dpkg-divert; man page

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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(1) 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  pack‐
       age’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 diver‐
       sions. It functions in three basic modes - adding, removing, and  list‐
       ing  diversions.   The options are --add, --remove, and --list, respec‐
       tively. Additionally, it can print out the real  name  for  a  diverted
       file  with  --truename. Other options (listed below) may also be speci‐
       fied.

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

       --divert <divert-to>
              <divert-to>  is  the  location  where the versions of <file>, as
              provided by other packages, will be diverted.

       --local
              Specifies that all packages’ versions of this file are diverted.
              This  means,  that there are no exceptions, and whatever package
              is installed, the file is diverted. This can be used by an admin
              to install a locally modified version.

       --package <package>
              <package> is the name of a package whose copy of <file> will not
              be diverted. i.e. <file>  will  be  diverted  for  all  packages
              except <package>.

       --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  demon‐
              strate.

       symlink  may  end  up  pointing  at the diverted library, if a diverted
       library has the same SONAME as the undiverted one.

EXAMPLES
       To divert all copies of  a  /usr/bin/example  to  /usr/bin/example.foo,
       i.e.  directs  all packages providing /usr/bin/example to install it as
       /usr/bin/example.foo, performing the rename if required:

       dpkg-divert --divert /usr/bin/example.foo --rename /usr/bin/example

       To remove that diversion:

       dpkg-divert --rename --remove /usr/bin/example


       To  divert  any  package  trying   to   install   /usr/bin/example   to
       /usr/bin/example.foo, except your own wibble package:

       dpkg-divert  --package  wibble  --divert  /usr/bin/example.foo --rename
              /usr/bin/example

       To remove that diversion:

       dpkg-divert --package wibble --rename --remove /usr/bin/example

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

SEE ALSO
       dpkg(1).

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.



Debian Project                    2006-05-23                    dpkg-divert(8)
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