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



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

SYNOPSIS
       dpkg-divert [option...]  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  'conf‐
       files')  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 pack‐
              ages, 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 package.

       --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.

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.

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 pack‐
       ages 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

SEE ALSO
       dpkg(1).



Debian Project                              2011-08-14                             dpkg-divert(8)