The document "Using UTF-8 with Gentoo" implies that I should alter the file /etc/env.d/02locale but does not tell me what to do if that file does not exist.
Doing the obvious, like "create it?" So did I, and it worked as expected ever after. Actual contents: LC_ALL="en_US.UTF-8"
Do I need to create a conf.d version of it?
any editor creates a new file, if the requested one does not exist. Noone said to create a file in /etc/conf.d/, only in /etc/env.d/. Maybe the code from the document should be changed (I cannot change it right now, I'm away from my home computer) with something like: echo 'LC_ALL="en_GB.UTF-8"' >> /etc/env.d/02locale
No one said to create a file in /etc/env.d No one said to create a file in /etc/conf.d Thanks for your help, it's working now.
(In reply to comment #4) > No one said to create a file in /etc/env.d From http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/utf-8.xml#doc_chap2_sect2: "Setting the locale globally should be done using /etc/env.d/02locale. The file should look something like the following:"
I second the bug creator's perception. I've read and reread all the published docs mentioning /etc/env.d/02locale file, and they all mislead the reader to the fact the file should already exist. Until I performed a specific search for "/etc/env.d/02locale" and found this bug, did I realize I should have created this file on all my systems. Usually, when configuring a system, the targeted configuration file for editing is already in place as a template/default. The only time a config file might not exist is within $HOME. This change to the documentation should be trivial to fix. I'm guessing somebody lost the password. ;-)
But on the flip side, from what I see it's *best* to leave the system in POSIX (or C) locale and have the user define his/her own locale within their shell config file (ie. $HOME/.bashrc) ... which is what I'm doing to stay with the Unix spirit. ;-) If this is correct, the article hints at this, but might not put enough emphasis as it being "default" for most systems?? Just an idea for article clarification.
I agree that this is a bug and should be fixed. I read several of the documents and had the clear impression that the /etc/env.d/02locale file should exist. I thought about creating the file, but first wanted to ensure that this missing file wasn't merely the tip of a missing iceberg. Trying to find out what package (please excuse my language, I am new to gentoo/emerge) provides this file, what else it provides and how to install it properly so I can carry on setting my locale. While searching for the proper source of the missing file I came across this bug. The documentation could easily be made clearer, avoiding uncertainty for new users. I suggest adding something like "If the file does not exist, just create it with the above content." in the Setting the default system locale in /etc/env.d/02locale section of http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/guide-localization.xml#doc_chap3_sect3.
