Duplicates

Many of the reports filed about Ubuntu are actually duplicates of known reports. This can happen after a high profile bug has been introduced into Ubuntu, causing a lot of users to report it. Other times, reporters will file a report that duplicates an older bug, but has different symptoms.

Bugs are duplicates when they have the same root cause. Determining this is a skill that you'll pick up as you become more familiar with a particular program or package. Bugs are not necessarily duplicates if they have the same effects. If in doubt, ask for another opinion.

When you first look at a new bug, try to find an existing bug in the system that describes the new one. Here's how:

• Click the "List open bugs" link at the bottom of the bug page or

• Click the "Bugs" tab at the top of the page
• Look for bugs with similar descriptions or related topics.
• If they describe the same root cause, decide which report should be the primary one. This should be the one that's the most understandable and contains the most information.

• For the other report, add a comment like Include(Bugs/Responses, , from="^== A duplicate ==$", to="^==") to the bug thanking the user for their report and indicating that it is a duplicate. Then click the "Mark as Duplicate" link and input the number of the primary bug.