6.4.1 Information on a file

To find the package to which a particular filename pattern belongs in the installed packages:

     $ dpkg {-S|--search} pattern

Or to find the similar in the Debian archive:

     $ wget https://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/dists/sarge/Contents-i386.gz
     $ zgrep -e pattern Contents-i386.gz

Or use specialized package commands:

     # aptitude install dlocate  
                      # conflicts with slocate (secure version of locate)
     $ dlocate filename         # fast alternative to dpkg -L and dpkg -S
     ...
     # aptitude install auto-apt # on-demand package installation tool
     # auto-apt update          # create db file for auto-apt
     $ auto-apt search pattern  
                     # search for pattern in all packages, installed or not