# dpkg-scansources

## NAME



           dpkg-scansources - create Sources index files
    


## SYNOPSIS



           **dpkg-scansources**[_option_...] _binary-dir_ [_override-file_ [_path-_
           _prefix_]] **> **_Sources_
    


## DESCRIPTION



           **dpkg-scansources** scans the given _binary-dir_ for _.dsc_ files.  These
           are used to create a Debian source index, which is output to
           stdout.
    
           The _override-file_ , if given, is used to set priorities in the
           resulting index stanzas and to override the maintainer field given
           in the _.dsc_ files.  The file can be compressed (since dpkg
           1.15.5).  See deb-override(5) for the format of this file.
    
           **Note** : Since the override file is indexed by binary, not source
           packages, there's a bit of a problem here.  The current
           implementation uses the highest priority of all the binary
           packages produced by a _.dsc_ file for the priority of the source
           package, and the override entry for the first binary package
           listed in the _.dsc_ file to modify maintainer information.  This
           might change.
    
           The _path-prefix_ , if given, is prepended to the directory field in
           the generated source index.  You generally use this to make the
           directory fields contain the path from the top of the Debian
           archive hierarchy.
    
           **Note** : If you want to access the generated Sources file with **apt**(8)
           you will probably need to compress the file with **gzip**(1)
           (generating a Sources.gz file).  **apt**(8) ignores uncompressed
           Sources files except on local access (i.e.  **file://** sources).
    


## OPTIONS



           **-n** , **--no-sort**
               Do not sort the index stanzas.  Normally they are sorted by
               source package name.
    
           **-e** , **--extra-override** _file_
               Scan _file_ to find supplementary overrides (since dpkg 1.15.4;
               the file can be compressed since dpkg 1.15.5).  See
               deb-extra-override(5) for more information on its format.
    
           **-s** , **--source-override** _file_
               Use _file_ as the source override file (the file can be
               compressed since dpkg 1.15.5).  The default is the name of the
               override file you specified with _.src_ appended.
    
               The source override file is in a different format from the
               binary override file.  It contains only two whitespace
               separated fields, the first is the source package name and the
               second is the section.  Blank lines and comment lines are
               ignored in the normal manner.  If a package appears in both
               files the source override takes precedence for setting the
               section.
    
           **--debug**
               Turn debugging on.
    
           **--help**
               Show the usage message and exit.
    
           **--version**
               Show the version and exit.
    


## ENVIRONMENT



           **DPKG_COLORS**
               Sets the color mode (since dpkg 1.18.5).  The currently
               accepted values are: **auto**(default), **always** and **never**.
    
           **DPKG_NLS**
               If set, it will be used to decide whether to activate Native
               Language Support, also known as internationalization (or i18n)
               support (since dpkg 1.19.0).  The accepted values are: **0** and **1**
               (default).
    


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