Re: Installing a package downloaded from snapshot - was [Re: Mate error message under Debian 8.6.0]
On 01/26/2017 10:12 AM, Darac Marjal wrote:
On Thu, Jan 26, 2017 at 08:00:03AM -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
On 12/20/2016 09:10 AM, Sven Joachim wrote:
On 2016-12-20 08:34 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
When I right click on the top panel and then chose "Help" I
receive
"Could not display help document 'mate-user-guide'. The
specified
location is not supported."
As I do not have adequate bandwidth for install from internet
I use
purchased sets of DVDs. I assumed the document had not been
on DVD1. I
used Synaptic to add the other 12 DVDs. I searched for
'mate-user-guide' without success.
Where would the required documentation be?
Apparently it was only packaged after the Jessie release, due
to some
licensing issues (GFDL) in versions prior to 1.10. You could
install
the version from testing[1] or an older one from
snapshot.debian.org[2].
The latter is probably preferable, since it's closer to the mate
version in stable.
Alternatively, Linux Mint has a 1.8.1 version in their
repositories[3]
which you could install. Here is the usual disclaimer:
inspect the
package before you install it, and if there's any file
conflict with
Debian packages you are on your own.
Cheers,
Sven
1. https://packages.debian.org/stretch/mate-user-guide
2.
http://snapshot.debian.org/package/mate-desktop/1.10.2-1/#mate-user-guide_1.10.2-1
3.
http://packages.linuxmint.com/pool/import/m/mate-desktop/mate-user-guide_1.8.1-0_all.deb
I have cleared up some unrelated problems.
I have downloaded the package referenced in [2] as recommended.
How do I install it? A reading assignment would be appreciated.
TIA
I find the most reliable method for installing downloaded deb
files is to use the gdebi (or gdebi-kde if you prefer) package.
You can configure your file manager to associate *.deb files with
gdebi-gtk (the executable shipped in the gdebi package) or you
can run "gdebi-gtk /path/to/*.deb" at a command line (I believe
gdebi will ask for superuser privileges ONLY when it needs them).
gdebi lets you look at the contents of the package before
installation and, unlike dpkg, it knows about dependencies so it
can tell you before you install the file whether you already have
everything installed, whether the requirements are unsatisfiable
(as would be the case for some 'foreign' packages) or, if
packages need to be installed, they will be installed at the same
time as the package (so no need for apt's "fix-broken" option).
It was not a "success" but I would hesitate to label it a "failure".
It was a _valuable_ experience as it highlighted problems in
divers areas.
The underlying condition that triggered all the "observables" is
that the .deb in [2] is not compatible with Mate delivered on
Debian 8.6.0 DVDs.
Having read only the man page for gdebi my first attempt used it,
rather than gdebi-gtk. After displaying some general descriptive
information, it displayed:
<begin quote>
Do you want to install the software package? [y/N]:
</end quote>
From what had been displayed, I saw no reason not to respond "y" :<
It then proceed to attempt to install the package *BREAKING* my
installed desktop.
I don't know just how much it broke and how much *I broke* in my
initial repair attempt.
This was the "_valuable_ experience" referred to. Took a while
but I fixed it.
I then tried gdebi-gtk to see if it would be more helpful. Wasn't.
It displayed the same innocuous information as gedebi.
Lead to same general breakage. I'm not sure whether it was my
previous repair experience or a more helpful post-mortem but the
repair was faster this time.
I believe I have *found a bug* in both gdebi and gdebi-gtk.
However I doubt filing a bug report would trigger any action as:
1. I am restricted to what would be considered "old" as I am
*bandwidth limited*.
[ that's why I install from DVDs ]
2. The bug is likely observable only for a narrow set of
circumstances.
In my circumstances, how can I avoid "Breaks: mate-desktop (<<
1.10.2-1~), mate-desktop-common (<< 1.10.1-2)" with a minimal use
of available bandwidth?
I'm assuming I need to be pointed to suitable documentation as an
answer would likely be longer than appropriate for post.
TIA
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