[packaging] debian-reference-common (instead of debian-reference) is installable in Ubuntu Software, creating an unlaunchable desktop entry

[林博仁(Buo-ren, Lin)]

Recently I found "Debian Reference(-> debian-reference-common)" item in Ubuntu Software and attempted to install and run it out of curiosity, however the "Launch" icon isn't working. After examining the file listing I noticed that the installed /usr/share/applications/desktop-reference.desktop desktop entry executes `debian-reference` command, which in turn tries to locate /usr/share/debian-reference/index.html but failed because that the file is not created by /usr/share/debian-reference-common/mkindexhtml script due to missing debian-reference-<lang> package files.

In my opinion the desktop entry file should be packaged in debian-reference instead, so Ubuntu Software will tries to install debian-reference package and in turn installing at least debian-reference-en which will triggers /usr/share/debian-reference-common/mkindexhtml script to generate /usr/share/debian-reference/index.html, making the desktop entry valid.

Another possible solution would be making /usr/share/debian-reference-common/mkindexhtml script to generate a dummy index page that instructs viewer to install the desired debian-reference-<lang> package.

## Bug Reproducing Instructions ##
1. Make sure that no debian-reference* packages are installed
2. Locate and install "Debian Reference" from the Ubuntu Software
3. Attempt to launch the installed application either from Ubuntu Software or from the application menu/lens

## Current Behavior ##
Nothing happened

## Expected Behavior ##
Default browser launched and loading the webpage

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.04
Package: debian-reference-common 2.64
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.10.0-14.16-generic 4.10.3
Uname: Linux 4.10.0-14-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.4-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity:Unity7
Date: Sat Apr 1 17:31:44 2017
Dependencies:

InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-03-30 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Beta amd64 (20170321)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=zh_TW:zh
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=zh_TW.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: debian-reference
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[osamu (osamu)]

I didn't expect *-common is installed first.
I will fix it as recommend to avoid cyclic dependency.

[osamu (osamu)]

I think this has been fixed in Debian 2.83 now)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package debian-reference - 2.85

---------------
debian-reference (2.85) unstable; urgency=medium

  * Reorganize git.
  * Stop building epub (headache for reproducibility.)
  * Lock TZ and unlock parallel build.

 -- Osamu Aoki <email address hidden> Fri, 17 Sep 2021 18:11:56 +0900