NAME

       deb-reversion - simple script to change the version of a .deb file

SYNOPSIS

       deb-reversion [options] .deb-file [log message...]

DESCRIPTION

       deb-reversion unpacks the specified .deb file, changes the version number in the relevant locations,
       appends a Debian changelog entry with the specified contents, and creates a new .deb file with the
       updated version.

       By default, the tool creates a new version number suitable for local changes, such that the new package
       will be greater than the current one, but lesser than any future, official Debian packages. With -v
       version, the version number can be specified directly. On the other hand, the -c simply calculates the
       new version number but does not generate a new package.

       When building a .deb file, root privileges are required in order to have the correct permissions and
       ownerships in the resulting .deb file. This can be achieved either by running deb-reversion as root or
       running under fakeroot(1), as 'fakeroot deb-reversion foo.deb'.

       With -k hook, a hook script may be specified, which is run on the unpacked binary packages just before it
       is repacked. If you want to write changelog entries from within the hook, use 'dch -a -- your message'.
       (Alternatively, do not give a changelog entry on the deb-reversion command line and dch will be called
       automatically.) The hook command must be placed in quotes if it has more than one word; it is called via
       sh -c.

OPTIONS

       -v new-version, --new-version new-version
           Specifies the version number to be used for the new version. Passed to dch(1).

       -o old-version, --old-version old-version
           Specifies the version number to be used as the old version instead of the version stored in the
           .deb's control file.

       -c, --calculate-only
           Only calculate and display the new version number which would be used; do not build a new .deb file.
           Cannot be used in conjunction with -v.

       -s string, --string string
           Instead of using 'LOCAL.' as the version string to append to the old version number, use string
           instead.

       -k hook-command, --hook hook-command
           A hook command to run after unpacking the old .deb file and modifying the changelog, and before
           packing up the new .deb file. Must be in quotes if it is more than one (shell) word. Only one hook
           command may be specified; if you want to perform more than this, you could specify 'bash' as the hook
           command, and you will then be given a shell to work in.

       -D, --debug
           Pass --debug to dpkg-deb(1).

       -b, --force-bad-version
           Pass --force-bad-version to dch(1)

       -h, --help
           Display usage information.

       -V, --version
           Display version information.

SEE ALSO

       dch(1), dpkg-deb(1), fakeroot(1)

DISCLAIMER

       deb-reversion is a tool intended to help porters with modifying packages for other architectures, and to
       augment deb-repack, which creates modified packages with identical version numbers as the official
       packages. Chaos will ensue! With deb-reversion, a proper version number can be selected, which does not
       obstruct the next official release but can be specifically pinned with APT or held with dpkg.

       Please take note that deb-reversion does not come without problems. While it works fine in most cases, it
       may just not in yours. Especially, please consider that it changes binary packages (only!) and hence can
       break strict versioned dependencies between binary packages generated from the same source.

       You are using this tool at your own risk and I shall not shed a tear if your gerbil goes up in flames,
       your microwave attacks the stereo, or the angry slamming of your fist spills your coffee into the
       keyboard, which sets off a chain reaction resulting in a vast amount of money transferred from your
       account to mine.

AUTHOR

       deb-reversion is Copyright 2004-5 by martin f. krafft <madduck@debian.org> and modifications are
       Copyright 2006 by Julian Gilbey <jdg@debian.org>.

       Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the Artistic
       License: http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php. On Debian systems, the complete text of
       the Artistic License can be found in /usr/share/common-licenses/Artistic.

       This manual page was written by martin f. krafft <madduck@debian.org> and modified by Julian Gilbey
       <jdg@debian.org>.

NOTES

        1. http://www.opensource.org/licenses/artistic-license.php

[FIXME: source]                                   Feb 13, 2006                                  DEB-REVERSION(1)