[Bug 120689] Re: "Not all updates can be installed" dialog has unclear buttons & unselectable text

[Alistair Buxton]

This bug is 18 years old and the dialog is as useless as ever.

It appears at random while you are using the computer.

It regularly pops up while you are typing, stealing focus, and then
choosing an option at random depending on what keys you press before
noticing it.

It says that "Partial Upgrade" will install "as many packages as
possible" but does not explain what the alternative "Continue" does.
Continue doing WHAT?

Clicking either of those buttons just makes the dialog disappear, with
no indication of what, if anything, is actually being done.

The "Settings" button opens the software settings panel, where no
combination of settings will stop it from displaying this dialog.

Running "sudo apt upgrade" from the terminal does not report the reason
for the partial upgrade. It does not report any errors at all in fact.
It does report that some packages were held back due to phasing.

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Foundations Bugs, which is subscribed to update-manager in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/120689

Title:
  "Not all updates can be installed" dialog has unclear buttons &
  unselectable text

Status in update-manager package in Ubuntu:
  Triaged

Bug description:
  The button labels are not clear.

  "Partial Upgrade" begins an upgrade
  In old versions: "Close" -- does this mean close the dialog, or close the app? (ie, give up completely)
  In Raring: "Continue" -- (from bug 1137144) Reading that message, "Partial Upgrade" and "Continue" are the same thing. There is no "Cancel" to backout. I'm stuck unless I just close the dialog.

  
  The deeper problem is that I don't understand why this dialog appears. The model of Software Update as I understand it is that the user can pick which updates they want. When faced by this dialog, I am confused about how I say "no, I only want to pick SOME packages to update).

To manage notifications about this bug go to:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+bug/120689/+subscriptions