depend(4) FILE FORMATS depend(4)
NAME
depend - software dependencies files
DESCRIPTION
depend is an ASCII file used to specify information concern-
ing software dependencies for a particular package. The
file is created by a software developer.
Each entry in the depend file describes a single software
package. The instance of the package is described after the
entry line by giving the package architecture and/or ver-
sion. The format of each entry and subsequent instance
definition is:
type pkg name
(arch)version
(arch)version
...
The fields are:
type Defines the dependency type. Must be one of
the following characters:
P Indicates a prerequisite for installa-
tion, for example, the referenced pack-
age or versions must be installed.
I Implies that the existence of the indi-
cated package or version is incompati-
ble.
R Indicates a reverse dependency.
Instead of defining the package's own
dependencies, this designates that
another package depends on this one.
This type should be used only when an
old package does not have a depend file
but it relies on the newer package
nonetheless. Therefore, the present
package should not be removed if the
designated old package is still on the
system since, if it is removed, the old
package will no longer work.
pkg Indicates the package abbreviation.
name Specifies the full package name.
(arch)version Specifies a particular instance of the
software. A version name cannot begin with a
left parenthesis. The instance specifica-
tions, both arch and version, are completely
1
depend(4) FILE FORMATS depend(4)
optional but must each begin on a new line
that begins with white space. A null version
set equates to any version of the indicated
package.
2
depend(4) FILE FORMATS depend(4)
EXAMPLE
Here is a sample depend file:
I msvr 3B2 Messaging Server
P ctc Cartridge Tape Utilities
P dfm Directory and File Management Utilities
P ed Editing Utilities
P ipc Inter-Process Communication Utilities
P lp Line Printer Spooling Utilities
P shell Shell Programming Utilities
P sys System Header Files
Release 3.0
P sysadm System Administration Utilities
P term Terminal Filters Utilities
P terminfo Terminal Information Utilities
P usrenv User Environment Utilities
P uucp Basic Networking Utilities
P x25 X.25 Network Interface
Issue 1 Version 1
Issue 1 Version 2
P windowing AT&T Windowing Utilities
(3B2)Version 1
R cms 3B2 Call Management System
3