Bug#1136160: debian-policy: Clarify that Multi-Arch is not applicable for udebs

On 14/05/26 9:13 am, Guillem Jover wrote:
> On Wed, 2026-05-13 at 17:49:29 +0530, Nilesh Patra wrote:
>> On 10/05/26 8:46 pm, Helmut Grohne wrote:
> (Also just in case, and to clarify,
> neither Standards-Version nor Multi-Arch fields get inherited.)

That makes sense, since S-V is not a binary package stanza field, I suppose
nothing to "inherit" here. I was clear about M-A, though.
I did not think clearly before saying otherwise - apologies.

>> diff --git a/policy/ch-controlfields.rst b/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
>> index 69467c4..92d4dbe 100644
>> --- a/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
>> +++ b/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
>> @@ -1381,8 +1381,9 @@ A Debian installation can combine packages from multiple architectures.
>>  The ``Multi-Arch`` field enables individual packages to declare their
>>  support for this feature, and influences the way dependencies are
>>  handled.  It can be declared in binary package sections of a source
>> -package template control file and in binary package control files.  The
>> -permitted field values are ``no`` (default), ``foreign``, ``same`` and
>> +package template control file and in binary package control files.
>> +Binary package stanzas for udebs do not make use of ``Multi-Arch``.
>> +The permitted field values are ``no`` (default), ``foreign``, ``same`` and
>>  ``allowed``. Their semantics are described in the following sections.
>>  
>>  .. _s-f-Multi-Arch-no:
> 
> Maybe just say that for udeb packages the field is not
> useful/used/taken-into-account/in-scope? Which should cover not only
> debian/control but also DEBIAN/control (for example via
> «dpkg-gencontrol -DMulti-Arch»)?

I've tried to re-word it with something else, then :)
Please take a look and see if this is more sensible.

Best,
Nilesh

diff --git a/policy/ch-controlfields.rst b/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
index 69467c4..0f5933c 100644
--- a/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
+++ b/policy/ch-controlfields.rst
@@ -1381,8 +1381,9 @@ A Debian installation can combine packages from multiple architectures.
 The ``Multi-Arch`` field enables individual packages to declare their
 support for this feature, and influences the way dependencies are
 handled.  It can be declared in binary package sections of a source
-package template control file and in binary package control files.  The
-permitted field values are ``no`` (default), ``foreign``, ``same`` and
+package template control file and in binary package control files.
+The ``Multi-Arch`` field does not affect udebs.
+The permitted field values are ``no`` (default), ``foreign``, ``same`` and
 ``allowed``. Their semantics are described in the following sections.
 
 .. _s-f-Multi-Arch-no: