On Sun, 16 Mar 2003 15:09:56 -0800 debian_newbie <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Read man dpkg, especially the section about --force. Focus on > > "overwrite". > > > > This sounds like a bug in the packaging. > > "IF" there is a bug in the packaging, is it still safe to force the > install? As a general rule, it isn't safe to force things. That's why it must be specified as an argument. In THIS case, it's safe, and we can be pretty certain of that: 1. Apt's error message tells you the problem is that the package failed to install because one of its files would overwrite a file already on the system. This is good, safe default behavior, because apt doesn't know whether the packages work and play well together. 2. We, on the other hand, can be sure it's OK to overwrite THIS file, because it's part of the same version of CUPS. If one file were from CUPS and the other from (for example) gnome-print we wouldn't be able to say whether the files would conflict or not. If you're a new Debianese these things can be confusing. (Heck, if you're an old Debianese they can be confusing!) I recommend installing aptitude. Use it to browse the "Not installed packages" ---> "doc" section. Install everything about Debian, apt, and dpkg that you have room for, especially the Debian Reference, newbiedoc, and dwww. Then the fun begins. We need to find a way to transmit that knowledge to our brains. Unfortunately, there's only one way. Say it with me, "RTFM". <big g> Good luck. Kevin -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
