[Koha] Can't add items on Koha 3.18.03 built from .tar

[Bob Ewart]

When I try to add an item on Koha 3.18.03 built from the .tar file, I 
get a "Can't call "fields" on undefined value at ... additem.pl line 683.

It works on Debian based systems installed as a package.

See bug 13711 http://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=13711

I can't use Debian because it fails the vulnerability checks and the 
Ubuntu based systems kept locking up hard.

I really would like to know the difference between the Debian/Ubuntu 
packages and building it from a .tar file.

-- 
Bob Ewart
Stonewall National Museum & Archives
http://stonewall.dnsalias.org