compver(4)                                                compver(4)


       NAME
             compver - compatible versions file

       DESCRIPTION
             compver is an ASCII file used to specify previous versions of
             the associated package which are upward compatible.  It is
             created by a package developer.

             Each line of the file specifies a previous version of the
             associated package with which the current version is backward
             compatible.

             Since some packages may require installation of a specific
             version of another software package, compatibility information
             is extremely crucial.  Consider, for example, a package called
             ``A'' which requires version ``1.0'' of application ``B'' as a
             prerequisite for installation.  If the customer installing
             ``A'' has a newer version of ``B'' (1.3), the compver file for
             ``B'' must indicate that ``1.3'' is compatible with version
             ``1.0'' in order for the customer to install package ``A.''

       NOTES
             The comparison of the version string disregards white space
             and tabs.  It is performed on a word-by-word basis.  Thus
             Version      1.3 and Version 1.3 would be considered the same.

       EXAMPLE
             A sample compver file is shown below.

             Version 1.3
             Version 1.0

       REFERENCES
             depend(4)














                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1