DPKG-DIVERT

NAME
SYNOPSIS
DESCRIPTION
OPTIONS
NOTES
FILES
SEE ALSO
AUTHOR

NAME

dpkg-divert - override a package’s version of a file

SYNOPSIS

dpkg-divert [options] [--add] <file>
dpkg-divert
[options] --remove <file>
dpkg-divert
[options] --list <glob-pattern>
dpkg-divert
[options] --truename <file>

DESCRIPTION

File ‘diversions’ are a way of forcing dpkg not to install a file into its location, but to a ‘diverted’ location. Diversions can be used through the Debian package scripts to move a file away when it causes a conflict. System administrators can also use it to override some package’s configuration file, or whenever some files (which aren’t marked as ’conffiles’) need to be preserved by dpkg, when installing a newer version of a package which contains those files.

dpkg-divert is the utility used to set up and update the list of diversions. It functions in three basic modes - adding, removing, and listing diversions. The options are --add, --remove, and --list, respectively. Additionally, it can print out the real name for a diverted file. Other options (listed below) may also be specified.

OPTIONS

--admindir <directory>

Set the dpkg data directory to <directory> (default: /var/lib/dpkg).

--divert <divert-to>

<divert-to> is the name used by other packages’ versions.

--help

Output the version and the short usage instructions, and exit successfully.

--local

Specifies that all packages’ versions are diverted.

--package <package>

<package> is the name of a package whose copy of <file> will not be diverted.

--quiet

Quiet mode, i.e. no verbose output.

--rename

Actually move the file aside (or back). dpkg-divert will abort operation in case the destination file already exists.

--test

Test mode, i.e. don’t actually perform any changes, just demonstrate.

--version

Output program name and version and exit successfully.

NOTES

When adding, default is --local and --divert <original>.distrib. When removing, --package or --local and --divert must match if specified.

Directories can’t be diverted with dpkg-divert.

Care should be taken when diverting shared libraries, ldconfig (8) creates a symbolic link based on the DT_SONAME field embedded in the library. Because ldconfig doesn’t honour diverts (only dpkg does), if a diverted library has the same SONAME as the undiverted one the symlink may end up pointing at the diverted library.

FILES

/var/lib/dpkg/diversions

File which contains the current list of diversions of the system. It is located in the dpkg administration directory, along with other files important to dpkg, such as ‘status’ or ‘available’.
Note: dpkg-divert preserves the old copy of this file, with extension "-old", before replacing it with the new one.

SEE ALSO

dpkg(8).

AUTHOR

Copyright (C) 1995 Ian Jackson.

This is free software; see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or later for copying conditions. There is NO warranty.