Problems building R package from Intrepid for Hardy

[Paul Johnson]

In Hardy, we have R-2.6.2, but some R packages can't be used unless R is 
upgraded.   I did not find any installable deb intended for Hardy 
systems, and decided to try to build.  I found R debian source packages 
here:

http://packages.ubuntu.com/intrepid/r-base-core

and am learning to rebuild.  In the middle of the build, the process 
comes to a halt and asks for a file name:

/usr/bin/texi2dvi: Running pdfetex --file-line-error 
'/home/pauljohn/LinuxDownloads/Ubuntu/sources/R/r-base-2.7.1~20080614/doc/manual/R-FAQ.t2d/pdf/xtr/R-FAQ.texi' 
...
This is pdfTeXk, Version 3.141592-1.40.3 (Web2C 7.5.6)
 file:line:error style messages enabled.
 %&-line parsing enabled.
entering extended mode
! I can't find file 
`/home/pauljohn/LinuxDownloads/Ubuntu/sources/R/r-base-2.7.
1'.
<to be read again>
                   \penalty
~->\penalty
            \@M \
<*> ...nuxDownloads/Ubuntu/sources/R/r-base-2.7.1~
                                                  
20080614/doc/manual/R-FAQ....
Please type another input file name:


I've found that if I just type R-FAQ.texi, it will proceed, until it 
asks me again for a file name, say R-admin.texi, and so forth.  
Eventually, the packages build.

I'm much more familiar with building RPM than DEB packages, but this 
seems most peculiar to me.   Can it be fixed? 


After installing the r-base packages I had built, I ran into a packaging 
problem I'd not seen before.  The package build creates a meta pacakage 
r-recommended.  But it does not go on to build r-cran-mgcv and so 
forth.  The R recommended packages were not built when I created the dep 
package for r-base.  So the installed r-cran-* packages are still stuck 
on version 2.6.2.  I know how to install packages from source inside R, 
but this Debian packaging thing has me a bit stumped.


-- 
Paul E. Johnson                       email: pauljohn at ku.edu
Professor, Political Science          http://pj.freefaculty.org
1541 Lilac Lane, Rm 504                              
University of Kansas                  Office: (785) 864-9086
Lawrence, Kansas 66044-3177           FAX: (785) 864-5700