Debian bug report logs - #1037
dselect user interface (was Re: debian 0.93pl5 installation)

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From: iwj10@cus.cam.ac.uk (Ian Jackson)
To: "Susan G. Kleinmann" <sgk@sgk.tiac.net>
Cc: debian-user@pixar.com
Subject: dselect user interface (was Re: debian 0.93pl5 installation)
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Package: dpkg
Version: 0.93.42.3

Susan G. Kleinmann writes:
> I looked at the help files for dselect today, and have some suggestions that
> might make them easier to use.
>
> [suggestions deleted]

Thanks for your comments, they're very helpful.  I know that the user
interface to dselect is rather complicated and perhaps confusing to
the new user.

I'm very receptive to what you're saying, and I'll incorporate most of
your suggestions when I've released the C version of dpkg.  I've filed
this message as a bug to remind me :-).

I'm also considering adding an additional `dumbed down' package
selection interface, which merely presents the packages in order
asking `yes/no/all-in-category/quit/ask-later'-type questions, and
presents information about conflicts and dependencies at that stage
one package at a time.

Ian Murdock writes:
> [...]
> My primary complaint was the lack of mention of the `q' key.  After my
> first encounter with the dependency resolution screen (and after I had
> resolved all dependencies, etc. to my liking), it took a minute or two
> before I realized how to get back to the main selection screen.  [...]

It already does say it in the help text.  Or rather, it tries to.
However, due to a mistake on my part it fails to find the keybinding
and says `[not bound]' instead !

My next main release of dpkg will fix this problem.

Ian.