Querying with the RPM Python API

[7ofClubs]

This might be the wrong forum, but here goes.

I'm trying to use the rpm python api to get information out of the rpm database, specifically the type of information given with rpm -q --whatprovides. I've got a solution halfway working. The problem is figuring out the provider of files. The python query call:

import rpm
ts = rpm.TransactionSet()
headers = ts.dbMatch('providename', whatevercapabilityIwant)

gives me the header of the providing package when the capability is a package. But when the capability is a file path, headers is empty. I've tried doing:

baseheaders = ts.dbMatch('basenames', whateverthenameofthefileis)
dirheaders = ts.dbMatch('dirnames', whateverthenameofthedirectoryis)

Then matching the headers in both lists. Problem is, baseheaders and dirheaders are empty, regardless of the file I'm querying.

So, in conclusion, any ideas on how to mimic the rpm -q --whatprovides call? Or where else to ask this question?

[7ofClubs]

Ok, I figured it out. For some reason, to query using 'basenames' (or the equivalent rpm.RPMTAG_BASENAMES), you need to use the full file path, not the base name. e.g. '/bin/sh' instead of 'sh'. As for searching using 'dirnames', I was getting a populated list, I just tested it wrong (oops).

BTW this is on:
FC6
RPM version 4.4.2
Python 2.4.4

To sum up. To find the rpm package(s) that provide a file, use:

import rpm
ts = rpm.TransactionSet()
headers = ts.dbMatch('basenames', '/bin/sh') #or whatever filepath you want

# to print it
for h in headers:
    print h['name']

Hope this helps someone.
7