Re: Bug#32068: multicd can't reinstall removed package

[Andy Mortimer <andy.mortimer@zetnet.co.uk>]

Hi,

Martin Schulze <joey@finlandia.Infodrom.North.DE> writes:
[...]
> If you install a package (using dpkg -i foo.deb or dselect) dpkg modifies
> the record in the available file and replaces it with the proper record
> from the status file (guessed or experienced by Ruud).  As a result of
> this the available file lacks the fields Filename: MD5sum: and X-Medium:
> which makes it impossible to install this package again since the
> methods don't have a chance to find out where the package is located.

I've found this with dpkg-mountable too; it can also happen if a
package fails after a certain point in installation (I think). I never 
quite worked out when it happened, though.

> Solution:
> 
> multicd has to copy the Packages files into $methdir/multicd/ and
> access them directly instead of the available file.
>
> Since this needs a redesign of the installation method and I'm somewhat
> short with time I'd appreciate somebody sending me a proper patch.

The way I solved this was to simply make a copy of the *available*
file, after doing dpkg --update-avail in the [U]pdate method, and then 
parsing that copy in the installation method. If this doesn't work for 
you, you could always make the copy at the end of the [U]pdate method, 
and then copy it back at the beginning of the [I]nstall method! (It's
not the prettiest method ever, but it would work ...)

Hope this helps,

Andy

-- 
Andy Mortimer                                 andy.mortimer@zetnet.co.uk
-- 
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Andy take a little snooze
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