How do I fix broken LibreOffice packages

I have "broken packages" but when I attempt to fix them in Synaptic Package Manager, I get this error message:

dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting: files list file for package `libreoffice-calc' contains empty filename
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)
A package failed to install. Trying to recover:
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libreoffice-writer: libreoffice-writer depends on libreoffice-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4); however: Version of libreoffice-core on system is 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3. libreoffice-writer depends on libreoffice-base-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4); however: Version of libreoffice-base-core on system is 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3.
dpkg: error processing libreoffice-writer (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
dpkg: error processing libreoffice-base-core (--configure): Package is in a very bad inconsistent state - you should reinstall it before attempting configuration.
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of libreoffice-calc: libreoffice-calc depends on libreoffice-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4); however: Version of libreoffice-core on system is 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3. libreoffice-calc depends on libreoffice-base-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4); however: Version of libreoffice-base-core on system is 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3.
dpkg: error processing libreoffice-calc (--configure): dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing: libreoffice-writer libreoffice-base-core libreoffice-calc

The sudo apt-get install -f command gives me this:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following extra packages will be installed: libreoffice-base-core libreoffice-core libreoffice-draw libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-gtk libreoffice-impress libreoffice-math python-uno
Suggested packages: libreoffice-base libreoffice-evolution
The following packages will be upgraded: libreoffice-base-core libreoffice-core libreoffice-draw libreoffice-gnome libreoffice-gtk libreoffice-impress libreoffice-math python-uno
8 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 196 not upgraded.
3 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0 B/36.8 MB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
dpkg: unrecoverable fatal error, aborting: files list file for package `libreoffice-calc' contains empty filename
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (2)

Using sudo apt-get purge libreoffice* followed by sudo apt-get install libreoffice give me:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies: libreoffice : Depends: libreoffice-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4) but 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3 is to be installed Depends: libreoffice-base but it is not going to be installed Depends: ttf-dejavu but it is not going to be installed Depends: libreoffice-java-common (>= 1:3.6.2~rc2~) but it is not going to be installed libreoffice-calc : Depends: libreoffice-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4) but 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3 is to be installed Depends: libreoffice-base-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4) but 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3 is to be installed libreoffice-writer : Depends: libreoffice-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4) but 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3 is to be installed Depends: libreoffice-base-core (= 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu4) but 1:3.6.2~rc2-0ubuntu3 is to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

I have NO IDEA what to do.

3 Answers

Try doing sudo apt-get purge libreoffice*

Then do sudo apt-get install libreoffice

If it finds dependence problems:

Type

sudo apt-get purge libreoffice*

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install libreoffice

I found this when I got a fatal error from dpkg with the same symptom - empty list file. . .

I also rm'ed the list file from var/lib.

rm /var/lib/dpkg/info/my_missing_package.list.

then reinstalled

wajig reinstall synaptic

I like wajig - takes away the effort of remembering less often used calls to dkpg and apt

This solved it for me:

sudo apt-get purge libreoffice*

A complain stating missing dependencies appeared and suggested to run

sudo apt-get -f install

which I did. Then again:

sudo apt-get purge libreoffice*

followed by:

sudo apt-get install libreoffice