OS Manuals

/usr/bin/dpkg-gencontrol

headers for dpkg

From dpkg-dev 1.23.11-r3 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running dpkg-gencontrol --help (exit 0). permalink

Usage: dpkg-gencontrol [<option>...]

Options:
  -p<package>
          Generate control file for package.
  -v<force-version>
          Set version of binary package.
  -P<package-build-dir>
          Set temporary build directory to use.
          [default: debian/tmp]
  -c<control-file>
          Get control information from this file.
  -l<changelog-file>
          Get per-version changelog information from this file.
  -F<changelog-format>
          Force changelog format.
  -f<files-list-file>
          Write built artifact entry to this file.
          [default: debian/files]
  -n<filename>
          Assume the package filename will be <filename>.
  -T<substvars-file>
          Read substitution variables from this file.
          [default: debian/substvars]
  -V<name>=<value>
          Set a substitution variable.
  -D<field>=<value>
          Override or add a field and value.
  -U<field>
          Remove a field.
  -O[<file>]
          Write to stdout (or <file>).
          [default: <package-build-dir>/DEBIAN/control]
  -?, --help
          Show this help message.
      --version
          Show the version.
Options (28)
OptionDescriptionSource
-p packageGenerate control file for package.help
-v force-versionSet version of binary package.help
-P package-build-dirSet temporary build directory to use.help
-c control-fileGet control information from this file.help
-l changelog-fileGet per-version changelog information from this file.help
-F changelog-formatForce changelog format.help
-f files-list-fileWrite built artifact entry to this file.help
-n filenameAssume the package filename will be <filename>.help
-T substvars-fileRead substitution variables from this file.help
-V name>=<valueSet a substitution variable.help
-D field>=<valueOverride or add a field and value.help
-U fieldRemove a field.help
-O fileWrite to stdout (or <file>).help
-?, --helpShow the usage message and exit.help + man
--versionShow the version and exit.help + man
-vversionSets the version number of the binary package which will be generated. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-Vname valueSet an output substitution variable. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-Tsubstvars-fileRead substitution variables in substvars-file; (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-Dfield valueOverride or add an output control file field. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-UfieldRemove an output control file field. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-ccontrol-fileSpecifies the main source control file to read information from. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-lchangelog-fileSpecifies the changelog file to read information from. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-ffiles-list-fileRead or write the list of files to be uploaded here, rather than using debian/files. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-Fchangelog-formatSpecifies the format of the changelog. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-ppackageGenerate information for the binary package package. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-nfilenameAssume the filename of the package will be filename instead of the normal package_version_arch.deb filename. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-is, -ip, -ispThese options are ignored for compatibility with older versions of the dpkg build scripts but are now deprecated. (in the manual page but not in --help)man
-Ppackage-build-dirScan package-build-dir instead of debian/tmp. (in the manual page but not in --help)man

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.