Bug: Synaptic must automatically install packages listed in 'Recommends' field on install and upgrades in the default configuration if packages are to run as expected and without error. It doesn't do so for Hardy; a fix was released for Intrepid, but no backport to Hardy as yet. ( 13 Apr 2009 ) Problem documented in launchpad at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...ptic/+bug/8896
Workaround, by Christian Niemeyer, (with a typo correction by me, see below) is as follows:
Christian's workaround also allows the user to see what the 'Recommends' are by creating a custom filter in Synaptic. ( Frodon, would you please double-check my understanding of that about the custom filter's purpose before editing this into the original post in this thread, if you intend to include it there? Thanks! ) This workaround is documented inAdd an entry in the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/ directory.
Make a new file in there, e.g. sudo gedit 99recommends
And paste
APT::Install-Recommends "true";
into it.
Go to Synaptic in Preference and just check if "consider recommendations as dependencies" is active, if not, check the box active.
Then go >Synaptic >Settings >Filters,
Make a new one e.g. "Missing recommends"
Uncheck all boxes, only check the line "broken policy" (which means the apt policy in the config files)
Reload package information (I guess it is not explicitly necessary).
And with "Search filters" you have the Filter Missing Recommends.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...96/comments/28 and https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...96/comments/30 .
( That last link immediately above merely corrects a typo error, the necessity of which is confirmed by the workaround's poster, Christian Niemeyer, later in the thread, viz. at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...96/comments/31 . )
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