package openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-4ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[rupesh]

Binary package hint: openoffice.org

when finishing the apt-get for openoffice ... i got the below error

Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/openoffice.org-emailmerge_1%3a3.1.1-4ubuntu2_all.deb
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I did apt-get again after closing my openoffice app and it worked fine.

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: i386
Date: Mon Oct 19 00:03:50 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Package: openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-4ubuntu2
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-13.45-generic
SourcePackage: openoffice.org
Title: package openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-4ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-13-generic i686

[Chris Cheney (ccheney)]

The log file stated that OOo was already running when the upgrade was happening which was why it had failed. When you ran it again it must not have been running at that time so it worked.

[Dave-B (david-balch)]

Fair enough if the update works when OOo isn't running - but if that's a requirement, shouldn't the package system check and warn the user, or delay installation?

[Frank Groeneveld (frankgroeneveld)]

I got an error that OpenOffice was already running (with the latest update, so a newer version number, don't remember which one), but it was not running at all. Clicking continue then started to throw errors.

[Karel Marik (kaja-marik)]

My steps during buggy installation was as follows:
1) Started Update manager and started downloading of packages
2) Started for a while OO database wizard. But closed it before downloading was complete.
3) When installation started installer raised pop-up with information a OO application is running and should be closed.
4) No OO application was in the tray. I even checked processes and didn't find any either, but I didn't search thoroughly.
5) Bug occurred.

See my duplicate https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/openoffice.org/+bug/527243 for any detail. The problem is user is requested to close all OO application but there is no "visible" OO application running.

[edineva (evelina-dineva)]

got simmilar error for openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-5ubuntu2 while trying to instal with OO running; after quiting OO, the update manager insalled the upgrate just fine -- thanks

[Roger Roelofs (roger-roelofs)]

In my case I had tried Symphony a couple weeks ago and had long since forgotten it had crashed. I found the offending process and killed it, but it took a while for me to become convinced the installer wasn't broken. It would be nice if the install process had a mechanism to ask the user if they want the installer to quit the offending program for them.