extract deb file from n900
 

Hi.........

Since I'm living in a country which is restricted by nokia, I can't download any files from ovi store or from nokia's repository. But since I traveled to another country nearby I used this opportunity to download what I wanted and voila.

But I want to flash my n900...

Is there a way to extract deb files and store them so that to install them after the flashing?

Or simply making a backup of certain files, games, apps?

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

hmmmmmmmmm, seems like it's not possible since no reply

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

I am not sure about what you want, but I think this could help you:
To download a deb, from console and apt-get:
If you want to install it, you don't have to extract the deb. Simply do this:

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

thankx for your reply

I have no problem with downloading and installing

my question explained, that I have an app installed on my n900, let's say, Panorama.

Can I extract Panorama with all it's dependencies from N900 into a deb file?

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

The above works fine for downloading from the maemo.org repositories but does it work from Ovi store too? I mean can aptitude get stuff from Ovi and not unpack it, especially paid-for s/w?

When you do a back-up with either Ovi suite or the build in back up tool, it stores a list of installed software (for better or for worse!). I think this is supposed to allow you to reinstall s/w, including paid-for items without paying again. You seem to have problems the Ovi servers, which might prevent the above working though.

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

I think the dependencies for stuff in Ovi is stored in the Applications and Nokia SSU repositories. Can someone confirm this?
AFAIK, there's no way of telling from Ovi, what the dependencies are, in the same way once can from maemo.org's package interface. Again, if I'm wrong please, someone, correct me.

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

Ah! Sorry, I didn't understand you.
AFAIK, downloading from OVI store is not possible.
And downloading Panorama (for example) and it's dependencies could be possible if you make a script.
Take a look at this.
However, I think it is difficult, because, what happen with dependencies of dependencies? I mean, maybe you have to download a lot of packages. Too much packages if you are going to reflash your N900...
Hope I helped you.
And sorry if I don't speak English very well...

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

You still didn't understand me....................help

I don't want to download from OVI

I already have all applications I want on my device

I want to back up these applications with it's dependencies (the ones in my device) before I flash it, so I don't need to find a way with OVI.........

for example: if you type in terminal:

sudo apt-get remove panorama

panorama and all it's dependencies will be removed

I want a way like this:

sudo apt-get backup panorama

so that instead of removing it, it backs it up in a deb file including dependencies.

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

install backupmenu.... :D

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

that's for the whole system, right? not for a single app.

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

dpkg-repack
but be carefull with (post|pre)-install scripts ... the generated package is not exactly the same as the original one.
I think you can get dpkg-repack from debian repository (it's a perl script)

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

Why not jsut use BackupMenu, then? it's made for the purpose and it's easy to use. But i think there is a way to repackage everything using dpkg-deb...

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

what about a simple :

this copies the debs to the given folder. of course, you have to run the command every now and then, lest some debs get flushed. it seems that this will suffice for non-programers like me, who just need to be able to re-install packages without re-downloading. (of course, all the general risks of doing things as root apply)

However, this doesn't explicitly group applications with their dependencies, but they are still there, and can be installed via

as mentioned before by others. I actually use the above method on my Debian PC which rarely gets access to Internet connection.:D

and, great link Drexxx

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

Initially I used dpkg-repack but that won't include manpages for instance for all the installed debs. I also made a simple script to do all that as well but I found out red pill mode gives an option for one to disable cleaning apt cache which would leave all the downloaded debs in /home/user/MyDocs/.apt-archive-cache/ as per wiki states.

Though using this would only be effective for HAM (Hildon Application Manager), which meant that if say for example you used apt-get or FAM (Faster Application Manager) those deb files for instance would be saved in /var/cache/apt/archives.

Needless to say is that you can optify /var/cache/apt but for making /home/user/MyDocs/.apt-archive-cache the only place for downloaded debs to go you will need to add a line into your /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/00maemo:
This of course will not work in cases like using aptitude download where it will just download the deb file into your pwd (present working directory).

As for installing debs and its dependencies automatically, dpkg does not natively do that. For getting it to work you'll need to create a small apt repository (and ideally not on your device as reflashing will make you lose your setup).

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

thanks to all of you, helped me alot

I don't mind if someone came up with a more affective way

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

backupmenu works great but why not copy the deb files to your pc and after the flash, reinstall and maybe do an apt-get update and apt-get upgrade for missing or unmet dependencies.

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

Where are the debs situated when you download them from the store...? Specifically for harmattan though... I'm not a fan of the backup/restore process, I'd rather keep myself a folder of my deb files and choose what and when to install.

Re: extract deb file from n900
 

I'd guess Harmattan does not keep a cache for store packages simply because that would enable people easily to redistribute paid / non-free stuff.