Chapter G. Diversions   overriding a package's version of a file (from old Packaging Manual)

126

if [ remove = "$1" ]; then

dpkg divert   package smailwrapper   remove   rename \

  divert /usr/sbin/smail.real /usr/sbin/smail

fi

Do not attempt to divert a file which is vitally important for the system's operation   when

using

dpkg divert

there is a time, after it has been diverted but before

dpkg

has installed

the new version, when the file does not exist.