---
name: "Dpkg::Source::Format"
section: "3perl"
platform: "linux"
package: "dpkg"
version: "1.23.11-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/Dpkg::Source::Format"
---

# Dpkg::Source::Format(3perl)

manipulate debian/source/format files

## NAME

Dpkg::Source::Format - manipulate debian/source/format files

## DESCRIPTION

This module provides a class that can manipulate Debian source package *debian/source/format* files.

## METHODS

- $format = Dpkg::Source::Format-\>new(%opts)

  Creates a new object corresponding to a source package's *debian/source/format* file.

  Options:

  - **filename**

    Set the filename to use to parse and set the format.

  - **format**

    Set and validate the format to use instead of loading the default file, if no filename has been specified.

- $format-\>set\_from\_parts($major\[, $minor\[, $variant\]\])

  Sets the source format from its parts. The `$major` part is mandatory. The `$minor` and `$variant` parts are optional.

  **Notice**: This function performs no validation.

- ($major, $minor, $variant) = $format-\>set($format)

  Sets (and validates) the source `$format` specified. Will return the parsed format parts as a list, the optional `$minor` and `$variant` parts might be undef.

- ($major, $minor, $variant) = $format-\>**get()**

  - $format = $format-\>**get()**

  Gets the source format, either as properly formatted scalar, or as a list of its parts, where the optional `$minor` and `$variant` parts might be undef.

- $count = $format-\>parse($fh, $desc)

  Parse the source format string from `$fh`, with filehandle description `$desc`.

- $count = $format-\>load($filename)

  Parse `$filename` contents for a source package format string.

- $string = "$format"

  - $string = $format-\>output(\[$fh\])

  Returns a string representing the source package format version. If `$fh` is set, it prints the string to the filehandle.

- $format-\>save($filename)

  Save the source package format into the given `$filename`.

## CHANGES

### Version 1.00 (dpkg 1.19.3)

Mark the module as public.