postinst error with dpkg --compare versions if alsa-utils is installed from scratch

[Oliver Grawert]

Binary package hint: alsa-utils

using a cmdline system (omap4 healdess image) and installing alsa-utils results in:

Setting up alsa-utils (1.0.24.2-0ubuntu3) ...
dpkg: error: --compare-versions takes three arguments: <version> <relation> <version>

Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files;

Options marked [*] produce a lot of output - pipe it through `less' or `more' !

the line in /var/lib/dpkg/info/alsa-utils.postinst causing this message seems to be:

 if dpkg --compare-versions $2 lt 1.0.24.2-0ubuntu1 ; then

apparently $2 is empty if there is no former version installed.

[Marcin Juszkiewicz (hrw)]

This patch fixed issue for me.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package alsa-utils - 1.0.24.2-0ubuntu4

---------------
alsa-utils (1.0.24.2-0ubuntu4) natty; urgency=low

  [ David Henningsson ]
  * Mute CD playback volume by default (LP: #747184)

  [ Marcin Juszkiewicz ]
  * Fixed postinst to not fail on fresh installs. (LP: #753544)
 -- David Henningsson <email address hidden> Mon, 04 Apr 2011 11:49:36 +0200