netpbm is now old enough to drive, so this is unlikely to be fixed.

See bug 270479 and Debian bug https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=380172 for tedious details

[Peter Selinger (selinger)]

I looked at those threads, but I don't see any convincing reason why a bug in useful software should not be fixed just because the software is old. The Linux kernel is 25 years old, and still being maintained :)

It seems to be more of a case of "the maintainer can't be bothered to maintain the package"? Is there a process by which one can request the package to be transferred to another maintainer?

[Peter Selinger (selinger)]

I second the request to fix this bug, no matter how old the software. Because it is easy to fix and useful. I am attaching a patch.

[Ubuntu Foundations Team Bug Bot (crichton)]

The attachment "anytopnm.diff" seems to be a patch. If it isn't, please remove the "patch" flag from the attachment, remove the "patch" tag, and if you are a member of the ~ubuntu-reviewers, unsubscribe the team.

[This is an automated message performed by a Launchpad user owned by ~brian-murray, for any issues please contact him.]