Changes between Version 8 and Version 9 of howto/InstallingOlderPort

Timestamp:

May 25, 2009, 5:47:20 PM (15 years ago)

Author:

ryandesign (Ryan Carsten Schmidt)

Comment:

Reword introduction to show how older versions can be much more easily reinstalled if they are already installed, just inactive

howto/InstallingOlderPort

@@ -3 +3 @@
 = How to install an older version of a port =
 
- * Audience: Anyone needing an older version of a port than is currently available in the repository
+ * Audience: Anyone needing an older version of a port than is currently available in the repository or installed on their machine
  * Requires: MacPorts >=1.7
 
 == Introduction ==
 
-MacPorts does not include a feature to let you install an older version of a port. It only lets you install the current version of the port that has been created by the port author. You can work around this by getting an older version of the portfile from the Subversion repository.
+When you upgrade an installed port, MacPorts deactivates the older version but keeps it installed. For example:
+
+{{{
+$ port installed tcl 
+The following ports are currently installed:
+  tcl @8.4.16_0+darwin_9 (active)
+$ sudo port upgrade tcl
+[snip]
+$ port installed tcl 
+The following ports are currently installed:
+  tcl @8.4.16_0+darwin_9
+  tcl @8.5.0_0 (active)
+$ 
+}}}
+
+If you later discover you would like to go back to the older version, you can deactivate the current version and reactivate the older one:
+
+{{{
+$ sudo port deactivate tcl
+--->  Deactivating tcl
+$ sudo port activate tcl @8.4.16_0+darwin_9
+--->  Activating tcl @8.4.16_0+darwin_9
+$
+}}}
+
+Once you're confident the new version works to your satisfaction, you can uninstall the old one to reclaim disk space:
+
+{{{
+$ sudo port uninstall tcl @8.4.16_0+darwin_9
+}}}
+
+If you want to go back to an older version after you've already uninstalled it, or to an older version than you've ever had installed, you can do so by manually downloading the older version of the portfile from the Subversion repository.
 
 == Installation ==