how to use dpkg --set-selections command in linux
Solution 1
Wherever you copied this from:
sudo dpkg --set-selections < [Path to packages_list ]>
you mangled it and misunderstood the result. I can tell because you have <>
arranged like an extra pair of brackets, which if they were actually there in the instructions you found, would be unnecessary (and inconsistently spaced).
It complains that it doesn't take arguments because it takes stdin, You're supposed to use the stdin redirection operator <
before your filename. And no >
anywhere.
Solution 2
dpkg: --set-selections takes no arguments
It doesn't use arguments, but it takes standard input (stdin) instead.
As per man dpkg
:
--set-selections
Set package selections using file read from stdin. This file should be in the format “package state”, where state is one of install, hold, deinstall or purge.
So for multiple selection, use file:
dpkg: --set-selections < myfile
For one package, you can use with echo
, e.g.
echo "acpid hold" | dpkg: --set-selections
For multiple packages, you can use with printf
(line separated by \n
), e.g.
echo "alsa-base hold\nalsa-utils\n" | dpkg: --set-selections
See also:
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starkk92
Updated on September 18, 2022Comments
-
starkk92 over 1 year
I have been running these commands:
sudo dpkg --clear-selections sudo dpkg --set-selections < [Path to packages_list ]> sudo apt-get autoremove
with the file packages_list which looks like this
acpi-support install acpid install adduser install adium-theme-ubuntu install adobereader-enu install aisleriot install akonadi-server install alacarte install alsa-base install alsa-utils install anacron install
I have been getting these errors while using the second command mentioned above..
dpkg: --set-selections takes no arguments Type dpkg --help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*]; Use `dselect' or `aptitude' for user-friendly package management; Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values; Type dpkg --force-help for a list of forcing options; Type dpkg-deb --help for help about manipulating *.deb files; Type dpkg --license for copyright license and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*].
Can some one help me out please..