Dpkg question

[snappwrench]

I've looked all over for this and think maybe someone could clarify this for me. I've used AptonCd pretty all along but it's useless after you run apt-get -clean so my question is if i use dpkg and create a file of all my packages, can I install from that file after a frsh OS install that doesn't have dpkg yet? I'm basically looking for a way to make a backup of my installed packages like aptoncd does for installing on a frsh install offline. Dpkg sounds great for making such a backup after running apt-get -clean, just not clear on weither I need dpkg installed to use the backup offline in a fresh install. Any suggestions? I'm using 11.10 amd64, thanks.

[Snowhog]

If you run apt-get clean before you do what you are proposing, there will be no downloaded packages. apt-get clean:

clean

clean clears out the local repository of retrieved package files.
It removes everything but the lock file from
/var/cache/apt/archives/ and /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/. When
APT is used as a dselect(1) method, clean is run automatically.
Those who do not use dselect will likely want to run apt-get clean
from time to time to free up disk space.

[snappwrench]

So basically if I never run apt-get clean then aptoncd will always work? "in theory"

[Snowhog]

Select packages

By default, all packages saved in /var/cache/apt/archives/ directory are listed and checked. You can choose what packages won't be saved in the APTonCD media just unchecking it on the list. When you remove a package the total file size is automatically updated.

If you haven't already, see APTonCD User's Manual.

[snappwrench]

I've looked at all that before and I know how it works, I'm just trying to figure out a good way to repack my downloaded packages that are no longer in the archive folder at a later date. In the past when I've gone to create a backup using aptoncd I found the packages were no longer there unless I run it shortly after a fresh install. I like the sound of dpkg, I'm just not sure if it will work on a fresh install not having dpkg yet.

[snappwrench]

Ok so through some seaching I've found that dpkg is already the main package manager with the system so it shouldn't be a problem using it on a fresh install. I wasn't sure if it was a separate program like aptoncd or not since I've always used apt-get for everything. Learn something new every day as they say, so thanks for the responces.