Macports force-activate all ports

Question

When trying to install SciTE

sudo port install scite

port stops at

Error: org.macports.activate for port gettext returned: Image error: /opt/local/bin/autopoint already exists and does not belong to a registered port. Unable to activate port gettext. Use 'port -f activate gettext' to force the activation.

but if I run sudo port -f activate gettext and re-try installing scite, I end up with the same error message, this time with /opt/local/lib/libffi.6.dylib and libffi and so on and so on...

How can I tell Macports to force activate all ports that stand in it's way from completing installing SciTE, without having to manually re-run the installation of the package I actually want and without having to copy-paste each activation command?

Answer 1

I was able to install the desired port by automating the activation process. The app fails to run due to some library version issues and I seem to be unable to fix those but that's a story for another answer or another question.

1. Create a script that continuously tries to install the port and automatically forcefully activates the discovered port that is blocking it. Copy paste the following into a file and call it port-instact.sh

   if [ "$EUID" -ne 0 ]
     then echo "Please run as root"
     exit
   fi
   target="$1"
   while [ 1 ]
   do
       echo trying to install "$target"
       if [[ $(port installed "$target" | grep "$target") ]]; then echo "$target" present; break; fi
       line=`port install "$target" 2>&1 > /dev/tty | grep "port -f activate"`
       package=$(echo $line | sed -e "s/^.*port -f activate //" -e "s/. .*//")
       if [ "$package" = "$oldpackage" ]; then echo double \""$package"\"; break; fi
       oldpackage="$package"
       echo activating "$package"
       port -f activate "$package"
   done
   

2. Make the file executable via chmod +x port-instact.sh

3. Run it as root sudo ./port-instact.sh scite and wait

Answer 2

Deleting everything Macports and reinstalling it allows you to normally install ports.

Use the elaborate rm command from Macports guide (uninstalling):

sudo rm -rf \
        /opt/local \
        /Applications/DarwinPorts \
        /Applications/MacPorts \
        /Library/LaunchDaemons/org.macports.* \
        /Library/Receipts/DarwinPorts*.pkg \
        /Library/Receipts/MacPorts*.pkg \
        /Library/StartupItems/DarwinPortsStartup \
        /Library/Tcl/darwinports1.0 \
        /Library/Tcl/macports1.0 \
        ~/.macports

Thanks to Mark for the suggestion.