Michael Alan Dorman writes ("Re: ncurses build options..."): > If you mean "during the time it takes them to do the other upgrade" when > you say "for a bit", then I think you're right. I would like to confirm > some dpkg behavior, though: > > Take ncurses-base-1 and ncurses-term-1. The decision is made to move > Wyse50 terminals from term to base. New versions (xxx-2) are released. > User installs base-2, then term-2. This would leave the user without > Wyse50, unless dpkg moved the wyse50 from term.list to base.list. > > Does it do this (you said something earlier today that made it sound like > it does)?
Yes, it does do that. If you install a package (A) containing a file (foo) which is listed as being part of another already-installed package (B) then the entry for foo in B's listing will be removed, and A will end up the sole owner. Directories are handled somewhat differently. This is documented somewhere, I think - try project/standards. Ian.