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#1 2002-11-10 07:42:10

n00b_E
Member
Registered: 2002-11-08
Posts: 13

pacman db

Quite possibly im apt-cache spoiled.

Im a bit used to being able to search a list of packages by name
and glean alot of info (like dependencies) prior to installation.

While i dont mind making the adjustment, i would appreciate some direction on
how one finds the correct name of a package.

All I can tell so far is I  if i run 'pacman -S package_name'  it will attempt to install it if it exists.
(im rather embarrased at how many times i have typed pacman -S for a package i know exists
but get a "not found" error

i would like to be able to have some form of reference prior to typing endless variations to determine a package availablilty.

i did find the pacman.db, packages.txt and package list on the cd
is there something similar i could grep on the hardrive post-install

may lack of unix-command_line-prowess leave me at a loss
(dir *.ext /s is so useless on a *nix box)

thanks in advance,

-=- n00b_E -=-


-= n00b_E =-

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#2 2002-11-10 16:09:23

scottro
Member
From: NYC
Registered: 2002-10-11
Posts: 466
Website

Re: pacman db

For me at least, I've found the easiest way (though it seems a kludge perhaps, due to my own ignorance) is to go to /usr/abs and run

abs

(You have to have cvsup installed, first, which can be done with pacman)

This will give a list, divided into various categories, of all packages available, as well as some unofficial ones.

HTH
Scott

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#3 2002-11-10 18:33:32

almostlucky
Member
From: California, USA
Registered: 2002-09-30
Posts: 16

Re: pacman db

pacman -Ss <package>

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#4 2002-11-10 19:00:28

scottro
Member
From: NYC
Registered: 2002-10-11
Posts: 466
Website

Re: pacman db

Heh--missed that one in the man page--ironically enough, just missed it again, though I knew it was there now.  smile  Put it up towards the top for lazy folks like me. 


All kidding aside, that's a nice feature, and works well. I wondered how it would do with something like telnet, where the package is actually netkit-telnet, but it works perfectly.
Thanks.  (Although for me, my way of searching abs is actually more fun as then I can things I never thought  of instalilng and say, hrmm, let me try that one)


Scott

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#5 2002-11-11 04:55:45

n00b_E
Member
Registered: 2002-11-08
Posts: 13

Re: pacman db

Yes, i did miss the subtle value of pacman -Ss

Technically it's  pacman -Ss <string> isnt it?
as there is no local list of packages
and the results are a bit of hit or miss arent they?
(try pacman -Ss irc   -- i really dont think gaim is irc, is it?)

So, from what I can tell, the ascii files on the iso
do not exist post-install.
Rather, the db exists in the form of
two directories one named current, the other named local.

One can simply pipe a  grep of the 'current' directory
to file, to  get a list.
( I dont recall its' exact locaton or I would mention it)

This is not a big deal, its just a bit of a hurdle coming from
an rpm-deb orentation.


-= n00b_E =-

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#6 2002-11-11 15:35:45

jk
Member
From: Groningen, The Netherlands
Registered: 2002-10-24
Posts: 66
Website

Re: pacman db

and the results are a bit of hit or miss arent they?
(try pacman -Ss irc -- i really dont think gaim is irc, is it?)

Yes, gaim can do irc too, actually, i'm surprised by the good results pacman -Ss irc gives

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#7 2002-11-11 16:28:13

n00b_E
Member
Registered: 2002-11-08
Posts: 13

Re: pacman db

I wasnt aware gaim was anything other than an AIM clone.


I should also add that I noticed the packages list  on the webpage
can be sorted by name or package from a link on the right side of the page.
( I never noticed this before)
This feature does offset and render moot my point about knowing what im searching for
when i invoke pacman., provided I can get to the net.
(tho I still wish i had this locally from the comamand line)

Because it's relative, and because im not sure wherelse to post it.
I would like to suggest having the headings for name and category being hyperlinked to the sort
would add alot of fuctionality to the page.


-= n00b_E =-

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#8 2002-11-11 18:55:41

apeiro
Daddy
From: Victoria, BC, Canada
Registered: 2002-08-12
Posts: 771
Website

Re: pacman db

[jvinet@saturn jvinet]$ pacman -Ss irc
ircd 2.10.3p3-3
ircii-pana 1.0c19-2
irssi 0.8.5-2
naim 0.11.4-1
xchat 1.8.10-2
epic4 1.1.7-1

The --search option searches both package names and package descriptions.

Pacman databases are stored in /var/lib/pacman

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#9 2002-11-11 21:53:38

jk
Member
From: Groningen, The Netherlands
Registered: 2002-10-24
Posts: 66
Website

Re: pacman db

hmm...since it searches the package description...how much trouble would it be to also list the description in the search results? I think this for example would prevent users from thinking gaim is only an AIM clone smile

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#10 2002-11-11 22:01:51

mordantly
Member
From: Westside - CenCAL
Registered: 2002-08-16
Posts: 83
Website

Re: pacman db

careful now.. we wouldnt want to attack a person fur their lack of a known or unknown fact would we?? instead, apparantly the forumly correct way to put it would be somepin to the affect of:

this way, others will be able to more correctly identify the package in question

instead of:

I think this for example would prevent users from thinking gaim is only an AIM clone


try to be a man and some day, you'll understand   -ccr
oh dont u worry.. ill be eating ur balls fur lunch tomorrow.   -Hugh "HughMan" Stahl
MoRdAnTlY [Mr. Wolf '91 - '11]

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#11 2002-11-11 22:27:33

jk
Member
From: Groningen, The Netherlands
Registered: 2002-10-24
Posts: 66
Website

Re: pacman db

It was just an example, but yes, that's what i meant...sorry, english isn't my native language wink

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#12 2002-11-11 22:30:01

n00b_E
Member
Registered: 2002-11-08
Posts: 13

Re: pacman db

as apparently only his perspective is the valid one.


-= n00b_E =-

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#13 2002-11-11 22:34:16

mordantly
Member
From: Westside - CenCAL
Registered: 2002-08-16
Posts: 83
Website

Re: pacman db

not a big thing at all. im just looking out fur everyone in an attempt to make sure that members like n00b_E arent mindlesslly attacked to where they can interpret it as a complete degredation of there intelligence by not seeing the obvious. now let us have no more of this!!

[sends in the regulator]


try to be a man and some day, you'll understand   -ccr
oh dont u worry.. ill be eating ur balls fur lunch tomorrow.   -Hugh "HughMan" Stahl
MoRdAnTlY [Mr. Wolf '91 - '11]

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