'Print to file' fails silently if file name contains special characters

[Simon Morgan]

This bug can be replicated like this:

- Select 'Print to File' from the 'General' tab inside the 'Print' window.

- As part of the file name in the 'Name:' box, include a special character such as ":" or "/".

- Click on the 'Print' button.

- The 'Print' window then closes, giving the impression that the page has been printed successfully to file, e.g. as a pdf.

- However, no file has been created, and no error message is generated.

This bug could leave a user thinking that the pdf had been created, but they would then be unable to find it later. It would be helpful if the package could generate an error message at this point to alert the user that the 'Print to File' command had been unsuccessful.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10
Package: firefox 45.0+build2-0ubuntu0.15.10.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.2.0-35.40-generic 4.2.8-ckt5
Uname: Linux 4.2.0-35-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: wl
AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
ApportVersion: 2.19.1-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: mattblack 1515 F.... pulseaudio
BuildID: 20160304114936
Channel: Unavailable
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Fri Apr 8 18:13:13 2016
ExecutablePath: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox
Extensions: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
ForcedLayersAccel: False
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
IncompatibleExtensions: Unavailable (corrupt or non-existant compatibility.ini or extensions.sqlite)
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-03-14 (25 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.10 "Wily Werewolf" - Release amd64 (20151021)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.1.254 dev wlp12s0 proto static metric 600
 169.254.0.0/16 dev wlp12s0 scope link metric 1000
 192.168.1.0/24 dev wlp12s0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.87 metric 600
Locales: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
Plugins: Shockwave Flash - /usr/lib/flashplugin-installer/libflashplayer.so
PrefSources: prefs.js
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_GB:en
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_GB.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
Profiles: Profile0 (Default) - LastVersion=45.0/20160304114936 (In use)
RunningIncompatibleAddons: False
SourcePackage: firefox
Themes: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/07/2009
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: A14
dmi.board.name: 0G848F
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA14:bd12/07/2009:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron1545:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0G848F:rvr:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 1545
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

[Simon Morgan (s-f-morgan)]

Further investigation suggests that the position of the special character is relevant. A file name containing a word with a leading colon (e.g. 'Test :email 1.pdf') will generate a pdf, whereas a file name containing a word with a trailing colon (e.g. 'Test: email 2.pdf') generates no pdf and no error message.

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

Simon,

We are sorry that we do not always have the capacity to review all reported bugs in a timely manner. You reported this bug some time ago and there have been many changes in Ubuntu and Firefox since that time.

Do you still see a problem related to the one that you reported as I can't reproduce the issue using Ubuntu 18.04.1, Firefox 62 and the example filename you gave in comment #2.

Please let us know if you still see an issue otherwise this bug report will expire in approximately 60 days time.

Thank you for helping make Ubuntu better.

Paul White
[Ubuntu Bug Squad]

[Simon Morgan (s-f-morgan)]

Thanks for the response, Paul

I have double-checked and the problem now seems to be solved. I
successfully managed to 'print-to-file' with the following file name:

Test¬!"£$%^&*()_+`1234567890-=[]{};'#:@~,.<>?\|test.pdf

The only special character that now seems to prevent the filename from
being 'printed-to-file' is the forward slash. Including a forward slash in
the file name now generates the error message 'No such file or directory'.
So as far as I am concerned the bug no longer exists.

Many thanks for looking into it.

Simon

On Fri, Sep 14, 2018 at 9:15 AM Paul White <email address hidden>
wrote:

> Simon,
>
> We are sorry that we do not always have the capacity to review all
> reported bugs in a timely manner. You reported this bug some time ago
> and there have been many changes in Ubuntu and Firefox since that time.
>
> Do you still see a problem related to the one that you reported as I
> can't reproduce the issue using Ubuntu 18.04.1, Firefox 62 and the
> example filename you gave in comment #2.
>
> Please let us know if you still see an issue otherwise this bug report
> will expire in approximately 60 days time.
>
> Thank you for helping make Ubuntu better.
>
> Paul White
> [Ubuntu Bug Squad]
>
> ** Changed in: firefox (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Incomplete
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1568057
>
> Title:
> 'Print to file' fails silently if file name contains special
> characters
>
> Status in firefox package in Ubuntu:
> Incomplete
>
> Bug description:
> This bug can be replicated like this:
>
> - Select 'Print to File' from the 'General' tab inside the 'Print'
> window.
>
> - As part of the file name in the 'Name:' box, include a special
> character such as ":" or "/".
>
> - Click on the 'Print' button.
>
> - The 'Print' window then closes, giving the impression that the page
> has been printed successfully to file, e.g. as a pdf.
>
> - However, no file has been created, and no error message is
> generated.
>
> This bug could leave a user thinking that the pdf had been created,
> but they would then be unable to find it later. It would be helpful
> if the package could generate an error message at this point to alert
> the user that the 'Print to File' command had been unsuccessful.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10
> Package: firefox 45.0+build2-0ubuntu0.15.10.1
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.2.0-35.40-generic 4.2.8-ckt5
> Uname: Linux 4.2.0-35-generic x86_64
> NonfreeKernelModules: wl
> AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
> ApportVersion: 2.19.1-0ubuntu5
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC0: mattblack 1515 F.... pulseaudio
> BuildID: 20160304114936
> Channel: Unavailable
> CurrentDesktop: Unity
> Date: Fri Apr 8 18:13:13 2016
> ExecutablePath: /usr/lib/firefox/firefox
> Extensions: extensions.sqlite corrupt or missing
> ForcedLayersAccel: False
> IfupdownConfig:
> # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
> auto lo
> iface lo inet loopback
> I...

[Paul White (paulw2u)]

Thanks for your reply Simon.