1DEB-REVERSION(1) [FIXME: manual] DEB-REVERSION(1)
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6 deb-reversion - simple script to change the version of a .deb file
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9 deb-reversion [options] .deb-file [log message...]
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12 deb-reversion unpacks the specified .deb file, changes the version
13 number in the relevant locations, appends a Debian changelog entry with
14 the specified contents, and creates a new .deb file with the updated
15 version.
16 By default, the tool creates a new version number suitable for local
18 changes, such that the new package will be greater than the current
19 one, but lesser than any future, official Debian packages. With -v
20 version, the version number can be specified directly. On the other
21 hand, the -c simply calculates the new version number but does not
22 generate a new package.
23 When building a .deb file, root privileges are required in order to
25 have the correct permissions and ownerships in the resulting .deb file.
26 This can be achieved either by running deb-reversion as root or running
27 under fakeroot(1), as 'fakeroot deb-reversion foo.deb'.
28 With -k hook, a hook script may be specified, which is run on the
30 unpacked binary packages just before it is repacked. If you want to
31 write changelog entries from within the hook, use 'dch -a -- your
32 message'. (Alternatively, do not give a changelog entry on the
33 deb-reversion command line and dch will be called automatically.) The
34 hook command must be placed in quotes if it has more than one word; it
35 is called via sh -c.
36
38 -v new-version, --new-version new-version
39 Specifies the version number to be used for the new version. Passed
40 to dch(1).
41 -o old-version, --old-version old-version
43 Specifies the version number to be used as the old version instead
44 of the version stored in the .deb's control file.
45 -c, --calculate-only
47 Only calculate and display the new version number which would be
48 used; do not build a new .deb file. Cannot be used in conjunction
49 with -v.
50 -s string, --string string
52 Instead of using 'LOCAL.' as the version string to append to the
53 old version number, use string instead.
54 -k hook-command, --hook hook-command
56 A hook command to run after unpacking the old .deb file and
57 modifying the changelog, and before packing up the new .deb file.
58 Must be in quotes if it is more than one (shell) word. Only one
59 hook command may be specified; if you want to perform more than
60 this, you could specify 'bash' as the hook command, and you will
61 then be given a shell to work in.
62 -D, --debug
64 Pass --debug to dpkg-deb(1).
65 -b, --force-bad-version
67 Pass --force-bad-version to dch(1)
68 -h, --help
70 Display usage information.
71 -V, --version
73 Display version information.
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76 dch(1), dpkg-deb(1), fakeroot(1)
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79 deb-reversion is a tool intended to help porters with modifying
80 packages for other architectures, and to augment deb-repack, which
81 creates modified packages with identical version numbers as the
82 official packages. Chaos will ensue! With deb-reversion, a proper
83 version number can be selected, which does not obstruct the next
84 official release but can be specifically pinned with APT or held with
85 dpkg.
86 Please take note that deb-reversion does not come without problems.
88 While it works fine in most cases, it may just not in yours.
89 Especially, please consider that it changes binary packages (only!) and
90 hence can break strict versioned dependencies between binary packages
91 generated from the same source.
92 You are using this tool at your own risk and I shall not shed a tear if
94 your gerbil goes up in flames, your microwave attacks the stereo, or
95 the angry slamming of your fist spills your coffee into the keyboard,
96 which sets off a chain reaction resulting in a vast amount of money
97 transferred from your account to mine.
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100 deb-reversion is Copyright 2004-5 by martin f. krafft
101 <madduck@debian.org> and modifications are Copyright 2006 by Julian
102 Gilbey <jdg@debian.org>.
103 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
105 under the terms of the Artistic License:
106 http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php. On Debian
107 systems, the complete text of the Artistic License can be found in
108 /usr/share/common-licenses/Artistic.
109 This manual page was written by martin f. krafft <madduck@debian.org>
111 and modified by Julian Gilbey <jdg@debian.org>.
112
114 1. http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php
115[FIXME: source] Feb 13, 2006 DEB-REVERSION(1)