Re-installing Xarchiver; Fixing broken filter in Synaptic Package Manager

[dayooper]

I completely removed Xarchiver in Synaptic Package Manager so that I could install latest version of Xarchiver. Big mistake! After downloading the latest version of Xarchiver, I could not extract the files. Tried to re-install older version of Xarchiver in Lite Software Manager and received error message. Then tried to re-install Xarchiver in Synaptic Package Manager and also received error message that all files could not be retrieved.

Closed down and re-opened Synaptic Package Manager. Dialogue box stated that there was a broken filter in this program. Followed instructions to fix broken packages but it didn't work. Help!

[N4RPS]

Hello!

Sounds like you're tried to extract the latest xarchiver from a tarball. That's ALMOST never necessary. More often than not, it's bad karma to second-guess the repositories.

All this shouldn't be a major disaster; Xarchiver is just a GUI front end for tar.

Try this. Open a terminal window [CTRL-ALT-T] and type the following:

Code:

sudo apt-get purge xarchiver
sudo apt-get install xarchiver

If it bombs on a dependency, try this:

Code:

sudo apt-get install -f

THAT *SHOULD* fix the broken dependency or dependencies.

If not, sounds like things are REALLY bad. Maybe you deleted tar, in which case you can just type this in a terminal window:

Code:

sudo apt-get install tar

If all else fails, you can use Archive Manager/File Roller to extract tarballs, right click on it in Thunar, or use tar in a terminal. To extract the tarball 'fubar', type 'tar -xvzf fubar.tar.gz' in a termimal window.

Worst case scenario: Reinstall Linux Lite, and you may borrow my favorite phrase:

"Knows JUST ENOUGH Linux to be DANGEROUS."

As for myself, I'm (in)famous for goofing things up so badly sometimes, I have to 'nuke it and start over'. Mistakes are how we learn things...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob

[dayooper]

Rob,

I ended up re-installing Linux Lite and all is well for now.

I just downloaded the latest version of LibreOffice. The extracted file is "LibreOffice_4.2.3.3_Linux_x86_deb". How do I install this program? 

[N4RPS]

Hello!

DEB (.deb) packages can be installed with GDebi Package Installer. If you right-click on the .deb and you see 'GDebi' as an option, select it. If you DON'T see a GDebi entry when right-clicking on the .deb, it's easy enough to install:

Code:

sudo apt-get install gdebi

73 DE N4RPS
Rob

[dayooper]

Rob,

The DEBS folder has 51 .deb files. Which one (ones) do I select to have Gdebi package installer open?

David

[Valtam]

Please use the LibreOffice PPA if you want the latest.

Code:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa
sudo apt-get update 
sudo apt-get upgrade

[dayooper]

Rob,

Latest version of LibreOffice is now installed. I found it useful to also run the command, "sudo apt-get dist-upgrade". Thanks for all your help and patience on this matter.

David 

[N4RPS]

Hello!

You're welcome. No trouble at all.

Valtam's answer is the best one for this issue. Thanks for the assist!

It's always best to use Synaptic or the Software Manager to install software if you can.  in addition to the main program, Synaptic and the Software Manager also gather up all the needed dependencies, which avoids broken packages and a messed-up system that requires reinstallation to fix.

Been there, done that...

73 DE N4RPS
Rob