How to smoothly merge packages ?

[Gregor Hoffleit <flight@mathi.uni-heidelberg.de>]

Hi,

I'd like to merge back some python packages (python-net, python-misc,
python-bsddb and python-curses) into python-base.

Now quite a lot third-party packages depend e.g. on python-net. What's 
the best method to ensure a smooth transition for both potato and
people upgrading Python from slink, how do I have to set up the
dependencies ?

IIRC, during the big X11 package renaming, there was a need for some
empty dummy packages. Should I use empty python-net etc. packages and
urge the user to remove them when they are no longer necessary ? Or
can I resolve the situation with "Replaces: python-net, ..." and/or
"Provides: python-net, ..." and/or "Conflicts: python-net, ..." ?

I'm a little bit lost in the actual consequences of those.

	Gregor