dpkg/dselect/dselect.8

.TH DSELECT 8 "July 2001" "Debian Project" "Debian"
.SH NAME
dselect \- Debian package management frontend
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B dselect
[\-\-admindir <directory>] [\-\-help] [\-\-version] [\-\-licence | \-\-license]
[\-\-expert] [\-\-debug | \-D <file>] [\fI<action>\fP]
.SH DESCRIPTION
.B dselect
is the primary user interface for managing packages on a Debian system.
At the \fBdselect\fP main menu, the system administrator can:
 \- Update the list of available package versions,
 \- View the status of installed and available packages,
 \- Alter package selections and manage dependencies,
 \- Install new packages or upgrade to newer versions.
.PP
.B dselect 
operates as a front-end to \fBdpkg(8)\fP, the low-level debian package
handling tool.  It features a full-screen package selections manager
with package depends and conflicts resolver.  When run with adminitrator
priviledges, packages can be installed, upgraded and removed. Various
access methods can be configured to retrieve available package version
information and installable packages from package repositories.
Depending on the used access method, these repositories can be public
archive servers on the internet, local archive servers or cdroms.
The recommended access method is \fIapt\fP, which is provided by the
package \fBapt\fP.
.PP 
Normally \fBdselect\fP is invoked without parameters.  An interactive
menu is presented, offering the user a list of actions.  If an action
is given as argument, then that action is started immediately.  Several
commandline parameters are still available to modify the running behaviour
of \fBdselect\fP or show additional information about the program.
.SH OPTIONS 
All options can be specified both on the commandline and in the \fBdselect\fP 
configuration file \fI/etc/dpkg/dselect.cfg\fP. 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 \fB#\fR).
.br
.TP
.B --admindir <directory>
Changes the directory where the dpkg `status', `available' and similar
files are located. This defaults to \fI/var/lib/dpkg\fP
and normally there shouldn't be any need to change it.
.TP
.B --debug <file> | -D<file>
Turn on debugging. Debugging information is sent to \fI<file>\fP.
.TP
.B --expert
Turns on expert mode, i.e. doesn't display possibly annoying help 
messages.
.TP
.B --help
Print a brief help text and exit successfully.
.TP
.B --licence | --license
Displays the \fBdselect\fP copyright and license information and exits 
successfully.
.TP
.B --version
Print version information and exit successfully.
.SH USAGE
When
.B dselect
is started interactively, it prompts the user with a menu of available 
actions:
.SS access
Choose and configure an access method to access package repositories.  
.sp
By default, \fBdselect\fP provides several methods such 
as \fIfloppy\fP, \fIharddisk\fP or \fIcdrom\fP, but other packages 
may provide additional methods, eg. the \fIapt\fP access method provided 
by the \fBapt\fP package or \fImulti_cd\fP by the \fBdpkg-multicd\fP
package.
.sp
The use of the \fIapt\fP access method is strongly recommended.
.sp
.SS update
Refresh the available packages database.
.sp
Retrieves a list of available package versions from the package 
repository, configured for the current access method, and update 
the dpkg database.  The package lists are commonly provided by the 
repository as files named \fBPackages\fP or \fBPackages.gz\fP.  
These files can be generated by repository maintainers, using the
program \fBdpkg-scanpackages(8)\fP.  
.sp
Details of the update action depend on the access method's implementation.
Normally the process is straightforward and requires no user interaction.
.sp
.SS select
View or manage package selections and dependencies.  
.sp
This is the main function of \fBdselect\fP.  In the select screen, the
user can review a list of all available and installed packages.  When run
with administrator privileges, it is also possible to interactively
change packages selection state.  \fBdselect\fP tracks the implications
of these changes to other depending or conflicting packages.
.sp
When a conflict or failed depends is detected, a dependency resolution 
subscreen is prompted to the user.  In this screen, a list of conflicting 
or depending packages is shown, and for each package listed, the reason
for its listing is shown.  The user may apply the suggestions proposed
by \fBdselect\fP, override them, or back out all the changes, including
the ones that created the unresolved depends or conflicts.
.sp
The use of the interactive package selections management screen is 
explained in more detail below.
.sp
.SS install
Installs selected packages.
.sp
The configured access method will fetch installable or upgradable packages 
from the relevant repositories and install these using \fBdpkg\fP.  
Depending on the implementation of the access method, all packages can
be prefetched before installation, or fetched when needed.
Some access methods may also remove packages that were marked for removal.
.sp
If an error occurred during install, it is usually advisable to run
install again.  In most cases, the problems will disappear or be solved.
If problems persist or the installation performed was incorrect, please
investigate into the causes and circumstances, and file a bug in the 
Debian bug tracking system.  Instructions on how to do this can be found 
at http://bugs.debian.org/ or by reading the documentation 
for \fBbug(1)\fP or \fBreportbug(1)\fP, if these are installed.
.sp
Details of the install action depend on the access method's implementation.
The user's attention and input may be required during installation,
configuration or removal of packages.  This depends on the maintainer
scripts in the package.  Some packages make use of the \fBdebconf(8)\fP
library, allowing for more flexible or even automated installation
setups.
.sp
.SS config
Configures any previously installed, but not fully configured packages.
.sp
.SS remove
Removes or purges installed packages, that are marked for removal.
.sp
.SS quit
Quit \fBdselect\fP
.sp
Exits the program with zero (succesful) errorcode.
.sp
.SH Package selections management
.sp
.SS Introduction
.sp
.B dselect 
directly exposes
the administrator to some of the complexities involved with managing
large sets of packages with many interdependencies.  For a user who is
unfamiliar with the concepts and the ways of the debian package management
system, it can be quite overwhelming.  Although \fBdselect\fP is aimed
at easing package management and administration, it is only instrumental
in doing so and can not be assumed to be a sufficient substitute for
administrator skill and understanding.  The user is required to
be familiar with the concepts underlying the Debian packaging system.
In case of doubt, consult the \fBdpkg(8)\fP manpage and the Debian
policy manual.
.sp
Unless \fBdselect\fP is run in expert
or immediate mode, a help screen is first displayed when choosing this
action from the menu.  The user is \fIstrongly\fP advised to study all of
the information presented in the online help screens, when one pops up.
The online help screens can at any time be invoked with the \fB'?'\fP key.
.sp
.SS Screen layout
.sp
The select screen is by default split in a top and a bottom half.
The top half shows a list of packages.  A cursor bar can select an
individual package, or a group of packages, if applicable, by selecting
the group header.  The bottom half of the screen shows some details
about the package currently selected in the top half of the screen.
The type of detail that is displayed can be varied.
.sp
Pressing the \fB'I'\fP key toggles a full-screen display of the packages
list, an enlarged view of the package details, or the equally split screen.
.sp
.SS Package details view
.sp
The package details view by default shows the extended package description
for the package that is currently selected in the packages status list.
The type of detail can be toggled by pressing the \fB'i'\fP key.  This
alternates between:
 - the extended description
 - the control information for the installed version
 - the control information for the available version
.sp
In a dependency resolution screen, there is also the possibility of
viewing the specific unresolved depends or conflicts related to the
package and causing it to be listed.
.sh
.SS Packages status list
.sp
The main select screen displays a list of all packages known to the debian
package management system.  This includes packages installed on the system
and packages known from the available packages database.  
.sp
For every package, the list shows the package's status, priority,
section, installed and available versions, the package name and its
short description, all in one line.  By pressing the \fB'V'\fP key,
the display of the installed and available version can be toggled between
on an off.  By pressing the \fB'v'\fP key,
the package status display is toggled between verbose and shorthand.
Shorthand display is the default.
.sp
The shorthand status indication consists
of four parts:  an error flag, which should normally be clear, the
current status, the last selection state and the current selection state.
The first two relate to the actual state of the package, the second pair
are about the selections set by the user.
.sp
These are the meanings of the shorthand package status indicator codes:
 Error flag: 
  \fIempty\fP   no error
  \fBR\fP       serious error, needs reinstallation;
 Installed state:   
  \fIempty\fP   not installed;
  \fB*\fP       fully installed and configured;
  \fB-\fP       not installed but some config files may remain;
  \fBU\fP       unpacked but not yet configured;
  \fBC\fP       half-configured (an error happened);
  \fBI\fP       half-installed (an error happened).
 Current and requested selections:
  \fB*\fP       marked for installation or upgrade;
  \fB-\fP       marked for removal, configuration files remain;
  \fB=\fP       on hold: package will not be processed at all;
  \fB_\fP       marked for purge, also remove configuration;
  \fBn\fP       package is new and has yet to be marked.
.sp
.SS Cursor and screen movement
.sp
The package selection list and the dependency conflict
resolution screens can be navigated using motion
commands mapped to the following keys:
.br
  \fBp, Up, k\fP           move cursor bar up
  \fBn, Down, j\fP         move cursor bar down  
  \fBP, Pgup, Backspace\fP scroll list 1 page up
  \fBN, Pgdn, Space\fP     scroll list 1 page down
  \fB^p\fP                 scroll list 1 line up
  \fB^n\fP                 scroll list 1 line down
  \fBt, Home\fP            jump to top of list
  \fBe, End\fP             jump to end of list
  \fBu\fP                  scroll info 1 page up
  \fBd\fP                  scroll info 1 page down
  \fB^u\fP                 scroll info 1 line up
  \fB^d\fP                 scroll info 1 line down
  \fBB, Left-arrow\fP      pan display 1/3 screen left
  \fBF, Right-arrow\fP     pan display 1/3 screen right
  \fB^b\fP                 pan display 1 character left
  \fB^f\fP                 pan display 1 character right
.sp
.SS Searching and sorting
.sp
The list of packages can be searched by package name.  This
is done by pressing \fB'/'\fP, and typing a simple search
string.  The string is interpreted literally and should not contain
metacharacters, like those used in ergular expressions or file globs.
Repeated searching is accomplished by repeatedly pressing
the \fB'n'\fP or \fB'\\'\fP keys, until the wanted package is found.
If the search reaches the bottom of the list, it wraps to the top
and continues searching from there.
.sp
The list sort order can be varied by pressing 
the \fB'o'\fP and \fB'O'\fP keys repeatedly.
The following nine sort orderings can be selected:
 alphabet          available           status
 priority+section  available+priority  status+priority
 section+priority  available+section   status+section
.br
Where not listed above explicitly, alphabetic order is used as 
the final subordering sort key.
.sp
.SS Altering selections
.sp
The requested selection state of individual packages may be 
altered with the following commands:
  \fB+, Insert\fP    install or upgrade
  \fB=, H\fP         hold in present state and version
  \fB:, G\fP         unhold: upgrade or leave uninstalled
  \fB-, Delete\fP    remove, but leave configuration
  \fB_\fP            remove & purge configuration
.sp
When the change request results in one or more unsatisfied depends
or conflicts, \fBdselect\fP prompts the user with a dependency resolution 
screen.  This will be further explained below.
.sp
It is also possible to apply these commands to groups of package
selections, by pointing the cursor bar onto a group header.  The
exact grouping of packages is dependent on the current list ordering
settings.  
.sp
Proper care should be taken when altering large groups of selections,
because this can instantaneously create large numbers of unresolved 
depends or conflicts, all of which will be listed in one dependency
resolution screen, making them very hard to handle.  In practice, 
only hold and unhold operations are useful when applied to groups.
.sp
.SS Resolving depends and conflicts
.sp
When the change request results in one or more unsatisfied depends
or conflicts, \fBdselect\fP prompts the user with a dependency resolution 
screen.  First however, an informative help screen is displayed. 
.sp
The top half of this screen lists all the packages that will have 
unresolved depends or conflicts, as a result of the requested change, 
and all the packages whose installation can resolve any of these 
depends or whose removal can resolve any of the conflicts.
The bottom half defaults to show the depends or conflicts that
cause the currently selected package to be listed.
.sp
When the sublist of packages is displayed initially, \fBdselect\fP
may have already set the requested selection status of some of the
listed packages, in order to resolve the depends of conflicts that
caused the dependency resolution screen to be displayed.  Usually,
it is best to follow up the suggestions made by \fBdselect\fP.
.sp
The listed packages' selection state may be reverted to the original
settings, as they were before the unresolved depends or conflicts
were created, by pressing the \fB'R'\fP key.  By pressing the \fB'D'\fP
key, the automatic suggestions are reset, but the change that caused
the dependency resolution screen to be prompted is kept as requested.
Finally, by pressing \fB'U'\fP, the selections are again set to the 
automatic suggestion values.
.sp
.SS Establishing the requested selections
.sp
By pressing \fBenter\fP, the currently displayed set of selections
is accepted.  If \fBdselect\fP detects no unresolved depends as a result 
of the requested selections, the new selections will be set.  When
If there are however any unresolveded depends, \fBdselect\fP will again 
prompt the user with a dependency resolution screen.  
.sp
To alter a set of selections that creates unresolved depends or 
conflicts and forcing \fBdselect\fP to accept it, press the \fB'Q'\fP
key.  This sets the selections as specified by the user, 
unconditionally.  Generally, don't do this unless you've read 
the fine print.
.sp
The opposite effect, to back out any selections change requests and 
go back to the previous list of selections, is attained by pressing 
the \fB'X'\fP or \fBescape\fP keys.  By repeatedly pressing these 
keys, any possibly detrimental changes to the requested package 
selections can be backed out completely to the last established 
settings.
.sp
.SH BUGS
The
.B dselect
package selection interface is confusing to some new users.
Reportedly, it even makes seasoned kernel developers cry.
.sp
.B dselect
doesn't handle Recommends: field very well.
.sp
The documentation is lacking.
.sp
There is no help option in the main menu.
.sp
The visible list of available packages cannot be reduced.
.sp
The built in access methods can no longer stand up to current quality
standards.  Use the access method provided by apt, it is not only not
broken, it is also much more flexible than the built in access methods.
.SH SEE ALSO
.BR dpkg (8),
.BR apt-get (8),
.BR sources.list (5),
.BR deb (5),
the Debian policy manual.
.SH AUTHORS
.B dselect
was written by Ian Jackson (ijackson@gnu.ai.mit.edu). Full list of
contributors may be found in `dselect --license'.
.br
This manual page was written by Juho Vuori <javuori@cc.helsinki.fi>,
Josip Rodin and Joost kooij.