Ckan: "/ is already absolute" when trying to uninstall a mod

[vclrbm]

Background

• Operating System: Windows 8.1
• CKAN Version: 1.29.0
• KSP Version: 1.9.1.2788

Have you made any manual changes to your GameData folder (i.e., not via CKAN)?
I removed the mod folder for the mod and deleted it

Problem

Describe the bug
so I have enjoyed using ckan for playing modded ksp for about 6 months and I can't get a mod to remove
when I go to remove the mod which is Advanced fly by wire (windows) 1.8.3.2 it says /is already absolute error during installation

Steps to reproduce

• Go to... advanced fly by wire install it
• Click on... remove
• See error /is already absolute error during installation

Expected behavior
shouldn't remove the mod and give an error message

Screenshots (if applicable)

CKAN error code (if applicable):

PLACE CODE HERE! /is already absolute

[HebaruSan]

Thanks for the report. This is because this mod installs into GameRoot:

• https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/CKAN-meta/blob/master/AdvancedFlyByWire/AdvancedFlyByWire-1.8.3.2.ckan

Probably related to changes made in #3180, when we found out that NormalizePath behaved weirdly for /.

[vclrbm]

So how would I go about removing it from the game root

[HebaruSan]

Let us investigate. We'll fix the issue in CKAN, and along the way we might find a workaround for you.

[vclrbm]

Alright than thank you

[HebaruSan]

--debug doesn't give much info:

50760 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.Registry (null) - Pardon me, but I couldn't help overhear you're in a transaction...
51365 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.Registry (null) - State saved
51366 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing SDL2.dll
51367 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing SDL_LICENSE
51368 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing XINPUTDOTNET_LICENSE
51368 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing XInputInterface.dll
51368 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/Plugins/XInputDotNetPure.dll
51368 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/Plugins/ksp-advanced-flybywire.dll
51369 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/Plugins/ksp-advanced-flybywire.dll.mdb
51369 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/LICENSE
51369 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/README.md
51370 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/Textures/toolbar_btn.png
51370 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/Textures/toolbar_btn_38.png
51370 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - Removing GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/ksp-advanced-flybywire.version
51373 [Thread Pool Worker] INFO CKAN.Registry (null) - Aborted transaction, rolling back in-memory registry changes.

[HebaruSan]

The error message specifically is from KSPPathUtils.ToAbsolute (which we did not change in #3180).

[HebaruSan]

It's this one.

https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/CKAN/blob/a494e1dafb5ed2f19307bdc6180a163c6f5ef9ed/Core/ModuleInstaller.cs#L904-L908

17930 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - directories: ["/home/user/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Kerbal Space Program","/home/user/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Kerbal Space Program/GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire","/home/user/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Kerbal Space Program/GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/Plugins","/home/user/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/Kerbal Space Program/GameData/ksp-advanced-flybywire/Textures"]
21334 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - relativeHead: 
21335 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - pathArray: [""]
21335 [Thread Pool Worker] DEBUG CKAN.ModuleInstaller (null) - path: 

[HebaruSan]

@vclrbm I think we've figured out the problem and have a fix in progress in #3196, but as far as I can tell there is no user workaround for it in CKAN v1.29.0. You will need either a new release or a test build that contains the fix.

If you really really need to get rid of this mod right now, it looks like your only option would be to clean out the folder and start over:

• https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/CKAN/wiki/Clean-and-reinstall-process

Sorry for the inconvenience!

[vclrbm]

That's perfectly fine I don't mind reinstalling and it'll even give me the chance to update to a newer version

[vclrbm]

Everything is cleaned and reinstalled and seems to be working a okay plus while I was at it updated to the new versions of ckan as well as ksp

[Aquilux]

Am I correct in my understanding that this is caused by a mod installing items in KSP's root directory? Should this only occur while attempting to modify (update/uninstall) that particular mod, or would it's existence trip up all attempts at modification?

[vclrbm]

Any attempts at modifying the mod list

[vclrbm]

But the issue is resolved due to me reinstalling

[linuxgurugamer]

Any idea when the fix will be released?

[HebaruSan]

@linuxgurugamer probably pretty soon, all the changes I wanted for the next release have been merged and we've already agreed on a title and image. But the build infrastructure is broken at the moment so it will be at least a day or two while that gets fixed.

[linuxgurugamer]

Ok, thank you.

[HebaruSan]

@linuxgurugamer It's out now.

• https://github.com/KSP-CKAN/CKAN/releases/tag/v1.29.2