> Alternatively there is apt-show-versions. > > $ apt-show-versions xterm > xterm:amd64/testing 312-1 uptodate > > If there were a newer version available it would show "upgradeable 312-1" > or some such newer version number instead of "uptodate". > This works for me. I can use the backticks `` to execute a command and grep on the output. thanks raju -- Kamaraju S Kusumanchi http://malayamaarutham.blogspot.com/