Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1a 12/4/83; site rlgvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!seismo!rlgvax!ra
From: ra@rlgvax.UUCP (Rick Adams)
Newsgroups: net.bugs.uucp
Subject: Re: Bug in 4.2 UUXQT
Message-ID: <1552@rlgvax.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 15-Jan-84 17:48:20 EST
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.1552
Posted: Sun Jan 15 17:48:20 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 16-Jan-84 05:12:07 EST
References: <1714@tektronix.UUCP>
Organization: CCI Office Systems Group, Reston, VA
Lines: 46

I found that bug at seismo. What happens is that when an article is
propagated to a site and the "U" flag is on in the sys file, there
is no "real" D. file created, since uucp is asked not to make a copy
of the file. There is a real X. file however. Then, a "Cancel" control
message comes in before uucp has actually transferred the article to
the next site. The news article is removed. Then when uucp finally
tries to transfer the article, if fails when it tries
to copy the article into a real D. file on the remote system.
Howver, the X. file gets through ok.

The "solution" we implemented was to keep an eye on the X.
directory (not very hard with uusnap) and not let the number of files
get too big.

I've discussed this problem with Tom Truscott and the following is his
suggested fix. No one has implemented it (yet).

	Subject: uuxqt of LLEN unXable files

	Here is a possibility:
	If, in uuxqt.c/gtxfile, gtwrk() returns > LLEN/2 files to be executed,
	but none of them have 'gotfiles()',
	then {
		do an iswrk() to reset things.
		loop doing gtwrk(), and if not 'gotfiles' and
			the work file is > 1 day old,
			(try to) delete the work file
		exit from gtxfile() with failure (to avoid an infinite loop)
	}

	The LLEN/2 is a kludge to avoid overreaction to the problem,
	as is the check that the work file is > 1 day old.
	(I know little about advanced uses of uux,
	but suppose it is possible for the work file
	to arrive ahead of the files needed by 'gotfiles'.)
	The exit with failure is to avoid the possible infinite
	loop that might ensue if one tries to restart gtxfile()
	but is not careful (e.g. suppose the LLEN unXables
	are also undeletable).
		Tom Truscott
	I am not planning to implement this anytime soon,
	but you are welcome to!


Rick Adams
{allegra|ihnp4|seismo}!rlgvax!ra