searching descriptions of programs

[lugoteehalt]

Using dselect you can only search the names of programs. How can the descriptions also be searched?

Sorry if cretinous. Thanks any help.:)

[hard candy]

You could try "whatis nameofprogram". And if you are not sure of the name, "apropos name of function (like gzip for example)"
$ apropos gzip
gzip (1) - compress or expand files
zforce (1) - force a '.gz' extension on all gzip files

[mrBen]

If you're running apt (which presumably you are, given that you have deselect), then apt-cache search <searchterm> will search both names and descriptions.

[Sepero]

Originally posted by lugoteehalt
Using dselect you can only search the names of programs. How can the descriptions also be searched?Hey man, stop breaking your neck with that program. Get aptitude.

[Sgood1971]

Originally posted by mrBen
If you're running apt (which presumably you are, given that you have deselect), then apt-cache search <searchterm> will search both names and descriptions.

Also, apt-cache show <searchterm> will show more information.

[lugoteehalt]

Huge thanks all. It's solved then.:)