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DPKG
!!!DPKG
NAME
SYNOPSIS
WARNING
DESCRIPTION
INFORMATION ABOUT PACKAGES
ACTIONS
OPTIONS
FILES
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
EXAMPLES
SEE ALSO
BUGS
AUTHORS
----
!!NAME


dpkg - a medium-level package manager for Debian
!!SYNOPSIS


__dpkg__ [[''options''] ''action''
!!WARNING


This manual is intended for users wishing to understand
__dpkg__'s command line options and package states in
more detail than that provided by __dpkg
--help__.


It should ''not'' be used by package maintainers wishing
to understand how __dpkg__ will install their packages.
The descriptions of what __dpkg__ does when installing
and removing packages are particularly inadequate. For
detailed information about this, please refer to the
''Package Management System'' topic under
''debian-faq'' in the GNU Info system. For information
about creating Debian packages, see the ''Debian Package
Management Tools'' topic in the same place.
!!DESCRIPTION


__dpkg__ is a medium-level tool to install, build, remove
and manage Debian GNU/Linux packages. The primary and more
user-friendly front-end for __dpkg__ is
dselect(8). __dpkg__ itself is controlled entirely
via command line parameters, which consist of exactly one
action and zero or more options. The action-parameter tells
dpkg what to do and options control the behavior of the
action in some way.


__dpkg__ can be also be used as a front-end to
__dpkg-deb__. The following are __dpkg-deb__ actions,
and if they are encountered, __dpkg__ just runs
__dpkg-deb__ with the parameters given to
it:


__    -b__, __--build__,
__    -c__, __--contents__,
__    -I__, __--info__,
__    -f__, __--field__,
__    -e__, __--control__,
__    -x__, __--extract__,
__    -X__, __--vextract__, and
__    --fsys-tarfile__.
Please refer to dpkg-deb(1) for information about these actions.
!!INFORMATION ABOUT PACKAGES


__dpkg__ maintains some usable information about
available packages. The information is divided in three
classes: __states__, __selection states__ and
__flags__. These values are intended to be changed mainly
with __dselect__.


__PACKAGE STATES__


__installed__


The package is unpacked and configured OK.


__half-installed__


The installation of the package has been started, but not
completed for some reason.


__not-installed__


The package is not installed on your system.


__unpacked__


The package is unpacked, but not configured.


__half-configured__


The package is unpacked and configuration has been started,
but not yet completed for some reason.


__config-files__


Only the configuration files of the package exist on the
system.


__PACKAGE SELECTION STATES__


__install__


The package is selected for installation.


__deinstall__


The package is selected for deinstallation (i.e. we want to
remove all files, except configuration files).


__purge__


The package is selected to be purged (i.e. we want to remove
everything, even configuration files).


__PACKAGE FLAGS__


__hold__


A package marked to be on __hold__ is not handled by
__dpkg__, unless forced to do that with option
__--force-hold__.


__reinst-required__


A package marked __reinst-required__ is broken and
requires reinstallation. These packages cannot be removed,
unless forced with option
__--force-reinstreq__.
!!ACTIONS


__dpkg -i__ | __--install__
''package_file''...


Install the package. If __--recursive__ or __-R__
option is specified, ''package_file'' must refer to a
directory instead.


Installation consists of the following steps:


__1.__ Extract the control files of the new
package.


__2.__ If another version of the same package was
installed before the new installation, execute ''prerm''
script of the old package.


__3.__ Run ''preinst'' script, if provided by the
package.


__4.__ Unpack the new files, and at the same time back up
the old files, so that if something goes wrong, they can be
restored.


__5.__ If another version of the same package was
installed before the new installation, execute the
''postrm'' script of the old package. Note that this
script is executed after the ''preinst'' script of the
new package, because new files are written at the same time
old files are removed.


__6.__ Configure the package. See __--configure__ for
detailed information about how this is done.


__dpkg --unpack__ ''package_file'' ...


Unpack the package, but don't configure it. If
__--recursive__ or __-R__ option is specified,
''package_file'' must refer to a directory
instead.


__dpkg --configure__ ''package'' ... | __-a__ |
__--pending__


Reconfigure an unpacked package. If __-a__ or
__--pending__ is given instead of ''package'', all
unpacked but unconfigured packages are
configured.


Configuring consists of the following steps:


__1.__ Unpack the configuration files, and at the same
time back up the old configuration files, so that they can
be restored if something goes wrong.


__2.__ Run ''postinst'' script, if provided by the
package.


__dpkg -r__ | __--remove__ | __-P__ |
__--purge__ ''package'' ... | __-a__ |
__--pending__


Remove an installed package. __-r__ or __--remove__
remove everything except configuration files. This may avoid
having to reconfigure the package if it is reinstalled
later. (Configuration files are the files listed in the
''debian/conffiles'' control file). __-P__ or
__--purge__ removes everything, including configuration
files. If __-a__ or __--pending__ is given instead of
a package name, then all packages unpacked, but marked to be
removed or purged in file ''/var/lib/dpkg/status'', are
removed or purged, respectively.


Removing of a package consists of the following
steps:


__1.__ Run ''prerm'' script


__2.__ Remove the installed files


__3.__ Run ''postrm'' script


__dpkg -p|--print-avail__ ''package''


Display details about ''package'', as found in
''/var/lib/dpkg/available''.


__dpkg --update-avail__ | __--merge-avail__
''Packages-file''


Update __dpkg__'s and __dselect__'s idea of which
packages are available. With action __--merge-avail__,
old information is combined with information from
''Packages-file''. With action __--update-avail__, old
information is replaced with the information in the
''Packages-file''. The ''Packages-file'' distributed
with Debian GNU/Linux is simply named ''Packages''.
__dpkg__ keeps its record of available packages in
''/var/lib/dpkg/available''.


__dpkg -A__ | __--record-avail__ ''package_file''
...


Update __dpkg__ and __dselect__'s idea of which
packages are available with information from the package
''package_file''. If __--recursive__ or __-R__
option is specified, ''package_file'' must refer to a
directory instead.


__dpkg --forget-old-unavail__


Forget about uninstalled unavailable packages.


__dpkg --clear-avail__


Erase the existing information about what packages are
available.


__dpkg -l__ | __--list__ ''package-name-pattern''
...


List packages matching given pattern. If no
''package-name-pattern'' is given, list all packages in
''/var/lib/dpkg/available''. Normal shell wildchars are
allowed in ''package-name-pattern''. (You will probably
have to quote ''package-name-pattern'' to prevent the
shell from performing filename expansion. For example,
__dpkg -l 'libc5*'__ will list all the package names
starting with __


__dpkg -s__ | __--status__ ''package-name''
...


Report status of specified package. This just displays the
entry in the installed package status database.


__dpkg -C__ | __--audit__


Searches for packages that have been installed only
partially on your system. __dpkg__ will suggest what to
do with them to get them working.


__dpkg --get-selections__
[[''pattern''...]


Get list of package selections, and write it to
stdout.


__dpkg --set-selections__


Set package selections using file read from
stdin.


__dpkg --yet-to-unpack__


Searches for packages selected for installation, but which
for some reason still haven't been installed.


__dpkg -L__ | __--listfiles__ ''package''
...


List files installed to your system from __package__.
However, note that files created by package-specific
installation-scripts are not listed.


__dpkg -S__ | __--search__
''filename-search-pattern'' ...


Search for a filename from installed packages. All standard
shell wildchars can be used in the pattern.


__dpkg --print-architecture__


Print target architecture (for example,
gcc__.


__dpkg --print-gnu-build-architecture__


Print GNU version of target architecture (for example,


__dpkg --print-installation-architecture__


Print host architecture for installation.


__dpkg --compare-versions__ ''ver1 op
ver2''


Compare version numbers, where ''op'' is a binary
operator. __dpkg__ returns success (zero result) if the
specified condition is satisfied, and failure (nonzero
result) otherwise. There are two groups of operators, which
differ in how they treat a missing ''ver1'' or
''ver2''. These treat no version as earlier than any
version: __lt le eq ne ge gt__. These treat no version as
later than any version: __lt-nl le-nl ge-nl gt-nl__.
These are provided only for compatibility with control file
syntax: __
__.


__dpkg --command-fd __


Accept a series of commands on input file descriptor
____. Note: additional options set on the
command line, and thru this file descriptor, are not reset
for subsequent commands executed during the same
run.


__dpkg --help__


Display a brief help message.


__dpkg --force-help__


Give help about the __--force-__''thing''
options.


__dpkg -Dh__ | __--debug=help__


Give help about debugging options.


__dpkg --licence__ | __dpkg --license__


Display __dpkg__ licence.


__dpkg --version__


Display __dpkg__ version information.


__dpkg-deb-actions__


See dpkg-deb(1) for more information about the
following actions.


__dpkg -b__ | __--build__ ''directory'' [[''filename'']
Build a Debian GNU/Linux package.
__dpkg -c__ | __--contents__ ''filename
''    List contents of Debian GNU/Linux package.
__dpkg -e__ | __--control__ ''filename'' [[''directory'']
Extract control-information from a package.
__dpkg -x__ | __--extract__ ''filename directory
''    Extract the files contained by package.
__dpkg -f__ | __--field__ '' filename'' [[''control-field''] ...
Display control field(s) of a package.
__dpkg --fsys-tarfile__ ''filename
''    Display the filesystem tar-file contained by a
Debian package.
__dpkg -I__ | __--info__ ''filename'' [[''control-file'']
Show information about a package.
__dpkg -X__ | __--vextract__ ''filename directory
''    Extract and display the filenames contained by a
package.
!!OPTIONS


All options can be specified both on the commandline and in
the __dpkg__ configuration file
''/etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg''. Each line in the configuration
file is either an option (exactly the same as the
commandline option but without leading dashes) or a comment
(if it starts with a __#__).


__--abort-after=__''number''


Change after how many errors dpkg will abort. The default is
50.


__-B__|__--auto-deconfigure__


When a package is removed, there is a possibility that
another installed package depended on the removed package.
Specifying this option will cause automatic deconfiguration
of the package which depended on the removed
package.


__-D__''octal'' __|
--debug=__''octal''


Set debugging on. ''octal'' is formed by bitwise-orring
desired values together from the list below (note that these
values may change in future releases). __-Dh__ or
__--debug=help__ display these debugging
values.


number description 1 Generally helpful progress information
2 Invocation and status of maintainer scripts 10 Output for
each file processed 100 Lots of output for each file
processed 20 Output for each configuration file 200 Lots of
output for each configuration file 40 Dependencies and
conflicts 400 Lots of dependencies/conflicts output 1000
Lots of drivel about e.g. the dpkg/info dir 2000 Insane
amounts of drivel


__--force-__''things'' |
__--no-force-__''things'' |
__--refuse-__''things''


Force or refuse (__no-force__ and __refuse__ mean the
same thing) to do some things. ''things'' is a comma
separated list of things specified below.
__--force-help__ displays a message describing them.
Things marked with (*) are forced by default.


''Warning: These options are mostly intended to be used by
experts only. Using them without fully understanding their
effects may break your whole system.''


__all__: Turns on(or off) all force options.


__auto-select__(*): Select packages to install them, and
deselect packages to remove them.


__downgrade__(*): Install a package, even if newer
version of it is already installed.


__configure-any__: Configure also any unpacked but
unconfigured packages on which the current package
depends.


__hold__: Process packages even when marked
__


__remove-reinstreq__: Remove a package, even if it's
broken and marked to require reinstallation. This may, for
example, cause parts of the package to remain on the system,
which will then be forgotten by __dpkg__.


__remove-essential__: Remove, even if the package is
considered essential. Essential packages contain mostly very
basic Unix commands. Removing them might cause the whole
system to stop working, so use with caution.


__depends__: Turn all dependency problems into
warnings.


__depends-version__: Don't care about versions when
checking dependencies.


__conflicts__: Install, even if it conflicts with another
package. This is dangerous, for it will usually cause
overwriting of some files.


__confnew__: If a conffile has been modified always
install the new version without prompting.


__confold__: If a conffile has been modified always keep
the old version without prompting.


__confdef__: If a conffile has been modified always
choose the default action. If there is no default action it
will stop to ask the user unless __--force-confnew__ or
__--force-confold__ is also been given, in which case it
will use that to decide the final action.


__overwrite__: Overwrite one package's file with
another's file.


__overwrite-dir__ Overwrite one package's directory with
another's file.


__overwrite-diverted__: Overwrite a diverted file with an
undiverted version.


__architecture__: Process even packages with the wrong
architecture.


__bad-path__: __PATH__ is missing important programs,
so problems are likely.


__not-root__: Try to (de)install things even when not
root.


__--ignore-depends__=''package'',...


Ignore dependency-checking for specified packages (actually,
checking is performed, but only warnings about conflicts are
given, nothing else).


__--new__ | __--old__


Select new or old binary package format. This is a
dpkg-deb(1) option.


__--nocheck__


Don't read or check contents of control file while building
a package. This is a dpkg-deb(1) option.


__--no-act__


Do everything which is supposed to be done, but don't write
any changes. This is used to see what would happen with the
specified action, without actually modifying
anything.


Be sure to give __--no-act__ before the action-parameter,
or you might end up with undesirable results. (e.g. __dpkg
--purge foo --no-act__ will first purge package foo and
then try to purge package --no-act, even though you probably
expected it to actually do nothing)


__-R__ | __--recursive__


Recursively handle all regular files matching pattern
__*.deb__ found at specified directories and all of its
subdirectories. This can be used with __-i__, __-A__,
__--install__, __--unpack__ and __--avail__
actions.


__-G__


Don't install a package if a newer version of the same
package is already installed. This is an alias of
__--refuse-downgrade.__


__--root=__''dir'' | __--admindir=__''dir'' |
__--instdir=__''dir''


Change default directories. __admindir__ defaults to
''/var/lib/dpkg'' and contains many files that give
information about status of installed or uninstalled
packages, etc. __instdir__ defaults to ''/'' and
refers to the directory where packages are to be installed.
__instdir__ is also the directory passed to
chroot(2) before running ''package'''s
installation scripts, which means that the scripts see
__instdir__ as a root directory. Changing __root__
changes __instdir__ to ''dir'' and __admindir__ to
''dir''__/var/lib/dpkg__.


__-O__ | __--selected-only__


Only process the packages that are selected for
installation. The actual marking is done with __dselect__
or by __dpkg__, when it handles packages. For example,
when a package is removed, it will be marked selected for
installation.


__-E__ | __--skip-same-version__


Don't install the package if the same version of the package
is already installed.


__--status-fd__ ''''


Send package status info to file descriptor
''''. This can be given multiple times. Status
updates are of the form `status:
''
!!FILES


''/etc/dpkg/dpkg.cfg''


Configuration file with default options.


The other files listed below are in their default
directories, see option __--admindir__ to see how to
change locations of these files.


''/var/lib/dpkg/available''


List of available packages.


''/var/lib/dpkg/status''


Statuses of available packages. This file contains
information about whether a package is marked for removing
or not, whether it is installed or not, etc. See section
__INFORMATION ABOUT PACKAGES__ for more
info.


The following files are components of a binary package. See
deb(5) for more information about them:


''control''


''conffiles''


''preinst''


''postinst''


''prerm''


''postrm''
!!ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES


__DPKG_NO_TSTP__


Define this to something if you prefer __dpkg__ starting
a new shell rather than suspending itself, while doing a
shell escape.


__SHELL__


The program __dpkg__ will execute while starting a new
shell.


__COLUMNS__


Sets the number of columns __dpkg__ should use when
displaying formatted text. Currently only used by
-l.
!!EXAMPLES


To list packages related to the editor vi:__
dpkg -l '*vi*'__


To see the entries in ''/var/lib/dpkg/available'' on two
packages:__
dpkg --print-avail elvis vim | less__


To search the listing of packages yourself:__
less /var/lib/dpkg/available__


To remove an installed elvis package:__
dpkg -r elvis__


To install a package, you first need to find it in an
archive or CDROM. The
cd /cdrom/hamm/hamm/binary/editors dpkg -i
vim_4.5-3.deb__


To make a local copy of the package selection states:__
dpkg --get-selections


You might transfer this file to another computer, and
install it there with:__
dpkg --set-selections
Note that this will not actually install or remove anything,
but just set the selection state on the requested packages.
You will need some other application to actually download
and install the requested packages.


Ordinarily, you will find that dselect(8) provides a
more convenient way to modify the package selection
states.
!!SEE ALSO


dselect(8), dpkg-deb(1), deb(5), and
deb-control(5)
!!BUGS


__--no-act__ usually gives less information than might be
helpful.
!!AUTHORS


See __/usr/share/doc/dpkg/THANKS__ for the list of people who have
contributed to __dpkg__ .
----
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Last edited on Tuesday, June 4, 2002 12:31:10 am by "perry"
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