dpkg-divert(8)							  dpkg utilities						    dpkg-divert(8)

NAME

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

SYNOPSIS

       dpkg-divert [options] command

DESCRIPTION

       dpkg-divert is the utility used to set up and update the list of diversions.

       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
       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.

COMMANDS

       [--add] file
	      Add a diversion for file.

       --remove file
	      Remove a diversion for file.

       --list glob-pattern
	      List diversions matching glob-pattern.

       --listpackage file
	      Print the name of the package that diverts file.	Prints LOCAL if file is locally diverted and nothing if file is not diverted.

       --truename file
	      Print the real name for a diverted file.

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 pack-
	      age.

       --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.

       --help Show the usage message and exit.

       --version
	      Show the version and exit.

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), the 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

ENVIRONMENT

       DPKG_ADMINDIR
	      If set and the --admindir option has not been specified, it will be used as the dpkg data directory.

       DPKG_MAINTSCRIPT_PACKAGE
	      If set and the --local and --package options have not been specified, dpkg-divert will use it as the package name.

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(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							    2010-10-12							    dpkg-divert(8)