Exporting and importing package lists

In the previous section, we discussed the preparation needed to move to a new release of Mint, and exporting/importing package lists was mentioned. In this section, we'll move on to a new release of Mint.

To create or import a package list, you can use Mint's Backup Tool to accomplish the task. The Backup Tool was covered in Chapter 10, Securing Linux Mint, and its ability to back up software selections was briefly mentioned. When you open the Backup Tool, you'll first be prompted with your password, as the utility runs as the root. Once it is opened, Backup software selection is listed as one of the buttons on the very first screen. If you click on it, you'll first need to set the destination for the file to be created. Here, it's important to note that since the Backup Tool runs as the root, the home directory option listed is not your home directory, but that of the root. Therefore, you should select Other and then browse...