Package: dpkg Version: 1.10.10 Severity: wishlist The --config option is missing from the list of actions in update-alternatives(8). It is mentioned in the text and synopsis, but should really be found next to its friends like --display.
The patch below adds an entry under the ACTIONS section, and also adds a new EXAMPLES section so that people can see the most common usage at a glance. The patch is against dpkg-1.10.10 --- scripts/update-alternatives.8.orig Mon Aug 25 10:18:20 2003 +++ scripts/update-alternatives.8 Sun Aug 31 13:16:05 2003 @@ -210,6 +210,42 @@ When a link group is in manual mode, the alternatives system will not make any changes to the system administrator's settings. +.SH EXAMPLES +There are several packages which provide a text editor compatible +with +.BR vi , +for example +.BR nvi " and " vim . +Which one is used is controlled by the link group +.BR vi , +which includes links for the program itself and the associated manpage. +.PP +To display the available packages which provide +.B vi +and the current setting for it, use the +.I --display +action: +.RS +.PP +update-alternatives --display vi +.RE +.PP +To choose a particular +.B vi +implementation, use this command as root and then select a number +from the list: +.RS +.PP +update-alternatives --config vi +.RE +.PP +To go back to having the +.B vi +implementation chosen automatically, do this as root: +.RS +.PP +update-alternatives --auto vi +.RE .SH OPTIONS Exactly one action must be specified if .B update-alternatives @@ -321,6 +357,13 @@ .TP \fB--list\fR \fIlink\fR Display all targets of the link group. +.TP +\fB--config\fR \fIlink\fR +Show available alternatives for a link group and allow the user to +interactively select which one to use. The link group is updated +and taken out of +.I auto +mode. .SH FILES .TP .I /etc/alternatives/
