Andy Guy writes ("ftp method v2"): > eg, if: > Filename: development/binary/text/a2gs-1.0-4.deb > looks for "a2gs-1.0-4.deb" in the ls -lR listing (it will probably > find it in "text/" !). > > If it cannot find a Filename field it falls back on using > pkgname-ver[-rev].deb.
That's an improvement, but still not foolproof. Can you get it to download just the start of the file and then abort the transfer ? > WHAT TO DO: > To install, untar the attached file and copy into > /usr/lib/dpkg/methods/ftp Can you recommend people put this in /usr/local/lib/dpkg/methods, please ? That way if anything breaks it will be obvious what is part of the dpkg package proper and what is locally installed. > Compile the dvercmp.c file, and put the executable some where in the > default path (/usr/local/bin) > > Create a directory /var/lib/dpkg/methods/ftp You could supply a tarfile that contains /usr/local/lib/dpkg/methods/ftp/... /var/lib/dpkg/methods/ftp/ [empty directory] /usr/local/bin/dvercmp perhaps. > Install: > [ description ] Does this mean that you have to have enough spare disk space to contain all the files you're installing ? > WARNING: > [...] > To interface to ftp program it creates a .netrc file (there is no way > to use an alternate .netrc file from ftp -- arrggghhh), it tries to > keep your current .netrc intact and not leave a .netrc lying around at > the end - but it may. Why not do without a netrc and use `ftp -n' and `user anonymous <email>' ? > I havn't changed the default .deb filename to include two hyphens, it > is a trival change but not really necessary now I use the Filename: > field. That's fine, thanks. Ian.