This bug is still present in 1.30. I fixed it the same way as mfisheresq, before finding this report.
## Bug Fix The sgml-base package should create the /var/lib/sgml-base directory, and not even need to check whether it exists. $ sudo dpkg --configure sgml-base Setting up sgml-base (1.30) ... cannot open /var/lib/sgml-base/supercatalog.new for writing: No such file or directory at /usr/sbin/update-catalog line 312. dpkg: error processing package sgml-base (--configure): installed sgml-base package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 2 Errors were encountered while processing: sgml-base ## Context & Importance This bug prevents any other packages from being installed until it's manually fixed, and sgml-base cannot be blindly removed because of its role as a dependency for help documentation that's a default part of plasma desktop, and presumable other deafult help applications distributed as a default part of desktop environments. -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to sgml-base in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1448220 Title: package sgml-base 1.26+nmu4ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2 Status in sgml-base package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: The bug seems very similar to 1074475, but I encountered it in upgrading from 14.10 to 15.04, and in my case, the post-installation script returns error code 2. As a consequence of this bug, dpkg reports dependency problems while processing: sgml-base metacity-common libmetacity-private2 compiz-gnome compiz unity libunity-2d-private0 metacity sgml-data ubuntu-desktop unity-2d unity-2d-common unity-2d-panel unity-2d-shell unity-2d-spread compizconfig-backend-gconf ProblemType: Package DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04 Package: sgml-base 1.26+nmu4ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-15.15-generic 3.19.3 Uname: Linux 3.19.0-15-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: fglrx ApportVersion: 2.17.2-0ubuntu1 Architecture: amd64 Date: Fri Apr 24 17:24:36 2015 DuplicateSignature: package:sgml-base:1.26+nmu4ubuntu1:subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2 ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2 PackageArchitecture: all RelatedPackageVersions: dpkg 1.17.25ubuntu1 apt 1.0.9.7ubuntu4 SourcePackage: sgml-base Title: package sgml-base 1.26+nmu4ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 2 UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to vivid on 2015-04-23 (0 days ago) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/sgml-base/+bug/1448220/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : [email protected] Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
