[Bug 632280] Re: dpkg-dev: can't unpack old packages without Format field

[Ubuntu QA's Bug Bot]

** Tags added: testcase

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/632280

Title:
  dpkg-dev: can't unpack old packages without Format field

Status in “dpkg” package in Ubuntu:
  Fix Released
Status in “dpkg” source package in Lucid:
  Won't Fix
Status in “dpkg” package in Debian:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  From http://bugs.debian.org/574097:

  ".dsc files haven't always had a Format field.  It was introduced in
  dpkg 1.6.13, in May 2000.  This means that it's still not entirely
  implausible to run across source packages without Format"

  This means that it isn't always possible to unpack old source packages
  on lucid, which can be inconvenient when doing archaeology.

  Details of the fix, including the patch, are available in the linked
  Debian bug.  This fix is in maverick via Debian.

  TEST CASE: Download the source package from
  http://snapshot.debian.org/package/nethack-spoilers/3.2.2-1/ and
  attempt to unpack it using 'dpkg-source -x nethack-
  spoilers_3.2.2-1.dsc'.

  I see little potential for regressions, but it would be worth double-
  checking that some other modern .dsc file can still be unpacked.

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