When launching Rpmdrake you have to wait a few seconds while the package databases are scanned. Then you are presented with Rpmdrake's main interface.
Package Set. Use the first pulldown list to select the types of package to be displayed: applications having a graphical user interface (Packages with GUI, the default); Meta packages (which are packages containing other packages, and whose names start with task: for example task-c-devel, for all needed packages for C development); a few options for updated packages (All updates, Security updates, Bugfixes updates, General updates); and Backports containing software adapted from other releases of Mandriva Linux. Use the second pulldown list to filter which packages to display: All of them (installed or not); only Installed ones (to be uninstalled); or only Uninstalled ones (to be installed). Each time a package set is selected, the Categories Tree is rebuilt to display matching packages.
Package Search. Use this facility to search for a package name, description, or content (the files it provides). Type the string to be searched for, select the criterion using the binocular, and press Enter.
Categories Tree. To ease management, packages are classified into categories (Networking, Office, Games, Development, Graphics, etc.). Open a category to display packages which match the current criteria set using Package Set and Package Search.
Package List. Where currently matching packages (Set, Category and Search Criteria) are displayed. This is where you select packages to take action on them.
Package Details. Displays details about the currently selected package in the Package List.
Procedure 7.1. Performing Actions on Packages
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Use the Package Set pulldown lists, the Categories Tree and, optionally, the Package Search facility to browse for packages to be installed or removed.
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In the Package List, select packages by checking their corresponding box. If the checkbox by the package name is empty, it means that the package can be installed, once selected it will be marked with the
icon. If the package is marked with the 
icon, it means the package is already installed, uncheck its box to select it for removal and it will be marked with the 
icon.![[Note]](images/note.png)
Note You may notice that some packages are marked with a “do not enter”
icon. These are “base” packages which cannot be removed because one would end up with a broken system, their checkboxes cannot be unselected. -
Once you are satisfied with your choices, click on to perform the actual installation or removal of packages. You are shown how many bytes will be transferred and how much disk space will be needed (or regained) and asked for confirmation, then a new window appears, where you can see the progress of the actions being taken. If you prefer to leave without doing anything, you can click on .
It may happen that you select a package which requires dependencies (additional libraries or another tool) or which is a dependency of other packages. In this case Rpmdrake displays an information window allowing you to choose whether to accept the selected dependencies, to the operation, or to get on the operation (see Figure 7.3, “Dependency Alert Box”). It also shows how much disk space will be used.
Alternative Dependencies. You may also want to install a package which requires dependencies, and various packages which are capable of providing that dependency. The list of alternatives is then presented (see Figure 7.4, “Alternative Packages”). You may read the additional information presented by clicking the button to help you choose the best alternative.
