How to upgrade a particular package dependencies only?

Let's say I have a package A which has Depends: B (>= 1.0.0) in its control file.

The B was installed as an A dependency some time ago with 1.0.0 version.

Now B was updated in the repository to the 1.0.42 version and I'd like to upgrade it.

What I don't like to do: apt-get install B since it will mark B as "manually installed" (not sure how to name it correctly) package and it won't be removed with autoremove if I decide to stop using A ever.

So is there an analogue of apt-get upgrade that only upgrades a particular package and its dependencies (probably recursive, it doesn't matter in my case since B doesn't depend on anything else) only?

PS: I'm asking about currently available LTS versions. So 10.04 and 12.04

Solution 1:

Well, if there won't be another answer - here is one way of doing that:

Just install it with apt-get install B explicitly, then mark it as auto installed using apt-mark markauto B

Solution 2:

Being specific to your question, I'd do:

• apt-get update to resynchronize the package index files from their sources.
• apt-get install B will install the latest version.
• apt-mark auto B to mark it automatically installed

To upgrade a particular package:

• apt-get update
• apt-get install <package_name> this installs the updated package... there... the package is upgraded unlike apt-get upgrade which would upgrade all upgradable packages.

In case you want particular version of a package you'd do:

• apt-get <package_name>=<verson> or apt-get -t <version> <package_name>

With apt-get -t <version> <package_name>, you could specify target-release as -t '2.1*', -t unstable or -t sid.

If you want a list of available versions:

• apt-cache showpkg <package_name>