NAME

       deb-reversion - simple script to change the version of a .deb file

SYNOPSIS

       deb-reversion [options] .deb-file [log message...]

DESCRIPTION

       deb-reversion unpacks the specified .deb file, changes the version number in the relevant
       locations, appends a Debian changelog entry with the specified contents, and creates a new
       .deb file with the updated version.

       By default, the tool creates a new version number suitable for local changes, such that
       the new package will be greater than the current one, but lesser than any future, official
       Debian packages. With -v version, the version number can be specified directly. On the
       other hand, the -c simply calculates the new version number but does not generate a new
       package.

       When building a .deb file, root privileges are required in order to have the correct
       permissions and ownerships in the resulting .deb file. This can be achieved either by
       running deb-reversion as root or running under fakeroot(1), as 'fakeroot deb-reversion
       foo.deb'.

       With -k hook, a hook script may be specified, which is run on the unpacked binary packages
       just before it is repacked. If you want to write changelog entries from within the hook,
       use 'dch -a -- your message'. (Alternatively, do not give a changelog entry on the
       deb-reversion command line and dch will be called automatically.) The hook command must be
       placed in quotes if it has more than one word; it is called via sh -c.

OPTIONS

       -v new-version, --new-version new-version
           Specifies the version number to be used for the new version. Passed to dch(1).

       -o old-version, --old-version old-version
           Specifies the version number to be used as the old version instead of the version
           stored in the .deb's control file.

       -c, --calculate-only
           Only calculate and display the new version number which would be used; do not build a
           new .deb file. Cannot be used in conjunction with -v.

       -s string, --string string
           Instead of using 'LOCAL.' as the version string to append to the old version number,
           use string instead.

       -k hook-command, --hook hook-command
           A hook command to run after unpacking the old .deb file and modifying the changelog,
           and before packing up the new .deb file. Must be in quotes if it is more than one
           (shell) word. Only one hook command may be specified; if you want to perform more than
           this, you could specify 'bash' as the hook command, and you will then be given a shell
           to work in.

       -D, --debug
           Pass --debug to dpkg-deb(1).

       -b, --force-bad-version
           Pass --force-bad-version to dch(1)

       -h, --help
           Display usage information.

       -V, --version
           Display version information.

SEE ALSO

       dch(1), dpkg-deb(1), fakeroot(1)

DISCLAIMER

       deb-reversion is a tool intended to help porters (e.g. amd64) with modifying packages for
       other architectures, and to augment deb-repack, which creates modified packages with
       identical version numbers as the official packages. Chaos will ensue! With deb-reversion,
       a proper version number can be selected, which does not obstruct the next official release
       but can be specifically pinned with APT or held with dpkg.

       Please take note that deb-reversion does not come without problems. While it works fine in
       most cases, it may just not in yours. Especially, please consider that it changes binary
       packages (only!) and hence can break strict versioned dependencies between binary packages
       generated from the same source.

       You are using this tool at your own risk and I shall not shed a tear if your gerbil goes
       up in flames, your microwave attacks the stereo, or the angry slamming of your fist spills
       your coffee into the keyboard, which sets off a chain reaction resulting in a vast amount
       of money transferred from your account to mine.

AUTHOR

       deb-reversion is Copyright 2004-5 by martin f. krafft <madduck@debian.org> and
       modifications are Copyright 2006 by Julian Gilbey <jdg@debian.org>.

       Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of
       the Artistic License: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php. On Debian
       systems, the complete text of the Artistic License can be found in
       /usr/share/common-licenses/Artistic.

       This manual page was written by martin f. krafft <madduck@debian.org> and modified by
       Julian Gilbey <jdg@debian.org>.

NOTES

        1. http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php

[FIXME: source]                            Feb 13, 2006                          DEB-REVERSION(1)