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- .\" dselect manual page - dselect(1)
- .\"
- .\" Copyright © 1995 Juho Vuori <javuori@cc.helsinki.fi>
- .\" Copyright © 2000 Josip Rodin
- .\" Copyright © 2001 Joost Kooij
- .\" Copyright © 2001 Wichert Akkerman <wakkerma@debian.org>
- .\" Copyright © 2010-2015 Guillem Jover <guillem@debian.org>
- .\"
- .\" This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
- .\" it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
- .\" the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
- .\" (at your option) any later version.
- .\"
- .\" This is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- .\" but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- .\" MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
- .\" GNU General Public License for more details.
- .\"
- .\" You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
- .\" along with this program. If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- .
- .TH dselect 1 "%RELEASE_DATE%" "%VERSION%" "dpkg suite"
- .nh
- .SH NAME
- dselect \- Debian package management frontend
- .
- .SH SYNOPSIS
- .B dselect
- .RI [ option "...] [" command "...]"
- .
- .SH DESCRIPTION
- .B dselect
- is one of the primary user interfaces 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\fP(1), the low-level Debian package
- handling tool. It features a full-screen package selections manager
- with package depends and conflicts resolver. When run with administrator
- privileges, 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 commands. If a command
- is given as argument, then that command is started immediately. Several
- command line 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 command line and in the \fBdselect\fP
- configuration file \fI%PKGCONFDIR%/dselect.cfg\fP or the files on the
- configuration directory \fI%PKGCONFDIR%/dselect.cfg.d/\fP. Each line in the
- configuration file is either an option (exactly the same as the
- command line option but without leading hyphens) or a comment (if it starts
- with a ‘\fB#\fR’).
- .br
- .TP
- .BI \-\-admindir " directory"
- Changes the directory where the dpkg ‘\fIstatus\fP’,
- ‘\fIavailable\fP’ and similar files are located.
- This defaults to \fI%ADMINDIR%\fP
- and normally there shouldn't be any need to change it.
- .TP
- .BR \-D "\fIfile\fP, " \-\-debug " \fIfile\fP"
- Turn on debugging. Debugging information is sent to \fIfile\fP.
- .TP
- .B \-\-expert
- Turns on expert mode, i.e. doesn't display possibly annoying help
- messages.
- .TP
- .BR \-\-colour | \-\-color " \fIscreenpart\fP:[\fIforeground\fP],[\fIbackground\fP][:\fIattr\fP[\fI+attr\fP]...]"
- Configures screen colors. This works only if your display supports colors.
- This option may be used multiple times (and is best used in
- \fIdselect.cfg\fP). Each use changes the color (and optionally, other
- attributes) of one part of the screen.
- The parts of the screen (from top to bottom) are:
- .RS
- .TP
- .B title
- The screen title.
- .TP
- .B listhead
- The header line above the list of packages.
- .TP
- .B list
- The scrolling list of packages (and also some help text).
- .TP
- .B listsel
- The selected item in the list.
- .TP
- .B pkgstate
- In the list of packages, the text indicating the current state of each
- package.
- .TP
- .B pkgstatesel
- In the list of packages, the text indicating the current state of the
- currently selected package.
- .TP
- .B infohead
- The header line that displays the state of the currently selected package.
- .TP
- .B infodesc
- The package's short description.
- .TP
- .B info
- Used to display package info such as the package's description.
- .TP
- .B infofoot
- The last line of the screen when selecting packages.
- .TP
- .B query
- Used to display query lines
- .TP
- .B helpscreen
- Color of help screens.
- .RE
- .IP
- After the part of the screen comes a colon and the color specification. You
- can specify either the foreground color, the background color, or both,
- overriding the compiled-in colors. Use standard curses color names.
- .IP
- Optionally, after the color specification is another colon, and an
- attribute specification. This is a list of one or more attributes,
- separated by plus (‘+’) characters.
- Available attributes include (not all of these will work on all terminals):
- .BR normal ", " standout ", " underline ", " reverse ", " blink ", "
- .BR bright ", " dim ", " bold
- .TP
- .BR \-? ", " \-\-help
- Print a brief help text and exit successfully.
- .TP
- .B \-\-version
- Print version information and exit successfully.
- .
- .SH COMMANDS
- When
- .B dselect
- is started it can perform the following commands, either directly if it
- was specified on the command line or by prompting the user with a menu
- of available commands if running interactively:
- .SS access
- Choose and configure an access method to access package repositories.
- .sp
- By default, \fBdselect\fP provides several methods such
- as \fIcdrom\fP, \fImulti_cd\fP, \fInfs\fP, \fImulti_nfs\fP, \fIharddisk\fP,
- \fImounted\fP, \fImulti_mount\fP, \fIfloppy\fP or \fIftp\fP, but other
- packages may provide additional methods, eg. the \fIapt\fP access method
- provided by the \fBapt\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 \fIPackages\fP or \fIPackages.gz\fP.
- These files can be generated by repository maintainers, using the
- program \fBdpkg\-scanpackages\fP(1).
- .sp
- Details of the update command 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 https://bugs.debian.org/ or by reading the documentation
- for \fBbug\fP(1) or \fBreportbug\fP(1), if these are installed.
- .sp
- Details of the install command 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\fP(1)
- 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 (successful) 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 cannot 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\fP(1) manpage and the distribution
- policy.
- .sp
- Unless \fBdselect\fP is run in expert
- or immediate mode, a help screen is first displayed when choosing this
- command 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 ‘\fBI\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 ‘\fBi\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.
- .sp
- .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 architecture, installed and available versions,
- the package name and its short description, all in one line.
- By pressing the ‘\fBA\fP’ key, the display of the installed and
- available architecture can be toggled between on an off.
- By pressing the ‘\fBV\fP’ key, the display of the installed and
- available version can be toggled between on an off.
- By pressing the ‘\fBv\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 as a
- .BR regex (7)
- regular expression.
- If you add ‘\fB/d\fP’ to the search expression, dselect will also
- search in descriptions.
- If you add ‘\fB/i\fP’ the search will be case insensitive.
- You may combine these two suffixes like this: ‘\fB/id\fP’.
- Repeated searching is accomplished by repeatedly pressing the
- ‘\fBn\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 ‘\fBo\fP’ and ‘\fBO\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 or 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 ‘\fBR\fP’ key.
- By pressing the ‘\fBD\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 ‘\fBU\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.
- However, if there are any unresolved 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 ‘\fBQ\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 ‘\fBX\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
- If you mistakenly establish some settings and wish to revert all the
- selections to what is currently installed on the system, press the
- ‘\fBC\fP’ key.
- This is somewhat similar to using the unhold command on all packages,
- but provides a more obvious panic button in cases where the user
- pressed \fBenter\fP by accident.
- .sp
- .
- .SH EXIT STATUS
- .TP
- .B 0
- The requested command was successfully performed.
- .TP
- .B 2
- Fatal or unrecoverable error due to invalid command-line usage, or
- interactions with the system, such as accesses to the database,
- memory allocations, etc.
- .
- .SH ENVIRONMENT
- .TP
- .B HOME
- If set, \fBdselect\fP will use it as the directory from which to read the
- user specific configuration file.
- .
- .SH BUGS
- The
- .B dselect
- package selection interface is confusing to some new users.
- Reportedly, it even makes seasoned kernel developers cry.
- .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 (1),
- .BR apt\-get (8),
- .BR sources.list (5),
- .BR deb (5).
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