Can't install software bought on Ubuntu Software center

[Damien]

Even though elementaryOS is based on Ubuntu and is using its software center, software previously bought on Ubuntu cannot be installed.

- software doesn't show when using the search function.
- using the USC "reinstall previously bought" option correctly displays the software description, but it says that the version of Ubuntu is incorrect and that I should contact the seller.
- It does so for every software I own, meaning the suggestion to contact the seller may not be the correct one.

Can be tried with a free application like nitro. I has to be first "bought" on a proper Ubuntu system. https://apps.ubuntu.com/cat/applications/nitro/

[Cody Garver (codygarver)]

Ivo, what do you think?

[Eduard Gotwig (gotwig)]

Our "template" for software center is made from the Debian template.

I think, Ubuntu recognizes that, and doesn't works with that, to buy and use bought software.

Unfortunately there is no Ubuntu template no more out.

Checkout this directory, and search for strings like "BUY"

/usr/share/software-center/softwarecenter/distro

[Eduard Gotwig (gotwig)]

It just installs fine for me. I tried Ryzom and Nitro.

But I see no entries for "previous bought software"

[Eduard Gotwig (gotwig)]

I correct myself: after a restart of the software center, it just works fine for me as well.

[Daniele "OpenNingia" Simonetti (oppifjellet)]

I don't know if this is the right place to post; however I found a workaround to get Commercial software shown on Software Center in elementary.

Just open a terminal and launch software center this way:

export SOFTWARE_CENTER_DISTRO_CODENAME=precise
software-center

it works! :)

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Explanation:
the issue is that elementary codenames (e.g. 'luna') are different from the ubuntu ones ( e.g 'precise') and software center ( and its backend ) rely on them to know which packages to show from private PPAs.