Bug#712030: dch: -e option no longer updates timestamp

[Julian Gilbey]

On Mon, Jun 17, 2013 at 06:54:12PM -0400, James McCoy wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 12, 2013 at 12:02:20PM +0200, Dario Minnucci wrote:
> >   -e, --edit
> >          Don't change version number or add a new changelog entry, just
> >          update the changelog's stamp and open up an editor
> > 
> > 
> > I don't know since when, but -e option is no longer updating timestamp.
> 
> This depends on DEBCHANGE_MAINTTRAILER option, which defaults to "on"
> when the changelog DEBCHANGE_RELEASE_HEURISTIC is being used.  The
> release heuristic was changed to "changelog" by default in Wheezy, so
> this is why you're seeing a different behavior now.
> 
> I guess Julien's suggested change to the help makes sense, since the
> above is too much to document in --help.

I haven't had a chance to read the whole thread or keep up with this,
but on the basis of what I've read, would it then make sense for the
--help text to read something like:

  "just open up an editor"

if the default behaviour is in place, but something like:

  "just update the timestamp... [behaviour modified by
  DEBCHANGE_MAINTTRAILER option]"

if that is the case?  That way, the help information will reflect the
actual situation for that user?

Sorry if this is meaningless, in which case, please ignore!

   Julian