Bug#305318: /usr/sbin/update-alternatives: Suggested improvements to update-alternatives help text
Package: dpkg
Version: 1.10.27
Severity: wishlist
File: /usr/sbin/update-alternatives
Although update-alternatives is a handy utility, the help text that
appears when you execute it without arguments is a little confusing and
ambiguous, in my humble opinion - it took me a while to figure out
exactly what it meant. Currently at the bottom it says:
<name> is the name in /etc/alternatives.
<path> is the name referred to.
<link> is the link pointing to /etc/alternatives/<name>.
<priority> is an integer; options with higher numbers are chosen.
Instead, how about:
<link> is the symlink pointing to /etc/alternatives/<name>.
(e.g. /usr/bin/pager)
<name> is the master name for this link group.
(e.g. pager)
<path> is the location of one of the alternative target files.
(e.g. /usr/bin/less)
<priority> is an integer; higher numbers have higher priority in
automatic mode.
Although this is a bit wordier, I feel it would be an improvement.
Perhaps a better example could be chosen, but I think it definitely
helps one's understanding. I'd appreciate your comments.
Regards,
Andrew.
-- System Information:
Debian Release: 3.1
APT prefers testing
APT policy: (900, 'testing'), (800, 'unstable'), (50, 'experimental')
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Kernel: Linux 2.6.10
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C (charmap=ANSI_X3.4-1968)
Versions of packages dpkg depends on:
ii dselect 1.10.27 a user tool to manage Debian packa
ii libc6 2.3.2.ds1-20 GNU C Library: Shared libraries an
-- no debconf information
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