dpkg-deb(8)

NAME
dpkg-deb - Debian GNU/Linux package archive backend

SYNOPSIS
dpkg-deb --version

dpkg-deb -X|--vextract <deb> [<directory>]

dpkg-deb -b|--build [--nocheck] <directory> [<deb>]

dpkg-deb -c|--contents <deb>

dpkg-deb -e|--control <deb> [<directory>]

dpkg-deb -f|--field <deb> [<cfield>]...

dpkg-deb -h|--help

dpkg-deb -i|--info <deb> [<cfile>]

dpkg-deb -x|--extract <deb> <directory>

dpkg-deb -D|--debug <invocation-options>

DESCRIPTION
dpkg-deb packs and unpacks debian archives. It tracks file permissions, and includes support for the staged unpacking mechanism required by debian.

OPTIONS
<deb> is the filename of a Debian format archive. <cfile> is the name of an administrative file component. <cfield> is the name of a field in the main `control' file.

--version displays the version number.

-X|--vextract extracts files from archive and lists archive's contents.

-b|--build makes a debian archive from the image of <directory>. <directory> must have a DEBIAN subdirectory, which is treated specially for the debian-specific control file and any pre- or post-install scripts. The DEBIAN directory must contain a file called control whose contents is a valid control file for the Debian package management system. Errors in this file will abort the processing of the package. This check can be bypassed by the use of the --nocheck option.

-c|--contents lists the contents of the archive on stdout.

-e|--control extracts the control file from the archive. If no target directory is specified, the control files are extracted into ./DEBIAN.

-f|--field displays [named field(s) from] the control file.

-h|--help displays summary of usage.

-i|--info describes the archive, on stdout.

-x|--extract extracts files from archive.

-D|--debug would enable debugging.

NOTES
dpkg-deb packs and unpacks *.deb files, but does not deal with any of the larger administrative issues of installing/de-installing packages.

SEE ALSO
deb(5), deb-control(5), dpkg(5), dpkg(8), dselect(8).

BUGS
dpkg-deb -i package1.deb package2.deb
 does the wrong thing.

Still being developed, as of 30 Jan 1995.