1dpkg-divert(8) dpkg utilities dpkg-divert(8)
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6 dpkg-divert - override a package's version of a file
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9 dpkg-divert [options] command
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12 dpkg-divert is the utility used to set up and update the list of diver‐
13 sions.
14 File diversions are a way of forcing dpkg(1) not to install a file into
16 its location, but to a diverted location. Diversions can be used
17 through the Debian package scripts to move a file away when it causes a
18 conflict. System administrators can also use it to override some pack‐
19 age's configuration file, or whenever some files (which aren't marked
20 as 'conffiles') need to be preserved by dpkg, when installing a newer
21 version of a package which contains those files.
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25 [--add] file
26 Add a diversion for file.
27 --remove file
29 Remove a diversion for file.
30 --list glob-pattern
32 List diversions matching glob-pattern.
33 --listpackage file
35 Print the name of the package that diverts file. Prints LOCAL
36 if file is locally diverted and nothing if file is not diverted.
37 --truename file
39 Print the real name for a diverted file.
40
42 --admindir directory
43 Set the dpkg data directory to directory (default:
44 /var/lib/dpkg).
45 --divert divert-to
47 divert-to is the location where the versions of file, as pro‐
48 vided by other packages, will be diverted.
49 --local
51 Specifies that all packages' versions of this file are diverted.
52 This means, that there are no exceptions, and whatever package
53 is installed, the file is diverted. This can be used by an admin
54 to install a locally modified version.
55 --package package
57 package is the name of a package whose copy of file will not be
58 diverted. i.e. file will be diverted for all packages except
59 package.
60 --quiet
62 Quiet mode, i.e. no verbose output.
63 --rename
65 Actually move the file aside (or back). dpkg-divert will abort
66 operation in case the destination file already exists.
67 --test Test mode, i.e. don't actually perform any changes, just demon‐
69 strate.
70 --help Show the usage message and exit.
72 --version
74 Show the version and exit.
75
77 When adding, default is --local and --divert <original>.distrib. When
78 removing, --package or --local and --divert must match if specified.
79 Directories can't be diverted with dpkg-divert.
81 Care should be taken when diverting shared libraries, ldconfig(8) cre‐
83 ates a symbolic link based on the DT_SONAME field embedded in the
84 library. Because ldconfig doesn't honour diverts (only dpkg does), the
85 symlink may end up pointing at the diverted library, if a diverted
86 library has the same SONAME as the undiverted one.
87
89 To divert all copies of a /usr/bin/example to /usr/bin/example.foo,
90 i.e. directs all packages providing /usr/bin/example to install it as
91 /usr/bin/example.foo, performing the rename if required:
92 dpkg-divert --divert /usr/bin/example.foo --rename /usr/bin/example
94 To remove that diversion:
96 dpkg-divert --rename --remove /usr/bin/example
98 To divert any package trying to install /usr/bin/example to
101 /usr/bin/example.foo, except your own wibble package:
102 dpkg-divert --package wibble --divert /usr/bin/example.foo --rename
104 /usr/bin/example
105 To remove that diversion:
107 dpkg-divert --package wibble --rename --remove /usr/bin/example
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111 /var/lib/dpkg/diversions
112 File which contains the current list of diversions of the sys‐
113 tem. It is located in the dpkg administration directory, along
114 with other files important to dpkg, such as status or available.
115 Note: dpkg-divert preserves the old copy of this file, with
116 extension -old, before replacing it with the new one.
117
119 dpkg(1).
120
122 Copyright © 1995 Ian Jackson
123 This is free software; see the GNU General Public Licence version 2 or
125 later for copying conditions. There is NO WARRANTY.
126Debian Project 2008-08-18 dpkg-divert(8)