Is there a way to have zypper reinstall a package along with all of the dependencies? Specifically, I would like to reinstall hplip and everything it depends on with one command. Or, do I need to use
zypper if --requires hplip
for hplip and every package it shows for each of the packages and then force a reinstall for every one of those packages?
Bart
This could be scripted, but the short answer is as per your second approach to get a list of dependencies, determine the relevant packages from that output, then force reinstall them as required.
The way I understand how the following works, it will fully “force” re-install the package completely including configuration files (a normal install without forcing at best installs the package but any configuration files that already exist are re-used and not over-written)
zypper in -f *packagename *
So, the package itself plus its default configuration files are re-installed, but any dependencies are only checked for their existence and usability, but are not re-installed.
Do you really think that any dependency might need to be re-installed? Ordinarily, jut re-installing the actual package <and its default configuration> should be good enough.
TSU
I seem to have a corrupt or unusable file somewhere. I’ve spent the time to force reinstall of all the python files I can find with no results. I remember you telling me this could happen. Here’s your chance to say “I told you so!” 
I installed a bunch of stuff I don’t need anymore so, I think I’ll just backup my needed data and do a clean reinstall. It seems it’ll be quicker than trying to find this particular problem.
Bart
Hi,
Does
zypper ve
show anything useful?
IMO
You should back up all the way to the very beginning and post a description of your hplip problem and why you think whatever your problem is due to a package corruption somewhere.
Be detailed and exact posting your errors.
TSU
The following commands are the means to check and repair the RPM database and, to check that, all the configuration files are correct and have been checked and if needs be changed, following upgrades, updates and patches …
Actually, the OP has a thread open concerning hplip already…
https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/533257-Problem-with-cups
Huh? DId you read the OP? Nothing from his post, that relates here.
@OP: I think you need some scripting, zypper cannot do this by itself.
What you can do, it use YaST’s softwaremanager, search for the package concerned, incl. the necessary options, then update the selection unconditionally.
Well, I fixed it. I think. I spent the day doing a complete backup, creating a document with all the settings I could find, formatted all the drives, and did a fresh install. I’ve set everything back and now hp-setup starts. Woo Hoo!
EXCEPT: As I had upgraded my computer for several versions, before I did this, it was using susefirewall2. Now, it’s using firewalld. And hp-setup says it can’t find any of the printers and that I should open the ports for mdns and slp in the firewall. If that were a safe thing, wouldn’t it be the default?
My head is mush after the outage last night, and doing this complete install today. I would be so greatfull if someone would just walk me through this mess with a simple “Do this and then do that”.
Buy the way, HPs linux support said that they don’t support hplip on Leap 15 and that I should just install 13.2 and everything would be just fine! And evolution’s backup and restore didn’t work, said the file was corrupt. And, of course, nVidia. But it could be worse… it could be Windows! 
Bart
Never mind. Of course as soon as I posted the previous message, I found how to set up the printers without messing with the firewall.
Bart
Despite Knurpht’s comment, your issue with a corrupt or unusable file is the reason why I suggested that the RPM database and configuration environment should be checked …
The upgrade “do this and do that” is documented in the openSUSE Wiki: <https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:System_upgrade> and <https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Offline_upgrade>.
In the openSUSE main OSS repository, the Leap 15 version of the ‘hplip’ package is ‘3.17.9’ and the Tumbleweed version is ‘3.18.6’.
From this URL <https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing> «redirection from the “http://hplipopensource.com” URL mentioned on the openSUSE ‘hplip’ package page», HP state, in the “More information” page <https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/downloads> that,
The Automatic Installer is known to work on the following Linux Distributions:
- SUSE Linux (13.2, 42.1, 42.2, 42.3)
OTH, given the “known to be OK” package version for Leap 15.0 in the Main OSS repository, there shouldn’t, normally, be any need to use HP’s version …
AFAICS, the Evolution backup creates a ‘tar.gz’ file. Assuming a GNOME Desktop, you should be able to check the integrity of the ‘tar.gz’ backup file and inspect it’s contents with GNOME’s Archive Manager (used to be “File Roller”) …
Thank you very much for taking the time to address my issues. I’d like to reply to each of your remarks.
I think it was more likely that I installed some development “stuff” from a non-openSUSE repository and obtained a library that had conflicts. I tried everything suggested to find which file it was, but short of downloading the source, putting stops in, compiling it and debugging it, I could not find out which file it was. So, I reinstalled. I guess we can agree it was time.
The upgrade “do this and do that” is documented in the openSUSE Wiki: <https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:System_upgrade> and <https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Offline_upgrade>.
- Please note that, the Offline upgrade page has an error: the "Configuration check
" is no longer ‘rcrpmconfigcheck’ – with the current Leap versions it’s ‘rpmconfigcheck’ (/usr/sbin/rpmconfigcheck) … >
Obviously, I wasn’t clear about my “do this and do that” statement. I was referring to firewalld.
In the openSUSE main OSS repository, the Leap 15 version of the ‘hplip’ package is ‘3.17.9’ and the Tumbleweed version is ‘3.18.6’.
From this URL <https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing> «redirection from the “http://hplipopensource.com” URL mentioned on the openSUSE ‘hplip’ package page», HP state, in the “More information” page <https://developers.hp.com/hp-linux-imaging-and-printing/downloads> that,
OTH, given the “known to be OK” package version for Leap 15.0 in the Main OSS repository, there shouldn’t, normally, be any need to use HP’s version …
That is the version I am using. And, hp-setup does have trouble with firewalld however, I have always set the DHCP server in my router to give static addresses to all the devices that are normally connected to my network. Using the “Advanced” features of hp-setup, I was able to enter the ip address of the printers and configuration took place as it should from there. My comment was meant to point out the ridiculousness of a company like HP recommending I use a distribution that is years past EOL!
AFAICS, the Evolution backup creates a ‘tar.gz’ file. Assuming a GNOME Desktop, you should be able to check the integrity of the ‘tar.gz’ backup file and inspect it’s contents with GNOME’s Archive Manager (used to be “File Roller”) …
evolution makes a tar.xz backup file. evolution said the file was corrupt and would not load it. Ark loaded it and I could see all the files, but it wouldn’t extract them. xz did extract it’s file to a plain tar file although, once more ark would not extract the files. Looking at the docs for ark, it said I could drag and drop any file or files I wanted. That worked and I was able to get my files installed and have evolution working.
At this point, I have my system running satisfactorily. Although I am still curious about which file was giving me problems, I have completed a job that was overdue.
Thanks, really, Thank You to all who jumped in and made suggestion as to how I could solve my problems. HP could really learn how support is done by watching this forum!
Bart
Okay, Bart, since you asked, and since you are a friend, I will do as you wish:
Do
this
and then do
that
lol!
Hey! That worked! Thanks a lot!
Mark this thread solved!
Bart