apt-get on local files
 

Hello,

If I want to install a local package with Apt-Get in Ubuntu if I read the manual from APT I should do the following :

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Assuming the package is in /root/debs

Make an addition to sources.list

deb file:/root debs/

after that use the apt command as usual
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Synaptic however gives an error like this

W: Couldn't stat source package list file: debs/ Packages (/var/lib/apt/lists/_root_debs_Packages) - stat (2 No such file or directory)

I assume this means it needs still another file..................

If however I use dpkg to make that file I get something like this :

dbootstrap_settings debs Desktop install-report.template output.pdf
root@medusa:~ # dpkg-scansources debs | gzip > debs/Sources.gz
Prototype mismatch: sub main::getopt: none vs (@) at /usr/bin/dpkg-scansources l ine 116.

Can anyone give me some simple answers on this question :

Do I have to add more files to the debs directory and if so how do I do it right?

Thanks in advance.

CloudBuilder

Are you sure the package has dependencies? Can't you just sudo dpkg -i packagename.deb?

For example, this is how I installed the .deb for the Opera web browser.

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I'm not sure, and I don't like to ruin a good working system.

I always said: If you don't know what you are doing, don't do it....

The W error from Synaptic indicates that I didn't refresh but if I do I get something like :

file:/root/debs/Packages.gz: File not found

The problem for me is the following :
Which files does apt expect in debs - the package I assume and Packages.gz?
and how do I make the GZ file, I assume with dpkg, but I saw 2 versions of the same manual from apt, but they had a different text about this item( one talkes about Packages.gz the other about Sources.gz), and that is confusing me. I like to get it clear.

CloudBuilder

In the /root directory use dpkg-scanpackages debs /dev/null | gzip -9c > debs/Packages.gz and that will create the Packages.gz it is looking for.

Edit: And if it complains about not finding a Release file create one with similar contents to this.

Of course changing the lines to match your situation the Architecture: would most likely be i386 and change the Archive: to whatever you are running the rest is pretty much up to yourself.

Thank you for the clear answer, that will help me a lot.

CloudBuilder