If I have downloaded source and compiled it myself, how do those packages in the database that apt uses.
apt-get update only checks for new lists on the sites specified on sources.list right?

I think your looking for 'equivs' for more info check:
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/ap...elpers.en.html

thanks zuralin but now I've run into another problem with equivs. Having done a "equivs-control filename" and changing the package accordingly I try to do a "equivs-build filename" and get the following error message:

Possible precedence problem on bitwise & operator at /usr/bin/equivs-build line 71.
Possible precedence problem on bitwise & operator at /usr/bin/equivs-build line 179.
Error on copying <additionalfilesforthedocdirectory to /home/user/test/equivs/docs/<additionalfilesforthedocdirectory : No such file or directory at /usr/bin/equivs-build line 98, <IN> line 43.

I've googled but found nothing on this...

I got past that problem but still the equiv wont build right. Here's the ouput when trying to build it:

Possible precedence problem on bitwise & operator at /usr/bin/equivs-build line 71.
Possible precedence problem on bitwise & operator at /usr/bin/equivs-build line 179.
dh_testdir
touch build-stamp
dh_testdir
dh_testroot
dh_clean -k
# Add here commands to install the package into debian/tmp.
touch install-stamp
dh_testdir
dh_testroot
dh_installdocs
dh_installchangelogs
parsechangelog/debian: error: badly formatted heading line, at changelog line 1
dh_installchangelogs: changelog parse failure
make: *** [binary-arch] Error 1
Error during the build process: Inappropriate ioctl for device at /usr/bin/equivs-build line 180, <IN> line 31.

does anyone know how to handle these equivs?

do you mind posting your control file as well?

Haven't checked here for a while and had almost given up on this thread...
I'm trying to build an equiv (or whatever they are called in singularis) for mplayer and the control file looks like this:

File mplayer:

Section: misc
Priority: optional
Standards-Version: 3.5.10

Package: <mplayer>
Version: <0.92.1>
Provides: <mplayer>
Architecture: all

got any ideas?

get rid of the <> around your package and provides fields.
I suspect (by observing the changelogs of actual debian packages) that the <> around the version field should be removed as well but it builded for me with the <> around version.

After the changes, your control file should look like this:

Section: misc
Priority: optional
Standards-Version: 3.5.10

Package: mplayer
Version: 0.92.1
Provides: mplayer
Architecture: all

That acctually worked. Thought I had tried something like that on the way but I guess I just took for granted it would ignore the <>
Anyway, thanks for helping!

Just found something that might help you in the future with equivs.
the man page for deb-control has a description of the format for control files and an example.