Changes between Version 83 and Version 84 of FAQ

Timestamp:

Sep 22, 2009, 7:43:16 PM (15 years ago)

Author:

blb@…

Comment:

Update force information for MacPorts 1.8

FAQ

@@ -202 +202 @@
 === When should I use the force option (-f) === #whentoforce
 
-Use of the force option (-f) is rarely necessary, but some suggestions in the past have recommended its use quite frequently.  One of the few useful applications of it is in forcing a reinstall of an already-installed port to add a new variant, for example
-{{{
-sudo port -fn upgrade mysql5 +server
-}}}
-will install a new version of the mysql5 port with the current variants plus +server.  Note the use of the -n (don't follow dependencies) option, which is important in this case (otherwise ports depended on by mysql5 will be upgraded as well even when it isn't needed).
-
-One of the other times -f is needed is when you run into a stray file in your MacPorts prefix, not owned by a port, but blocks the install of one.  This is seen with an error message from port similar to
+Use of the force option (-f) is rarely necessary, but some suggestions in the past have recommended its use quite frequently.  The most common need for -f now is  when you run into a stray file in your MacPorts prefix, not owned by a port, but blocks the install of one.  This is seen with an error message from port similar to
 {{{
 Error: Activating some-port @1.0_0 failed: Image error: /opt/local/path/to/stray/file already exists and does not belong to a registered port.  Unable to activate port some-port.
@@ -216 +210 @@
 sudo port -f activate some-port
 }}}
-Outside of `-fn upgrade` and `-f activate` force can be extremely dangerous, and should be avoided unless you know precisely how port is going to act.
+
+Prior to MacPorts 1.8, -f was also used to force an upgrade of a port to add new variants.  This has now been replaced with the {{{--enforce-variants}}} option to upgrade:
+{{{
+sudo port upgrade --enforce-variants curl +ssl
+}}}
+This will install the curl port again, adding the +ssl variant.
+
 
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