---
name: "update-default-ispell"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "dictionaries-common"
version: "1.30.10"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/update-default-ispell"
---

# update-default-ispell(8)

update default ispell dictionary

## NAME

update-default-ispell - update default ispell dictionary

## SYNOPSIS

```
 update-default-ispell [--skip-symlinks] [--triggered]
```

## DESCRIPTION

WARNING: Not to be used from the command line unless you know very well what you are doing.

This program is intended to be called from ispell dictionary package postinst, from **select-default-ispell** or from dictionaries-common postinst.

When called under dpkg control with the **--trigger** option the script is run normally, otherwise the dictionaries-common **update-default-ispell** trigger is enabled for later run.

With the **--skip-symlinks** option the symlinks setting is skipped. This is needed for **update-default-ispell** when called from dictionaries-common postinst, since autobuilt hashes may not yet be available.

When run normally (from the command line or with **--trigger**) this script rebuilds the info at */var/cache/dictionaries-common/ispell.db* after files under */var/lib/dictionaries-common/ispell*, reads the system default from the debconf database and unless disabled, set default symlinks in */etc/dictionaries-common* pointing to the appropriate files in */usr/lib/ispell/*.

For ispell this script also updates the system-wide setting */etc/dictionaries-common/ispell-default* and the emacsen, jed, and SquirrelMail support after known info.

## OPTIONS

```
 --skip-symlinks  Do not try to set symlinks at /etc/dictionaries-common dir.
 --triggered      Run all the code instead of trying to enable
                  update-default-ispell trigger
```

## SEE ALSO

The dictionaries-common policy document

## AUTHORS

Rafael Laboissiere, Agustin Martin Domingo