dpkg/scripts/dpkg-divert.8

.TH DPKG-DIVERT 8 "December 1999" "Debian Project" "dpkg utilities"
.SH NAME
dpkg-divert -- override a package's version of a file
.SH SYNOPSIS
.B dpkg-divert
[options] [--add]
.I <file>
.br
.B dpkg-divert
[options] --remove
.I <file>
.br
.B dpkg-divert
[options]
--list
.I <glob-pattern>
.br
.B dpkg-divert
[options] --truename
.I <file>
.br
.SH 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.
.sp
.B 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.
.SH OPTIONS
.TP
.I --admindir <directory>
Set the dpkg data directory to <directory> (default: /var/lib/dpkg).
.TP
.I --divert <divert-to>
<divert-to> is the name used by other packages' versions.
.TP
.I --help
Output the version and the short usage instructions, and exit successfully.
.TP
.I --local
Specifies that all packages' versions are diverted.
.TP
.I --package <package>
<package> is the name of a package whose copy of <file> will not be diverted.
.TP
.I --quiet
Quiet mode, i.e. no verbose output.
.TP
.I --rename
Actually move the file aside (or back). dpkg-divert will abort operation
in case the destination file already exists.
.TP
.I --test
Test mode, i.e. don't actually perform any changes, just demonstrate.
.TP
.I --version
Output program name and version and exit successfully.
.SH 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
ibrary has the same SONAME as the undiverted one the symlink may end up
pointing at the diverted library.
.SH FILES
.TP
.I /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'.
.br
Note: dpkg-divert preserves the old copy of this file, with extension
"-old", before replacing it with the new one.
.SH SEE ALSO
.BR dpkg (8).
.sp
Please read the Debian Packaging Manual, section 11., "Diversions -
overriding a package's version of a file" for more information.
.SH AUTHOR
Copyright (C) 1995 Ian Jackson.
.sp
This is free software; see the GNU General Public Licence
version 2 or later for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty.