Apt-get / dpkg tutorial

[eadz]

I have been using debian for ages, but I still don't know all the tricks or how to use all the advanced apt / dpkg features, and I didn't need to with debian. But because knoppix has a somewhat difficult package selection, having a list of the common commands could be handy to answer questions on this forum.

I'm talking about stuff like how to "hold back" a package, how to install one from a particular release etc.

So here goes, help me out here.. Hope this can be come a quick reference.

To list all the files in a package

dpkg -L packagename

to install a package of a particular release ( assuming it's in your sources.list )

apt-get install -t unstable packagename

[RockMumbles]

Check out this page for apt-get info on installing, removing, updating, upgrading, and pinning packages.

HTH

rock

[orth]

To put a package on hold

echo packagename hold | dpkg --set-selections

To take a package off hold

echo packagename install | dpkg --set-selections

To list the version of an installed package

apt-cache policy packagename | grep Installed

To list packages containing a certain string in its package name, version or description

COLUMNS=120 dpkg -l | grep string

HTH,
orth

[Stephen]

Tells the status (hold, purge etc..) of the package.

dpkg --get-selections <package name>

To show anything in database with the package name.

dpkg -l ¦ grep <package name>

To deinstall the package with all configuration files.

dpkg --purge <package name>

To save or edit your packages status use dpkg --get-selections > current_selections.txt re-directs your packages to the file, to restore list dpkg --set-selections < current_selections.txt then apt-get update to refresh then apt-get upgrade to make the changes , also can be used to keep your current settings on any install just restore the list to the new install and apt-get update and upgrade or dist-upgrade and you will have the same software packages on the new install.

apt-cache showpkg <package name>

This command will display the dependencies of the package and what the package provides

apt-cache search <package name>
This command will search the package cache and display packages that have a relation to the package.

Usefull apt options -s simulate the action of apt-get the --purge option will purge the configuration files when removing a package(s).

[reza]

How to list contained files in dselect or aptitude? Or is there any other package management having that feature?

[Superstoned]

synaptic (and apt-get too) only want to remove KDE 3.1.2, instead of upgrading to 3.1.3... ??? why, wazzup?

[popuman]

somebody please show me how to upgrade kde once i installed knoppix in my hdd. i'd like to install it and get kopete since gaim still cannot connect to yahoo. pretty please?

[aay]

somebody please show me how to upgrade kde once i installed knoppix in my hdd. i'd like to install it and get kopete since gaim still cannot connect to yahoo. pretty please?

Do you really need to update KDE for this.

If you're having problems getting kopete, just try this.

apt-get update

apt-get -t unstable kopete

Post back if that works.

[popuman]

thanks. complied with instructions. output was: E:Invalid operation kopete

help? please?

[Superstoned]

aay made small mistake: the command should be:

apt-get -t unstable install kopete

(note the "install", thats the missing command apt-get complained about
you could've found that out easy by reading the man about apt-get... THATS how you learn, not by asking us...

how to get info about a command?

man (command)

so

man apt-get

gives manual of apt-get. you can use this for every command!

good luck...