deb-preinst(5) dpkg suite deb-preinst(5) NAME deb-preinst - package pre-installation maintainer script SYNOPSIS DEBIAN/preinst DESCRIPTION A package can perform several pre-installation actions via maintainer scripts, by including an executable preinst file in its control archive (i.e. DEBIAN/preinst during package creation). The script can be called in the following ways: new-preinst install Before the package is installed. new-preinst install old-version new-version Before a removed package is upgraded. The new-version is passed only since dpkg 1.18.5. new-preinst upgrade old-version new-version Before the package is upgraded. The new-version is passed only since dpkg 1.18.5. old-preinst abort-upgrade new-version If postrm fails during upgrade or fails on failed upgrade. SEE ALSO dpkg(1). 1.22.6 2024-03-10 deb-preinst(5)