---
name: "approx-import"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "approx"
version: "5.13-1+b5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/approx-import"
---

# approx-import(8)

copy local .deb files into the approx cache

## NAME

approx-import - copy local .deb files into the approx cache

## SYNOPSIS

**approx-import** \[*OPTION*\]... file.deb ...

## DESCRIPTION

**approx-import** copies local .deb files, such as those found in */var/cache/apt/archives*, into the [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md) cache.

It does so by computing the MD5 checksum of each argument. If it matches a package in one of the *Packages* files in the [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md) cache, then the file is copied to the appropriate location in the cache.

Note that all *Packages* files must be scanned, regardless of how many .deb files are being imported, and this process may take several minutes.

The **approx-import** command must be run by the superuser or the [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md) user.

## OPTIONS

- **-c** file, **--config** file

  Specify an additional configuration file. May be used multiple times.

- **-s**, **--simulate**

  Process files but do not actually copy them into the cache.

- **-q**, **--quiet**

  Don't print the names of files that are imported.

- **-v**, **--verbose**

  Print the disposition of each file.

## EXAMPLES

To import packages from the local [**apt**(8)](/apt/8.md) cache:

-

  approx-import /var/cache/apt/archives/\*.deb

To import packages from another proxy's cache:

-

  find other-cache -name "\*.deb" \| xargs approx-import

(where *other-cache* is the pathname of the other proxy's cache directory)

## FILES

- */etc/approx/approx.conf*

  Configuration file for **approx** and related programs.

- */var/cache/approx*

  Default cache directory for archive files.

## SEE ALSO

[*approx.conf*(5)](/approx.conf/5.md), [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md)

## AUTHOR

Eric Cooper \<ecc@cmu.edu\>