Cannot find j2rel.4 when using Synaptic

Hi, have you definitely enabled the multiverse repository?

Are the packages you're trying to install sun-java5-jre and j2re1.4-mozilla-plugin (note, no dash in plugin)?

Dean Sas wrote:

>Support request #1998 on Ubuntu changed:
>https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+ticket/1998
>
>Comment:
>Hi, have you definitely enabled the multiverse repository?
>
>Are the packages you're trying to install sun-java5-jre and j2re1.4-mozilla-plugin (note, no dash in plugin)?
>
>
>
The packages the Ubuntu Book says I am supposed to install are: j2rel.4
and j2rel.4-mozilla-plug-in (I note your correction plugin wihtout a
hyphen).
After receving your comment I went ahead as you suggested and enabled
the/ multiverse/ repository but there is still no j2rel.4
Do I perhaps have to enable the /universe/ repository?

Ted:

There is more info on getting java working here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Java

One other comment, it might just be my eyesight or it might be a typo but you keep referring to jrel.4 as in ell.4. As Dean pointed out the package is j2re1.4 as in one.4. I hope that doesn't sound patronising but I have actually made that mistake before and I wouldn't want you to make it too :) It could cause you not to find the packages if you are trying to search or filter a list for them. The java packages should be in multiverse but you should enable universe anyway since you will certainly need it for other things.

Richard Birnie wrote:

>Support request #1998 on Ubuntu changed:
>https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+ticket/1998
>
>Comment:
>Ted:
>
>There is more info on getting java working here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Java
>
>One other comment, it might just be my eyesight or it might be a typo but you keep referring to jrel.4 as in ell.4. As Dean pointed out the package is j2re1.4 as in one.4. I hope that doesn't sound patronising but I have actually made that mistake before and I wouldn't want you to make it too :) It could cause you not to find the packages if you are trying to search or filter a list for them.
>
Aha. I did indeed think the 1 was an ell! I have now found j2re1.4 and
it is loading as I write this. Don't for one momen think your drawing
attention to this confusion sounded patronizing. Unfortunately I have
hit another snag. The loading ended up with the following message and I
am totally unclear as to what to do next.
E: var/cache/apt/archives/j2re1.4_1.4.2.02-lubuntu_i386.deb : subprocess
pre-installation script returned an error exit status 10

>The java packages should be in multiverse but you should enable universe anyway since you will certainly need it for other things.
>
>
>
Have followed your advice and added universe to my records.

You said you were using synaptic yes? When installing java you should be prompted to agree to the java licensing agreement. It seems as if you haven't been prompted and this is what caused the installation to stall. A google search for the phrase:
java subprocess pre-installation script returned an error exit status 10 led me to here: http://calban.org/?cat=43, look for the post about installing license sensitive packages.

That led me back here to launchpad and this bug report
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/sun-java5/+bug/46096.

There is a little more output from the install process there which ends with the same error you reported. Do you see similar output from your install?

If you are using synaptic it is possible that this info is being hidden from you. I tend to use adept which does the same job as synaptic, that has a button 'show details' during the install which lets you see the text output. Synaptic may have something similar. If you can see the text output and it is similar to what's shown in that bug report then there is a work around. According to that bug report the problem you are seeing shouldn't happen with synaptic but clearly it has.

The recommended fix in that bug report (look through the comments) is to run the following command in a terminal:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure debconf
then select 'dialog' from the resulting options. I have never done this so cannot guide you through this part but the bug report gives the impression it is obvious what to choose.

Then when you try to install j2re1.4 it should prompt you to agree to the license agreement. if you say yes then hopefully it should install correctly. If you still have problems or if you are wary about playing with debconf try installing java from the commandline. At least you should get some more verbose output, which would provide more information to work with. There are instructions on the doc page I linked in my previous post. It could be as simple as 'sudo apt-get install j2re1.4' and enter your password when prompted but check the instructions.

The bug report also links to a thread in the forums here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=176426&page=11. This drifts into a discussion on licensing but you might glean some useful information from the earlier pages. A little longer than I'd intended but hopefully that helps. If you're still stuck ask again.

I have linked this thread to bug report #46096 as the most likely source of the problem. This can be remove later if it turns out not to be the case.

Even more information. This forum thread has slightly more informative instructions for fixing debconf:
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=177650
which I arrived at via this bug report
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/j2se1.4-i586/+bug/47053.
The forum thread says that the root of the problem is how Ubuntu is originally installed. This problem manifests itself if you use the espresso installer from the Live CD. If you installed via the text based installer you shouldn't be seeing this problem, if you are it's probably worth reporting. As far as I can tell this bug has still not been fixed for j2re1.4. Apparently there is a fix released for the sun java packages so you also have the option of trying those, instructions on the previously linked doc page.