The original message is included at the end.
The solution is:
./configure --disable-nls
This disables the Native Language Support.
Apparently, this NLS is an option to add a message file for languages
other than english. I don't have (or need) any of these other files.
There is a file included with the GNU package that discusses the use of
NLS, but there is no warning about it's effect if these language files are
missing.
After I confirmed this worked, I found another option that appears
desirable. This allows you to make the product of the compile have a prefix
added to "tar". I turned this on so the result would not be confused with
the original tar file.
The final commands I used are:
./configure --disable-nls --program-prefix=gnu
make
make install
This results in a gnutar file in the /usr/local/bin directory.
Unfortunately, the "make install" results in a new, and different, fatal
error. I don't know why. But the gnutar file, and its support stuff, is
installed properly.
To quote the NLS file:
INSTALL matters
===============
Some GNU packages are "localizable" when properly installed; the
programs they contain can be made to speak your own native language.
Most such packages use GNU `gettext'. Some other packages have their
own ways to internationalization, predating GNU `gettext'.
If you found this `NLS' file inside a GNU distribution, you may
assume that this distribution does use GNU `gettext'. By default, this
package will be installed to allow translation of messages. It will
automatically detect whether the system provides the `catgets' or
`gettext' functions. If neither is present, the GNU `gettext' library
will be used. Installers may use special options at configuration time
for changing this behaviour. The commands:
./configure --with-gnu-nls
./configure --disable-nls
will respectively bypass system `catgets' or `gettext' to use GNU
`gettext', or else, totally disable translation of messages.
>Subject: Fatal error compiling GNU tar on 4.1.4 & GCC 2.7
>
> I got the latest gnu tar from sunsite.unc.edu, but when I try to compile
>it on an SS1 with SunOS 4.1.4 and GCC 2.7, it bombs.
> I do the ./configure, then then make. It runs for awhile, then has
>problems with dcgettext.c - it lists a bunch of errors the stops.
>
># make
><snip>
>...
>...
>gcc -c -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.. -I. -g -O getdate.c
>gcc -c -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.. -I. -g -O getopt.c
>gcc -c -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.. -I. -g -O getopt1.c
>gcc -c -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.. -I. -g -O stpcpy.c
>gcc -c -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.. -I. -g -O xgetcwd.c
>gcc -c -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.. -I. -g -O xmalloc.c
>gcc -c -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I.. -I. -g -O xstrdup.c
>rm -f libtar.a
>ar cru libtar.a fnmatch.o rx.o error.o getdate.o getopt.o getopt1.o
>stpcpy.o xgetcwd.o xmalloc.o xstrdup.o
>ranlib libtar.a
>making all in intl
>gcc -c -DDEF_MSG_DOM_DIR=\"/usr/local/share/locale\" -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I..
>-I./.. -I. -I./../intl -I../lib -I./../lib -g -O bindtextdom.c
>gcc -c -DDEF_MSG_DOM_DIR=\"/usr/local/share/locale\" -DHAVE_CONFIG_H -I..
>-I./.. -I. -I./../intl -I../lib -I./../lib -g -O dcgettext.c
>dcgettext.c:47: parse error before `__extension__'
>dcgettext.c:47: parse error before `if'
>dcgettext.c:47: conflicting declarations of `__catalog_counter__'
>dcgettext.c:47: `__catalog_counter__' previously declared here
>dcgettext.c:47: `_nl_msg_cat_cntr' undeclared here (not in a function)
>
>So on and so on until it stops with a fatal error message.
>
>Any GNU experts out there?
>dave.
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Fri Sep 28 2001 - 23:11:44 CDT