Debian package information is generally stored in files having a
 special file format, dubbed the Debian control file format (the dctrl
 format), a special case of the record jar file format. These tools
 operate on any files conforming in a general sense to that format and
 are therefore widely applicable whenever those formats are in play.
 .
 Included are:
 .
   grep-dctrl - Grep dctrl-format files
   grep-available - Grep the DPKG available database
   grep-status - Grep the DPKG status database
   grep-aptavail - Grep the APT available database
   grep-debtags - Grep the Debtags package database
 .
   sort-dctrl - Sort dctrl-format files
 .
   tbl-dctrl - Tabulate dctrl-format files
 .
   sync-available - Sync the dpkg available database with
                    the apt database