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Subject: Re: [geda-user] pcb behavior when invoked on invlalid file needs to
 change
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
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From: "Milan Prochac (milan AT prochac DOT sk) [via geda-user AT delorie DOT com]" <geda-user AT delorie DOT com>
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Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2016 00:21:16 +0100
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On 14. 1. 2016 21:28, Britton Kerin (britton DOT kerin AT gmail DOT com) [via 
geda-user AT delorie DOT com] wrote:
>
> If you do e.g.
>
>      pcb not_a_pcb_file.sch
>
> pcb will put a parse error message in the log for you (which you may 
> not even be viewing) and start editing a new blank pcb with the given 
> file name remembered.
>
> If you then do File->Save it will silently overwrite 
> not_a_pcb_file.sch with an empty pcb file.
>

It seems that it is by intention. There is comment in source files:
       /* keep filename even if initial load command failed;
        * file might not exist
        */

The reason of failure  is not provided/checked.

I guess that if file exists and load fails for file specified in command 
line, PCB should exit immediately.

The fix should be simple: check if file exists; if so, try to load it 
and exit with error status if it fails; if file does not exist, remember 
the fielname and continue with empty pcb. No more than 5 lines.  I will 
log the fix on LP later

> I got as far as fixing the file format plugin to replicate this 
> behavior before I stepped back and realized how insane it is.  
> Something must change.  Here are the options I can see:
>

How is the issue related to  format plugins?

Milan


>      1.  Make the parse error message much more noticeable (e.g. a 
> pop-up) and have it include a warning about the destructiveness of any 
> subsequent File->Save.  Easiest option.  Wouldn't risk messing up 
> batch mode pcb that depends on current behavior
>
>      2.  Make pcb do what it does after 
> File->Open(not_a_pcb_file.sch): don't remember the file name if the 
> file doesn't load right (then Save will do Save As).  Consistency with 
> File->Open is good.  Inconsistent with traditional unix command line 
> behavior where mentioned files get silently nuked is slightly bad, but 
> how many users really use deliberately use pcb to clobber non-pcb files?
>
>      3.  Both the above (without the destructiveness warning since 
> that wouldn't apply).
>
> I favor the third option.  A log message is not enough for this sort 
> of situation.  Option 2 seems ok but its still a great way to confuse 
> the user to show a blank file without explanation of why it isn't what 
> they wanted to edit, when you can easily help them out in this case.  
> However I've never used batch mode pcb so don't know for sure how this 
> might impact it.
>
> Informative opinions welcome.
>
> Britton
>