How can I manually select and download packages using a web browser?

[Jim Cheetham]

apt uses http or ftp to grab the archives, so you can go directly to the 
archives with a browser ...

http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/w/wvdial/

Pick up the relevant deb file (probably wvdial_1.54.0-1ubuntu1_i386.deb) 
and download it.

Now you can install that file with "sudo dpkg -i wvdial_...". However, 
if any dependancies are missing, you'll get a warning, and have to go 
collect them manually ... that's the advantage of apt :-)

-jim

Neil Woolford wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> The reason for wanting to do this rather than use apt-get or Synaptics 
> is that my Ubuntu system was installed from Sounder test 9, which did 
> not include the wvdial package.
> 
> As I don't have that package, I can't set up and use ppp to dial in from 
> that machine.  This means I'll have to use my laptop, either running 
> Windows 98 or Suse 9 to collect the package and then transfer it by 
> floppy or CD to the target machine.
> 
> The Debian support system led me quite easily to the Debian versions of 
> the package and its dependencies, but I'd rather not install these if I 
> can get the Ubuntu ones.
> 
> I can find the Ubuntu archives in their raw form, but don't know how to 
> locate and download just the package that I want without using 
> synaptics..  I'm stuck with dialup for the moment, so it isn't 
> practicable to download (for example) the current daily build, which 
> does contain wvdial.
> 
> Neil
> 
> PS  Alternative methods of getting the target machine online without 
> wvdial might also be woth a punt, but I don't know them...
> 
> PPS   Can I install Synaptics or equivalent under Suse and use it to 
> access the Ubuntu archives?  <== May have answered my own question here!
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.772 / Virus Database: 519 - Release Date: 01/10/04
>