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.\"     Title: deb-reversion
.\"    Author: [see the "AUTHOR" section]
.\" Generator: DocBook XSL Stylesheets v1.79.1 <http://docbook.sf.net/>
.\"      Date: Feb 13, 2006
.\"    Manual: [FIXME: manual]
.\"    Source: [FIXME: source]
.\"  Language: English
.\"
.TH "DEB\-REVERSION" "1" "Feb 13, 2006" "[FIXME: source]" "[FIXME: manual]"
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.SH "NAME"
deb-reversion \- simple script to change the version of a \&.deb file
.SH "SYNOPSIS"
.HP \w'\fBdeb\-reversion\fR\ 'u
\fBdeb\-reversion\fR [\fIoptions\fR]\fI \&.deb\-file\fR [\fIlog\ message\fR...]
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.PP
\fBdeb\-reversion\fR
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\&.
.PP
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
\fB\-v \fR\fB\fIversion\fR\fR, the version number can be specified directly\&. On the other hand, the
\fB\-c\fR
simply calculates the new version number but does not generate a new package\&.
.PP
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
\fBdeb\-reversion\fR
as root or running under
\fBfakeroot\fR(1), as \*(Aqfakeroot deb\-reversion foo\&.deb\*(Aq\&.
.PP
With
\fB\-k \fR\fB\fIhook\fR\fR, 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 \*(Aq\fBdch \-a \-\- \fR\fB\fIyour message\fR\fR\*(Aq\&. (Alternatively, do not give a changelog entry on the
\fBdeb\-reversion\fR
command line and
\fBdch\fR
will be called automatically\&.) The hook command must be placed in quotes if it has more than one word; it is called via
\fBsh \-c\fR\&.
.SH "OPTIONS"
.PP
\fB\-v\fR \fInew\-version\fR, \fB\-\-new\-version\fR \fInew\-version\fR
.RS 4
Specifies the version number to be used for the new version\&. Passed to
\fBdch\fR(1)\&.
.RE
.PP
\fB\-o\fR \fIold\-version\fR, \fB\-\-old\-version\fR \fIold\-version\fR
.RS 4
Specifies the version number to be used as the old version instead of the version stored in the
\&.deb\*(Aqs
control
file\&.
.RE
.PP
\fB\-c\fR, \fB\-\-calculate\-only\fR
.RS 4
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
\fB\-v\fR\&.
.RE
.PP
\fB\-s\fR \fIstring\fR, \fB\-\-string\fR \fIstring\fR
.RS 4
Instead of using \*(AqLOCAL\&.\*(Aq as the version string to append to the old version number, use
\fIstring\fR
instead\&.
.RE
.PP
\fB\-k\fR \fIhook\-command\fR, \fB\-\-hook\fR \fIhook\-command\fR
.RS 4
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 \*(Aqbash\*(Aq as the hook command, and you will then be given a shell to work in\&.
.RE
.PP
\fB\-D\fR, \fB\-\-debug\fR
.RS 4
Pass
\fB\-\-debug\fR
to
\fBdpkg-deb\fR(1)\&.
.RE
.PP
\fB\-b\fR, \fB\-\-force\-bad\-version\fR
.RS 4
Pass
\fB\-\-force\-bad\-version\fR
to
\fBdch\fR(1)
.RE
.PP
\fB\-h\fR, \fB\-\-help\fR
.RS 4
Display usage information\&.
.RE
.PP
\fB\-V\fR, \fB\-\-version\fR
.RS 4
Display version information\&.
.RE
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.PP
\fBdch\fR(1),
\fBdpkg-deb\fR(1),
\fBfakeroot\fR(1)
.SH "DISCLAIMER"
.PP
deb\-reversion is a tool intended to help porters 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\&.
.PP
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\&.
.PP
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\&.
.SH "AUTHOR"
.PP
deb\-reversion is Copyright 2004\-5 by martin f\&. krafft
<madduck@debian\&.org>
and modifications are Copyright 2006 by Julian Gilbey
<jdg@debian\&.org>\&.
.PP
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the Artistic License:
\m[blue]\fBhttp://www\&.opensource\&.org/licenses/artistic\-license\&.php\fR\m[]\&. On Debian systems, the complete text of the Artistic License can be found in
/usr/share/common\-licenses/Artistic\&.
.PP
This manual page was written by martin f\&. krafft
<madduck@debian\&.org>
and modified by Julian Gilbey
<jdg@debian\&.org>\&.
.SH "NOTES"
.IP " 1." 4
http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php