---
name: "update_approx"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "approx"
version: "3.3.0"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/update_approx"
---

# update\_approx(8)

update cached Packages and Sources files

## NAME

update\_approx - update cached Packages and Sources files

## SYNOPSIS

**update\_approx** \[*OPTION*\] \[*FILE*\]...

## DESCRIPTION

**update\_approx** updates the Packages and Sources files in the [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md) cache by downloading and applying pdiffs.

## OPTIONS

- **-k**, **--keep**, **-s**, **--simulate**

  Don't download, update, or remove any files in the cache.

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

  Don't print information about status, updates, or removals.

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

  Print the status of each Packages or Sources file.

## EXAMPLES

To download and apply any pdiffs necessary to bring the Packages and Sources files in the cache up to date:

-

  update\_approx --quiet

This is run as a daily [**cron**(8)](/cron/8.md) job.

To show the status of each Packages and Sources file in the cache (whether it is up-to-date according to the corresponding Release file):

-

  update\_approx --keep --verbose

## FILES

- */etc/approx/approx.conf*

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

- */var/cache/approx*

  Cache directory for archive files.

## SEE ALSO

[*approx.conf*(5)](/approx.conf/5.md), [**approx**(8)](/approx/8.md), [**gc\_approx**(8)](/gc_approx/8.md), [**cron**(8)](/cron/8.md)

## AUTHOR

Eric Cooper \<ecc@cmu.edu\>