Question regarding the location of Synaptic Package Manager

marty5000 · posted: 2013-04-11 20:04

Hello all! I went with the full installation on my first go, but realized that I didn't need a large portion of the installed applications. So, last night reinstalled antiX using the base .iso. Today, I've been trying to access Synaptic Package Manager, but can't seem to find it on my system. I tried installing the .deb package, to no avail. I tried executing /usr/sbin/synaptic, to no avail. I'm missing something here... and surely it's due to my newbiness.

rust collector · posted: 2013-04-11 20:10

It is in /usr/sbin/synaptic, but I don't think it is included in base?

So, if it is not there,

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apt-get install synaptic

marty5000 · posted: 2013-04-11 20:35

It is present in /usr/sbin, but when I try to execute it nothing happens. What would that be?

Oh, guh! I forgot to mention that I tried installing from the command line... here is the output:

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Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
synaptic is already the newest version.
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 synaptic : Depends: libapt-inst1.2 but it is not installable
            Depends: libapt-pkg4.10 but it is not installable
            Depends: libept1 but it is not installable
            Depends: libxapian22 but it is not installable
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

I have tried 'apt-get -f install' but it seems to just uninstall synaptic.

Mostly, I'm just curious as to why /usr/sbin/synaptic won't execute. I'm very willing to learn a different method of installing applications without using a gui, but this situation has piqued my curiosity. __{{emoticon}}__

Dave · posted: 2013-04-11 21:19

apt-get update && apt-get -f install should install it (it may remove it first after your first attempt).

If it does not install than post an"ls" of /etc/apt/sources.list.d. Then if it shows a debian.list in the output, open it and post the contents.

marty5000 · posted: 2013-04-13 20:00

Forgive me for not replying sooner: I was working on some other things for the past couple days.

The combination of both your answers worked wonderfully, but I wish I wouldn't have bothered you two as those were the answers that kept coming up on Google...

The reason it wasn't working for me was that I was trying to use the fluxbox menu option. For some reason, this doesn't seem to work. Out of curiosity, can someone tell me why this won't bring it up?

Regardless, I can now use Synaptic and I have a little better understanding of Bash. Thanks again and again! __{{emoticon}}__

rokytnji · posted: 2013-04-14 02:18

I run 13 base 64bit and 32 bit. I just hit the run box in the fluxbox menu.
Hit the checkbox to run as root
type in synaptic
password
wala synaptic opens.

Being a beta test iso. I figure the synaptic bug in menu will be worked out before final release and I don't sweat the small stuff. I reinstall new test isos like people change clothes so I put on a usb drive what I wanna keep on next reinstall like
conky,videos,music,wallpapers,my own custom scripts,. Editing the menu all the time just got tiring for me so I
just use the run/gexec option instead.

If wanting synaptic in the menu. Go to .fluxbox/applications >preferences, edit menu, and use gksu synaptic for launching it from menu.

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[exec] (Synaptic Package Manager) {gksu synaptic} </usr/share/pixmaps/synaptic.png>

Comment out the duplicate entry

Disable/comment out

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# Auto-update menu
#auto-fluxbox-menu.sh &

in ./fluxbox/startup also.

Like I said. The run menu is just easier. If you are running testing.

marty5000 · posted: 2013-04-14 17:53

My higher power, I forgot to mention I'm using 12. I don't feel I'm ready for beta yet, seeing my issues with figuring out the stable release! Someday (and perhaps sooner than i expect) I'll be more comfortable with testing... but for now...

Thanks for the solid advice rokytnji! I'm beginning to find it easier to avoid the menu altogether as well, however your fluxbox tips will be very helpful for user-friendliness. (I attempt to make any distro I use more user-friendly for my wife so she'll be comfortable using it. Hasn't worked yet, but I keep trying! __{{emoticon}}__ )