How do I revert to version of OpenOffice trashed by LibreOffice installation?

JeffreyTBest · June 9, 2011, 3:06am

I did not intend to accept the “change-of-supplier” update that masqueraded as a security update, but forgot to uncheck it during one update session in the midst of a period of system instability introduced by some, unidentified, previous update. Now I have LibreOffice and the replacement has been catastrophic. Things that have always been utterly reliable are now broken, such as Writer’s text-to-table, while Base is screwing up my databases, left, right and centre. It has changed all of the default values for columns in tables, and appears to only intermittently accept explicitly set defaults. In one database, ten years worth of data has suddenly disappeared under LibreOffice Base. I have just spent an hour entering data into a restored backup of a database, only to see the data that I have just entered, and saved, disappear. Simple date comparisons in Base are broken, with a 1999 date apparently now greater than a 2010 date.

Added to the instability and loss of data integrity is the incredible slowness of the replacement suite so that I am desperate to revert to the installation of OpenOffice that was trashed by this ill-advised “update”, but I can no longer find it in the repository. How do I find historical repository entries?

For me this is a show-stopper. If I cannot revert, then I have reached the end of the line with SuSE Linux, after many, many years, as I can no longer trust the repositories to supply properly tested, legitimate security updates.

DenverD · June 9, 2011, 7:58am

On 06/09/2011 03:36 AM, JeffreyTBest wrote:
>
> I did not intend to accept the “change-of-supplier” update that
> masqueraded as a security update, but forgot to uncheck it during one

unfortunately Linux system administrators are seldom rewarded for, and
often disappointed by forgetting…

personally, instead of having to remember to uncheck a update i right
click and mark it “Taboo”…once that is done it is done, and
unclicking is no longer required…

> SuSE Linux

what operating system are you using?

to help, please show us the output of entering the following into a terminal


zypper lr -d

and copy/paste the output back to this thread using the instructions
here: http://goo.gl/i3wnr

–
dd CAVEAT: http://is.gd/bpoMD
via NNTP openSUSE 11.4 [2.6.37.6-0.5] + KDE 4.6.0 + Thunderbird 3.1.10
Acer Aspire One D255, 1.66 GHz Atom, 1 GB RAM, Intel Pineview graphics

When your gecko is broken you have a reptile dysfunction! *

lenwolf · June 9, 2011, 8:28am

Hi,

Here I can still get openoffice from yast (install/remove software).
First uninstall libreoffice from there, then install openoffice.

HTH

Lenwolf

JeffreyTBest · June 9, 2011, 1:36pm

Regrettably, right-clicking and selecting TABOO is not available in the KDE Updater Applet. As far as I can tell, there is no way to instruct this mechanism that one does not wish to see a proposed update again, and there is no hyperlinking mechanism from this to an alternative mechanism for applying the update, such as YAST. Generally, I am willing to accept essential security updates, via KDE Updater, when in the middle of working, but I will only schedule latest version updates, via Yast, between major work items when the cost of potential disruption is lower. Perhaps this policy requires revision.

I am using OpenSuse 11.3 on this laptop. A lull in work sufficient to countenance an upgrade to 11.4 is still some weeks away.


#  | Alias                               | Name                                        | Enabled | Refresh | Priority | Type   | URI                                                                                         | Service                    
---+-------------------------------------+---------------------------------------------+---------+---------+----------+--------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------                    
1  | Education                           | Education                                   | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Education/openSUSE_11.3/                          |                            
2  | KDE:KDE3                            | KDE:KDE3                                    | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/KDE3/openSUSE_11.3/                          |                            
3  | Libdvdcss repository                | Libdvdcss repository                        | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://opensuse-guide.org/repo/11.3/                                                        |                            
4  | download.nvidia.com-opensuse        | NVIDIA Repository                           | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | ftp://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/11.3/                                                    |                            
5  | download.opensuse.org-Community     | openSUSE BuildService - Mono:Community      | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Mono:/Community/openSUSE_11.3/                    |                            
6  | download.opensuse.org-Extra         | openSUSE BuildService - KDE:Extra           | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Extra/openSUSE_11.3/                         |                            
7  | download.opensuse.org-STABLE        | openSUSE BuildService - OpenOffice.org      | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/OpenOffice.org:/STABLE/openSUSE_11.3/             |                            
8  | download.opensuse.org-UpdatedApps   | openSUSE BuildService - KDE:UpdatedApps     | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/UpdatedApps/openSUSE_11.3/                   |                            
9  | download.opensuse.org-Wine          | openSUSE BuildService - Wine CVS Builds     | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Emulators:/Wine/openSUSE_11.3/                    |        
10 | download.opensuse.org-games         | openSUSE BuildService - Games               | Yes     | No      |   99     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/games/openSUSE_11.3/                              |        
11 | download.opensuse.org-mozilla       | openSUSE BuildService - Mozilla             | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/mozilla/openSUSE_11.3/                            |        
12 | download.opensuse.org-standard      | Main Repository (Contrib)                   | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/openSUSE:/11.3:/Contrib/standard/                 |        
13 | download.opensuse.org-webcam        | openSUSE BuildService - Drivers for webcams | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/drivers:/webcam/openSUSE_11.3/                    |        
14 | download.videolan.org-SuSE          | VideoLan Repository                         | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/SuSE/11.3/                                    |        
15 | http-download.opensuse.org-9058ef39 | http-download.opensuse.org-9058ef39         | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/devel%3a/languages%3a/R%3a/patched/openSUSE_11.3/ |        
16 | openSUSE-11.3 11.3-1.82             | openSUSE-11.3 11.3-1.82                     | Yes     | No      |   99     | yast2  | cd:///?devices=/dev/sr0                                                                     |        
17 | openSUSE:11.3                       | openSUSE:11.3                               | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | yast2  | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/                                    |        
18 | openSUSE:11.3:NonFree               | openSUSE:11.3:NonFree                       | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | yast2  | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/non-oss/                                |        
19 | packman.inode.at-suse               | Packman Repository                          | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://packman.inode.at/suse/11.3/                                                          |        
20 | repo-debug                          | openSUSE-11.3-Debug                         | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | yast2  | http://download.opensuse.org/debug/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/                              |        
21 | repo-non-oss                        | openSUSE-11.3-Non-Oss                       | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | yast2  | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/non-oss/                                |        
22 | repo-oss                            | openSUSE-11.3-Oss                           | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | yast2  | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/                                    |        
23 | repo-source                         | openSUSE-11.3-Source                        | No      | Yes     |   99     | NONE   | http://download.opensuse.org/source/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/                             |        
24 | repo-update                         | openSUSE-11.3-Update                        | Yes     | Yes     |   99     | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/update/11.3/                                                   |        
25 | subpixel repository                 | subpixel repository                         | No      | No      |  100     | rpm-md | http://opensuse-community.org/subpixel/openSUSE_11.3                                        |

I suspect that I see a reason for the disappearance of OpenOffice from YAST software management in the disabling of download.opensuse.org-STABLE.

DenverD · June 9, 2011, 2:31pm

On 06/09/2011 02:06 PM, JeffreyTBest wrote:
>
> Regrettably, right-clicking and selecting TABOO is not available in the
> KDE Updater Applet. As far as I can tell, there is no way to instruct
> this mechanism that one does not wish to see a proposed update again,
> and there is no hyperlinking mechanism from this to an alternative
> mechanism for applying the update, such as YAST. Generally, I am willing
> to accept essential security updates, via KDE Updater, when in the
> middle of working, but I will only schedule latest version updates, via
> Yast, between major work items when the cost of potential disruption is
> lower. Perhaps this policy requires revision.

you do as you wish (it is your machine) but i will not let the KDE
Updater (also known as kpackagekit) do anything except signal me that
something needs to be done, and i’m using the one in KDE4 which is STILL
not ready (see http://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php?t=460773)

so, i highly recommend you always use YaST > Online Updater, only…and
one of the benefits there is that you can mark an update as “Taboo”…

some of the regulars around here uninstall (or turn off) the packagekit

> I am using OpenSuse 11.3 on this laptop. A lull in work sufficient to
> countenance an upgrade to 11.4 is still some weeks away.

>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
>
> # | Alias | Name | Enabled | Refresh | Priority | Type | URI | Service
> —±------------------------------------±--------------------------------------------±--------±--------±---------±-------±--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------±-------
> 1 | Education | Education | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Education/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 2 | KDE:KDE3 | KDE:KDE3 | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/KDE3/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 3 | Libdvdcss repository | Libdvdcss repository | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | http://opensuse-guide.org/repo/11.3/ |
> 4 | download.nvidia.com-opensuse | NVIDIA Repository | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | ftp://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/11.3/ |
> 5 | download.opensuse.org-Community | openSUSE BuildService - Mono:Community | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Mono:/Community/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 6 | download.opensuse.org-Extra | openSUSE BuildService - KDE:Extra | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Extra/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 7 | download.opensuse.org-STABLE | openSUSE BuildService - OpenOffice.org | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/OpenOffice.org:/STABLE/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 8 | download.opensuse.org-UpdatedApps | openSUSE BuildService - KDE:UpdatedApps | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/UpdatedApps/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 9 | download.opensuse.org-Wine | openSUSE BuildService - Wine CVS Builds | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Emulators:/Wine/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 10 | download.opensuse.org-games | openSUSE BuildService - Games | Yes | No | 99 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/games/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 11 | download.opensuse.org-mozilla | openSUSE BuildService - Mozilla | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/mozilla/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 12 | download.opensuse.org-standard | Main Repository (Contrib) | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/openSUSE:/11.3:/Contrib/standard/ |
> 13 | download.opensuse.org-webcam | openSUSE BuildService - Drivers for webcams | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/drivers:/webcam/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 14 | download.videolan.org-SuSE | VideoLan Repository | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://download.videolan.org/pub/videolan/vlc/SuSE/11.3/ |
> 15 | http-download.opensuse.org-9058ef39 | http-download.opensuse.org-9058ef39 | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/devel%3A/languages%3A/R%3A/patched/openSUSE_11.3/ |
> 16 | openSUSE-11.3 11.3-1.82 | openSUSE-11.3 11.3-1.82 | Yes | No | 99 | yast2 | cd:///?devices=/dev/sr0 |
> 17 | openSUSE:11.3 | openSUSE:11.3 | Yes | Yes | 99 | yast2 | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/ |
> 18 | openSUSE:11.3:NonFree | openSUSE:11.3:NonFree | Yes | Yes | 99 | yast2 | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/non-oss/ |
> 19 | packman.inode.at-suse | Packman Repository | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | http://packman.inode.at/suse/11.3/ |
> 20 | repo-debug | openSUSE-11.3-Debug | Yes | Yes | 99 | yast2 | http://download.opensuse.org/debug/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/ |
> 21 | repo-non-oss | openSUSE-11.3-Non-Oss | Yes | Yes | 99 | yast2 | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/non-oss/ |
> 22 | repo-oss | openSUSE-11.3-Oss | Yes | Yes | 99 | yast2 | http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/ |
> 23 | repo-source | openSUSE-11.3-Source | No | Yes | 99 | NONE | http://download.opensuse.org/source/distribution/11.3/repo/oss/ |
> 24 | repo-update | openSUSE-11.3-Update | Yes | Yes | 99 | rpm-md | http://download.opensuse.org/update/11.3/ |
> 25 | subpixel repository | subpixel repository | No | No | 100 | rpm-md | http://opensuse-community.org/subpixel/openSUSE_11.3 |
>
> --------------------
>
>
> I suspect that I see a reason for the disappearance of OpenOffice from
> YAST software management in the disabling of
> download.opensuse.org-STABLE.
>
>

wow, you may hold the record for the number of repos enabled! ok, if it
were me i would . . .

WAIT, are you using KDE3?

and, i guess you upgraded the OpenOffice to a later version (with that
stable repo?)

hmmmmm…i don’t wanna mess you up there…i think the way to proceed
is to open YaST > Software Management and search on “libreoffice” and
right click on it, and mark it for deletion…

then search on “openoffice” and mark it for install…

but before you do that read my caveat (below) and wait for someone to
say either yes that is an ok idea, or “NO do this instead” (because i
don’t hear you moan if you blow up you machine that is so important you
can’t . . .)

sorry i can’t lay out a likely path any better than that!!
whatever you do, i’d suggest you backup all data to an off drive media…

–
dd CAVEAT: http://is.gd/bpoMD
via NNTP openSUSE 11.4 [2.6.37.6-0.5] + KDE 4.6.0 + Thunderbird 3.1.10
Acer Aspire One D255, 1.66 GHz Atom, 1 GB RAM, Intel Pineview graphics

When your gecko is broken you have a reptile dysfunction! *

robin_listas · June 9, 2011, 3:03pm

On 2011-06-09 03:36, JeffreyTBest wrote:
> For me this is a show-stopper. If I cannot revert, then I have reached
> the end of the line with SuSE Linux, after many, many years, as I can no
> longer trust the repositories to supply properly tested, legitimate
> security updates.

You should have tabooed LO.

In the package manager, you should be able to see OO in the version tab,
perhaps, and install it again. Or, install it from the DVD.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)

JeffreyTBest · June 9, 2011, 7:03pm

I wasn’t aware of problems with kpackagekit, other than it sometimes claims to be unable to connect to dbus. Thank you for the information so that I can avoid using it in future.

I am using KDE4, but I also need to use some applications that depend upon KDE3. Similarly, some applications need Gnome and I have some that expect Motif.

I suspect you are right about the path you suggest. It would be nice just to be able to revert a change and know that one was back to the original state.

DenverD · June 9, 2011, 7:30pm

On 06/09/2011 07:06 PM, JeffreyTBest wrote:
>
> It would be nice
> just to be able to revert a change and know that one was back to the
> original state.

then you have to define “original state”…

if that means as installed from the CD/DVD that is easy, just install
from oss/non-oss…

but, if you upgraded after initial install, you have to be more creative…

as far as having a YaST “Go Back” button (or “Undo what i didn’t intend
to do”), i think that has been asked for, in FATE…you can vote for
that but, i think it will never come (as that is what backups are great
for).

–
dd CAVEAT: http://is.gd/bpoMD
via NNTP openSUSE 11.4 [2.6.37.6-0.5] + KDE 4.6.0 + Thunderbird 3.1.10
Acer Aspire One D255, 1.66 GHz Atom, 1 GB RAM, Intel Pineview graphics

When your gecko is broken you have a reptile dysfunction! *

robin_listas · June 9, 2011, 8:33pm

On 2011-06-09 19:30, DenverD wrote:
> On 06/09/2011 07:06 PM, JeffreyTBest wrote:
>>
>> It would be nice
>> just to be able to revert a change and know that one was back to the
>> original state.
>
> then you have to define “original state”…

Just undo an update, it is clear. It is a missing feature.

> if that means as installed from the CD/DVD that is easy, just install from
> oss/non-oss…
>
> but, if you upgraded after initial install, you have to be more creative…
>
> as far as having a YaST “Go Back” button (or “Undo what i didn’t intend to
> do”), i think that has been asked for, in FATE…you can vote for that but,
> i think it will never come (as that is what backups are great for).

No, not at all.

I worked with a unix machine that had this feature. You installed some
software updates, in tape. After a day or two, you decided if the update
was sucesful - if not, the instructions we were given included how to
revert all the changes. I think the procedure changed or replaced some
symlinks to the new software applied, but did not delete the previous
versions. Later, you can consolidate the update, removing the old versions,
or undo the update, whatever you want.

A backup restore would also replace data files with the old versions, and
that is a no-no for a working system.

The feature exists in the GTK version of YaST package manager, it can undo
things. I have not tried it, I was just told of it.

–
Cheers / Saludos,

Carlos E. R.
(from 11.4 x86_64 “Celadon” at Telcontar)