Ubufox tries to install flashplugin-nonfree, can't find it (multiverse not enabled)

[Vincent]

Binary package hint: ubufox

I'm on the Xubutu Gutsy beta LiveCD, and I just tried visiting a site that has Flash content. When I click "Click here to download plugin" I get the dialog asking me to choose for either Adobe Flash Player (installer) or Gnash Flash Player. I select the Adobe one, and I get the dialog "Install additional software", where I can select Yes or No. (Note: when I select "No", Firefox still says the installation was successful)
Anyway, when I then select "Yes", I get another dialog window saying "Cannot find package flashplugin-nonfree". Obviously, this is because I don't have the "multiverse" repository enabled, but how should the user know?
I think it should ask the user whether this repo should be enabled.

Thanks.

[Dax Solomon Umaming (knightlust)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and help make Ubuntu better. I wholeheartedly agree that this is a bug. Confirming and changing Importance to Low.

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

Michael, maybe this is a synaptics bug?

[Michael Vogt (mvo)]

Hi,

could you please try to pass the following to apturl:
apt:firefire-plugins-name?section=multiverse

That should ensure that apturl enables the section if required.

[Vincent (vinnl)]

Michael, I'm not sure how to because I suppose it is called automatically by Ubufox, and I couldn't anyway because I'm not on Gutsy anymore. However, perhaps that could be the fix to be implemented in Ubufox?

Also, does this mean apturl is installed by default in Gutsy? That would be cool because it would make the installation of .deb packages yet some more easier (similar to SuSE's one-click install) :)

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

this isn't an apturl issue.

[Alexander Sack (asac)]

i have updated the plugin finder webservice to provide section parameter to apturl ... appears to work well.

Thanks,
 - Alexander

[Vincent (vinnl)]

I'm running Xubuntu's daily build from yesterday, but it still says the package could not be found... Have you tested it on a LiveCD or a fresh install? (Or at least with multiverse disabled?)

[Oliver Gerlich (ogerlich)]

This LiveCD problem also applies to the Gnash plugin... In the FF plugin installation dialog, if I choose to install the Gnash plugin instead of the Flash plugin, I get the error message "Can not find 'mozilla-plugin-gnash'". This happens on a Gutsy LiveCD.

The command line that is executed is "/usr/bin/python /usr/bin/apturl apt:mozilla-plugin-gnash?section=universe". But the Universe repo is not enabled by default on the LiveCD...

If I manually enable the universe repo in the Software Sources config dialog and let it update package info, the Gnash installation succeeds (at least when running that command from terminal).

I wonder how this is intended to be fixed for Hardy? Will Gnash be included in the main repo and on the LiveCD (that might make sense, but OTOH Gnash seems unable to display Youtube so this "solution" won't work for many people). Or will the plugin installation dialog offer to enable Universe repo if it required? To summarize: what is the "big plan" for flash support in Hardy?

[Vincent (vinnl)]

On-the-fly enabling of universe/multiverse would be best IMHO.

Also, when a plugin cannot be found that dialog is very confusing (I believe it searches for the plugin, the searching dialog closes and it says "plugin installed" and when you click next it says "Plugin not found". If it doesn't go like that than at least it's equally confusing).

[Duncan Hawthorne (duncan.hawthorne)]

without this there is no way in which there is "automatic flash installation" in ubuntu. for users who need automatic flash installation, they are left stuck.

this must be fixed for hardy. the install program should be modified in general to check all the repos and enable the ones needed, ie for gnash also, and then any other package with a similar problem in the future

[Vincent (vinnl)]

I'm on Hardy Alpha 5 (Xubuntu) and the issue is still present...

[Duncan Hawthorne (duncan.hawthorne)]

on hardy alpha 6 and issue is still present. why isnt this fixed yet
please nominate this bug for hardy heron! simple fix, annoyance removed

note this same problem is there for installing gnash and java too. please fix

[DanielRoesler (diafygi)]

I just tried this bug on Hardy Heron 8.04 beta, and it still cannot find the package. When I enabled multiverse in Synaptic, it worked fine. This needs to be fixed ASAP before the Hardy final release!

[Dara Adib (daradib)]

Marking as duplicate of Bug 208722