After running aptitude, use these key commands as found at Using aptitude GUI style: (If you use Bionic, use CTRL+T instead of F10)

F10 to access the aptitude menu.

? this is to access "help"

Use 'up' ↑, 'down' ↓ , 'left' ←, 'right' →, to navigate.

Use Enter to select items.

Use + or - to install, update, or remove a package

Use g to preview or confirm actions

q to quit – this will also close the currently open window (g goes forward, q goes back)

The common use of aptitude in TUI (text user interface) is:

1. run aptitude;


2. press u (update the lists of available packages);


3. press U (Mark all upgradable packages to be upgraded);


4. (search/select some stuff to install, is optional);


5. press g (to see the pending actions and modify if needed);


6. press g (again, to start the download).

Some time when you need to resolve conflicts, you discover that you made a mistake;

you can easily use 'Cancel pending actions' in the 'Actions' menu so that you can re-select.

When reviewing pending actions:

a explicitly accepts an action (use again to unaccept)

r rejects an action

g again goes ahead with pending actions

Using aptitude from the command line like apt-get

To install a package on a console run:

aptitude install package name

To search packages:

aptitude search package name

For example, let's say you want to install Pidgin

Search:

aptitude search pidgin

Install:

aptitude install pidgin