I couldn't open ical, and now I can't install ical

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Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
Hi,



I tried to open ical for the first time today, but there was some kind of error. So, I took the ical application and deleted it. Next, I downloaded ical, but I can't install it. It says I can't install it because I already have a newer version. What is going on? I really want to use ical.



Thanks for the help.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 17
    jambojambo Posts: 3,036member
    Moving to Genius Bar...
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  • Reply 2 of 17
    ajonesajones Posts: 24member
    Just because you delete iCal doesn't mean you got the Preference file... do a search in your ~/Library/ for "ical plist" and delete that file.



    Then try installing again.
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  • Reply 3 of 17
    jambojambo Posts: 3,036member
    Also trash:



    ~/Library/Application Support/iCal

    ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.iCal

    /Library/Receipts/iCal.pkg



    In case these are the problem files.



    Jambo
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  • Reply 4 of 17
    ajonesajones Posts: 24member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Jambo

    Also trash:



    ~/Library/Application Support/iCal

    ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.iCal

    /Library/Receipts/iCal.pkg



    In case these are the problem files.



    Jambo




    Oops! He's right! Props to Jambo from the Guy that forgot!
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  • Reply 5 of 17
    randycat99randycat99 Posts: 1,919member
    Is iCal being an "offender" here? Supposedly, the ease of uninstalling an application in OSX is literally to just trash the app icon. Now if it is sometimes required to go routing around in various Library folders to allow an installation to work, isn't that defeating this whole principle? What's going on here?



    I'm just asking out of curiosity, and this seemed like an opportune moment to hop on a soap box. Please be easy on me!
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  • Reply 6 of 17
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    If you trash the app, it is indeed gone... but other stuff may not be, such as the Receipts file that Software Update looks at to determine what you have installed.



    If you installed the app using an installer, you *should* uninstall it using the same Receipt. Double-click it, and it will launch Installer, with an option to Uninstall.



    If you just dragged-and-dropped the app to your drive, then just deleting it is all you need to do.
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  • Reply 7 of 17
    ajonesajones Posts: 24member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Randycat99

    Is iCal being an "offender" here? Supposedly, the ease of uninstalling an application in OSX is literally to just trash the app icon. Now if it is sometimes required to go routing around in various Library folders to allow an installation to work, isn't that defeating this whole principle? What's going on here?



    I'm just asking out of curiosity, and this seemed like an opportune moment to hop on a soap box. Please be easy on me!




    To remove the App, all you have to do it dump the App file, just like always... what's left is user preferences and installation history files (call them logs)... also left behind in iCals instance is the calendars.



    The advantage to this is that you can usually delete the app and reinstall to solve your problem. You can also keep your calendars and settings. Unfortunately for this guy, it's probably a preference or bad install, so he needs to delete the preferences (plist) and the Package History (install log) and anything else that could cause his problem
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  • Reply 8 of 17
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by ajones

    To remove the App, all you have to do it dump the App file, just like always... what's left is user preferences and installation history files (call them logs)... also left behind in iCals instance is the calendars.



    The advantage to this is that you can usually delete the app and reinstall to solve your problem. You can also keep your calendars and settings. Unfortunately for this guy, it's probably a preference or bad install, so he needs to delete the preferences (plist) and the Package History (install log) and anything else that could cause his problem




    It's the Receipt.
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  • Reply 9 of 17
    ajonesajones Posts: 24member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Kickaha

    It's the Receipt.



    Yea yea... I couldnt' remember and was too dang lazy to scroll down and look :P sorry
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  • Reply 10 of 17
    randycat99randycat99 Posts: 1,919member
    Ah, the receipt. I've seen a bunch of those in some folder. Now I know what they are for! Thanks. So a receipt is an "uninstaller", eh?
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  • Reply 11 of 17
    ajonesajones Posts: 24member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Randycat99

    Ah, the receipt. I've seen a bunch of those in some folder. Now I know what they are for! Thanks. So a receipt is an "uninstaller", eh?



    No... your "uninstaller" is your mouse draging the actual app to the trash can



    The receipt is just a log of events from the installation or the app
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  • Reply 12 of 17
    randycat99randycat99 Posts: 1,919member
    What's with the doubleclicking on a receipt, then? Does that accomplish anything more than just dragging the app to the trash?
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  • Reply 13 of 17
    ajonesajones Posts: 24member
    Quote:

    Originally posted by Randycat99

    What's with the doubleclicking on a receipt, then? Does that accomplish anything more than just dragging the app to the trash?



    I don't have any receipts that contain anything but log files
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  • Reply 14 of 17
    kickahakickaha Posts: 8,760member
    Receipts tell the Installer what was installed where, so it knows what to remove.



    ajones, the dragging method only works for applications you installed by dragging. If you used Installer to install them, use Installer to remove them. It's just that simple.



    Installer leaves behind a Receipt on install. When you open that Receipt, (actually, I believe you can open the original Installer package as well) the Installer says "Aha! It's already been installed! I'll enable the Uninstall menu item, since now I know where to go delete things."



    It's much more comprehensive than *just* dragging to the Trash.



    Also, if you install, say, iCal, and then just drag and delete via the Trash, guess where Software Update looks for info on what you have installed? Receipts. So unless you delete the Receipt, SU thinks you still have it installed, and won't grab it. Likewise, Installer will look at the Receipts to determine latest version, etc, etc, etc. Uninstalling via the Installer then removes the Receipt as well, so you don't get into situations like what started this thread.
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  • Reply 15 of 17
    ajonesajones Posts: 24member
    Kickaha - you are wise! I've NEVER known that! Packages that are installed by installers I've always just dropped them in the trash and never seen them again.



    Thanks for the lesson! I'll be sure and have that information correct next time!
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  • Reply 16 of 17
    ibook911ibook911 Posts: 607member
    Thanks!. I was able to install ical! Now, I must remember to remember all the programs I install via an installer. That could get tricky.
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  • Reply 17 of 17
    randycat99randycat99 Posts: 1,919member
    Just type in "receipts" in your search bar, and you will have a list and location of available uninstallers. No "keeping track" necessary.
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