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 “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 (since dpkg 1.15.0).  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 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 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

SEE ALSO

       dpkg(1).

Debian Project                                     2011-08-14                                     dpkg-divert(1)