Re: Trying to understand Packages[.gz] files

[Mitch Blevins <mblevin@mindspring.com>]

In foo.debian-user, you wrote:
> I think this got lost - apologies if this is its second time around.
> 
> I'm installing Debian gradually; until I get it online I have Windows,
> in its own partition, set up for Internet use. I use Windows to download
> Debian packages I'm interested in onto my hard drive, creating a partial
> mirror of the Debian distribution; I then install those packages by
> accessing the Windows partition from Debian. What's the significance of
> Packages (or Packages.gz) files in this case?
> 
> 1) Does dpkg/dselect/apt assume that all packages listed in a Packages
> file are available on my hard drive? If so, should I manually create a
> stripped-down Packages file that describes only the few dozen packages
> I've downloaded?

Yes, and yes.  Use dpkg-scanpackages to create the new Packages.gz file.