OK. If I want to do some initial configuration, and create an RPM from the result, should I first modify the files as required, do a make, then make test, and then create a tar file from the resulting build directory, and then run rpmbould -tb <new_tar_file>.tgz to get the desired result?
Unpack just the spec file from the tarball, and put it in your SPECS directory. Put the tarball in the SOURCES directory. Edit the spec file as desired, then run "rpmbuild -ba spamassassin.spec". The "-ta" option does something similar, unpacking the spec file to a temp directory and then cascading to the "-ba" process.
(Remember to package as a mortal. Packaging RPM's as root can be dangerous. An error in a spec file can do a lot of damage, like "clean" your real root.)
