Usage: dpkg [<option>...] <command>

Commands:
  -i, --install <archive-spec>
          Install the archives.
      --unpack <archive-spec>
          Unpack the archives.
      --configure <package-spec>
          Configure the packages.
      --triggers-only <package-spec>
          Process triggers for the packages.
  -r, --remove <package-spec>
          Remove the packages.
  -P, --purge <package-spec>
          Purge the packages.
  -V, --verify [<package>...]
          Verify the integrity of packages.
  -C, --audit [<package>...]
          Check for broken packages.
  -s, --status [<package>...]
          Show package status details.
  -l, --list [<pattern>...]
          List packages concisely.
  -L, --listfiles <package>...
          List files 'owned' by packages.
  -S, --search <pattern>...
          Find packages owning files.
      --get-selections [<pattern>...]
          Get list of selections to stdout.
      --set-selections
          Set package selections from stdin.
      --clear-selections
          Deselect every non-essential package.
  -p, --print-avail [<package>...]
          Show available package version details.
  -A, --record-avail <archive-spec>
          Record the archives in the available file.
      --update-avail [<Packages-file>]
          Replace available packages information.
      --merge-avail [<Packages-file>]
          Merge available package information.
      --clear-avail
          Erase existing available package information.
      --add-architecture <arch>
          Add <arch> to the list of architectures.
      --remove-architecture <arch>
          Remove <arch> from the list of architectures.
      --print-architecture
          Print native dpkg architecture.
      --print-foreign-architectures
          Print allowed foreign architectures.
      --validate-<thing> <string>
          Validate a <thing>'s <string>.
      --compare-versions <a> <op> <b>
          Compare version numbers (see below).
      --predep-package
          Print pre-dependencies to unpack.
      --assert-help
          Show help on assertions.
      --assert-<feature>
          Assert support for the specified feature.
      --force-help
          Show help on forcing.
  -Dh, --debug=help
          Show help on debugging.
  -?, --help
          Show this help message.
      --version
          Show the version.

<archive-spec> is: <.deb file name>... | (-R|--recursive) <directory>...
<package-spec> is: <package>... | (-a|--pending)

Validatable things: pkgname, archname, trigname, version.

Use dpkg with -b, --build, -c, --contents, -e, --control, -I, --info,
  -f, --field, -x, --extract, -X, --vextract, --ctrl-tarfile, --fsys-tarfile
on archives (type dpkg-deb --help).

Options:
  -O, --selected-only
          Skip packages not selected for install/upgrade.
  -E, --skip-same-version
          Skip packages with same installed version/arch.
  -G, --refuse-downgrade
          Skip packages with earlier version than installed.
  -B, --auto-deconfigure
          Install even if it would break some other package.
      --triggers
          Force consequential trigger processing.
      --no-triggers
          Skip consequential trigger processing.
      --verify-format=<format>
          Verify output format (supported: 'rpm').
      --robot
          Use machine-readable output on some commands.
      --no-pager
          Disables the use of any pager.
      --no-debsig
          Do not try to verify package signatures.
      --ignore-depends=<package>[,...]
          Ignore dependencies involving <package>.
      --force-<thing>[,...]
          Override problems (see --force-help).
          [default: security-mac,downgrade]
          [env: DPKG_FORCE=]
      --no-force-<thing>[,...]
          Stop when problems encountered.
      --refuse-<thing>[,...]
          Alias for --no-force.
      --abort-after <n>
          Abort after encountering <n> errors.
      --no-act
          Print what would be done, but perform no action.
      --dry-run
          Alias for --no-act.
      --simulate
          Alias for --no-act.
  -D, --debug=<octal>
          Enable debugging output (see -Dhelp or --debug=help).
      --path-exclude=<pattern>
          Do not install paths which match a shell pattern.
      --path-include=<pattern>
          Re-include a pattern after a previous exclusion.
      --pre-invoke=<command>
          Set a pre-invoke hook.
      --post-invoke=<command>
          Set a post-invoke hook.
      --status-fd <n>
          Send status change updates to file descriptor <n>.
      --status-logger=<command>
          Send status change updates to <command>'s stdin.
      --log=<filename>
          Log status changes and actions to <filename>.
      --admindir=<directory>
          Change the database directory.
          [default: /var/lib/dpkg]
          [env: DPKG_ADMINDIR=]
      --instdir=<directory>
          Change the installation directory.
          [default: /]
      --root=<directory>
          Change the root directory.
          [default: /]
          [env: DPKG_ROOT=]

Comparison operators for --compare-versions are:
  lt le eq ne ge gt       (treat empty version as earlier than any version);
  lt-nl le-nl ge-nl gt-nl (treat empty version as later than any version);
  < << <= = >= >> >       (only for compatibility with control file syntax).

Use 'apt' or 'aptitude' for user-friendly package management.