package openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-5ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1

[prajwala]

Binary package hint: openoffice.org

I am using ubuntu 9.10. The update manager showed openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-5ubuntu1 for upgradation. After downloading package it is when it is trying install I got this error.

ProblemType: Package
Architecture: i386
Date: Wed Feb 24 13:05:38 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
ErrorMessage: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala" - Release i386 (20091028.5)
Package: openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-5ubuntu1
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-19.56-generic
SourcePackage: openoffice.org
Title: package openoffice.org-emailmerge 1:3.1.1-5ubuntu1 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess new pre-installation script returned error exit status 1
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-19-generic i686

[fish (fish-guralp)]

unattended, automatic upgrade - I came in this morning to find a crash report.

[Carlos (cdmaciel)]

I am using a i386 U100 netbook

[earthforce_1 (earthforce1)]

Actually, it looks like some Oo components were still running in the background. I had to do a ps -Alf | grep openoffice search to find and kill them, after that the install worked.

[Michael Wigle (michaelwigle)]

It happened to me while I had Oo running during automatic upgrade in the background. I'll try closing Oo and reinstalling the upgrade to see if that takes care of it.

[[e-mail] (lbergman-texascom)]

I had OO write open with a doc that had not yet been saved. OO write remained open and the doc was intact. I reran System Update which completed without further error which did include the emailmerge OO package as well as the core and another OO package. Update did report 12 broken packages before the update but after the successful update no broken packages were mentioned and running Synaptic with the broken filter showed no broken packages.

[Gabor Toth (gabor-me)]

Well, I had similar, but even running from recovery mode and trying to fix the packages did not help. So far still have broken packages. Seemingly some OO apps keep starting up in the background even after killing them. No idea how to fix that. Any clue anywhere?

[HX_unbanned (linards-liepins)]

Yes. I was performing update through Update Manager. After unsuccessful update, all OOo crashed.
To fully remove 3.1.1ubuntu1 installation, I performed these looped steps:

1. opened System Monitor
2. every time in uninstallation or reinstallation or updating warning about "Currently opened OpenOffice.org" occurrence I:
2.1 killed the process named same as installing package ( to see the process, set View to "All Processes" )
2.2 Continued the current action ( uninstall, update, reinstall ) by pressing "Forward" in dialog;
3. see step number two.

After that, I was able to install manually OOo 3.2 DEBS from their homepage: http://www.openoffice.org

To see upgrade / update / installation procedure, see this article: http://www.unixmen.com/news-today/716-openofficeorg-32-rc2-is-out-