depend(4)                                                  depend(4)


       NAME
             depend - software dependencies files

       DESCRIPTION
             depend is an ASCII file used to specify information concerning
             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 version.
             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 installation,
                                for example, the referenced package or
                                versions must be installed.

                           I    Implies that the existence of the indicated
                                package or version is incompatible.

                           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.





                           Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 1

      depend(4)                                                  depend(4)


            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 specifications, both
                          arch and version, are completely optional but
                          each must begin on a new line that begins with
                          white space.  If no version set is specified,
                          any version of the indicated package will match.
                          A version preceded by a tilde (~) indicates that
                          any compatible version will be a match.  [See
                          compver(4).]

      EXAMPLE
            Here is a sample depend file (for the NFS package):
                        P  base           Base System
                        P  nsu            Networking Support Utilities
                        P  inet           Internet Utilities
                        P  rpc            Remote Procedure Call Utilities
                        P  dfs            Distributed File System Utilities

      REFERENCES
            compver(4)

























                          Copyright 1994 Novell, Inc.               Page 2