KHelp -unable to build search index -again. Solved.

[olbab]

Very new to linux. Unable to build a search index. This is the error message:

Global symbol "$kdekdehtmldir" requires explicit package name at /usr/bin/khc_docbookdig.pl line 94. Execution of /usr/bin/khc_docbookdig.pl aborted due to compilation errors

Others had similar problem, but the fix found (in these forums) ie to install htdig, did not work. (Not surprised, they had a different error).

Possible helpful background, many strange and perhaps ominous messages barely seen flashing by during bootup, and perhaps more yet while monitor shows "Unable to display this mode". (IS THERE some way to log all that stuff?)

System details are supposed to be in the sig, but are not showing in preview.

Ol' Bab

[askrieger]

Re: KHelp -unable to build search index -again

This is a truly classic bug. You will note that the global symbol that is referenced in the error message is kdekdehtmldir. However, if you read the perl script, you will find that the intended variable is actually called $kdehtmldir (only one "kde"). Your task therefore is to modify line 94 of the file /usr/bin/khc_docbookdig.pl. Because the file is owned by root, you must make yourself root to make the change.
So:
1) start a konsole (sorry about that) K>System>Konsole
2) enter the command

sudo nano /usr/bin/khc_docbookdig.pl

You only need to to type "sudo nano /usr/bin/khc_d<tab>" and the shell will fill in the rest
3) enter your password when requested.
4)Type Alt-G 94,21
5)Delete the offending characters ("kde")
6)Type Ctl-O to save the file
7)Type Ctl-X to get out of nano
8)Build your index
9)Be terribly disappointed because the index SUX BIG TIME
Which may explain why nobody has bothered fixing this bug in the last four or five Kubuntu releases.

[olbab]

Re: KHelp -unable to build search index -again

Thank you!
Went smoothly. The indexing was fast, the trial searches were very fast, but would not work if more than one search term. The "and/or" selection does nothing. If this roughly agrees with "sux big time" I guess I'm satisfied...

NOW, about that logging to capture boot-generated text- Is there such? Lots of little mysteries yet to be fixed and maybe such a log would be helpful.

Ol' Bab

[askrieger]

Re: KHelp -unable to build search index -again. Solved.

NOW, about that logging to capture boot-generated text- Is there such?

Sorry about that, forgot while going through the indexing thing.

Look at the /var/log/dmesg file. It's even more detailed than the stuff that goes whizzing by during the boot (or maybe it's the same), and it includes the timing of the events in the boot process.

[olbab]

Re: KHelp -unable to build search index -again. Solved.

Thank you! Ol' Bab

[walfred]

Re: KHelp -unable to build search index -again. Solved.

Amazing!!
my updates reported they finally decided to fix this!
by the way... askrieger, are you Greg Newsome ?

kdebase (4:3.5.9-0ubuntu7.3) hardy-proposed; urgency=low

* Update 25_khelp_htdig.diff, fixes LP: #241916
Fixes khelpcenters' indexer to work with dash.
Fixes incorrect definition '$kdekdehtmldir' which stopped indexer.

-- Greg Newsome <mugginz1@gmail.com> Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:42:38 +1000