Bug#117108: marked as done (apt-preferences man page unclear)
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and subject line Fixed in 0.5.5
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From: Bill Wohler <wohler@newt.com>
To: Debian Bug Tracking System <submit@bugs.debian.org>
Subject: apt-preferences man page unclear
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Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2001 15:39:43 -0700
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Package: apt
Version: 0.5.4
Severity: normal
Tags: woody
[Originally posted to debian-user. Included in entirety for context,
and additional comments not in the original note are found in square
brackets, like this one.]
I asked myself the questions: How do I add the occaisional unstable
package to my testing system in a better way than downloading debs
and using dpkg to install them? How do I track packages in testing
that I originally got out of unstable? Finally, and less often, how
do I track a particular package in unstable?
I searched the archives, discovered preferences, and read the
apt-preferences man page. I came up with this:
Package: *
Pin: release a=testing
Pin-Priority: 600
Package: *
Pin: release a=unstable
Pin-Priority: 80
Package: netsaint
Pin: release a=unstable
Pin-Priority: 601
I learned that I could install an unstable package by appending
/unstable to the package name, like this:
apt-get install netsaint/unstable
From then on, apt-get update/upgrade should do the Right Thing.
Right? Does this configuration answer my questions above?
[The man page should answer that.]
The apt-preferences man page is baffling. It definitely needs
examples (like the one above). It needs better explanations. For
example, Joey once included this preferences file:
> Package: *
> Pin: release a=testing
> Pin-Priority: 900
>
> Package: *
> Pin: release o=Debian
> Pin-Priority: -10
Even after pouring over the apt-preferences man page a few times, I
have no idea what is meant by the second stanza.
[The explanation of the Pin-Priority field is very clear, although
specific suggestions of priorities to use would be welcome. The
description of the Pin field is the most baffling part of the man
page and requires the most attention.]
Examples should be added to /usr/share/doc/apt as well.
[That this feature exists in the code rocks, thanks! Better
documentation will allow us to access it fully.]
-- System Information
Debian Release: woody
Architecture: i386
Kernel: Linux gbr.newt.com 2.4.10-686 #1 Sat Sep 29 19:30:50 EST 2001 i686
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=en_US
Versions of packages apt depends on:
ii libc6 2.2.4-3 GNU C Library: Shared libraries an
ii libstdc++2.10-glibc2.2 1:2.95.4-0.011006 The GNU stdc++ library
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Subject: Fixed in 0.5.5
From: Thomas Hood <jdthood@yahoo.co.uk>
To: 154224-done@bugs.debian.org
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There is a new apt_preferences file in apt 0.5.5.
The file still has problems. I am about to file a new
bug report about them. While we wait for the page to
be fixed, you can read the revised page at:
http://lists.debian.org/deity/2003/deity-200305/msg00009.html
--
Thomas Hood <jdthood@yahoo.co.uk>
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