[Aptitude-devel] Bug#561957: reinstall gives internal error if package is upgradeable

[Daniel Hartwig]

Hi -devel

Just had a look at this:

> One gets this internal error, (with bad grammar ("locate file"))
> # aptitude reinstall asterisk
> The following packages will be REINSTALLED:
>   asterisk
> 0 packages upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove
>  and 18 not upgraded.
> Need to get 0B of archives. After unpacking 0B will be used.
> Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y
> E: I wasn't able to locate file for the asterisk package. This might
>  mean you need to manually fix this package.
> Writing extended state information... Done
> E: I wasn't able to locate file for the asterisk package. This might
>  mean you need to manually fix this package.
> E: Internal error: couldn't generate list of packages to download
>
> It occurs when reinstall is used on an upgradable package,

The installed version is probably no longer available from any
sources, so if it is not in the local cache either then you get that
error.

We could be more intelligent, providing a clearer error message, or
perhaps we should do like "apt-get install --reinstall" and just
upgrade it instead:

>  --reinstall
>       Re-Install packages that are already installed and at the newest
>       version. Configuration Item: APT::Get::ReInstall.

in which case I'd like to support "--reinstall" directly and back away
from plain "reinstall" command, so that there is less distinction
between apt-get/aptitude.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Regards