I'm growing a bit tired of rpmdrake these days, so I wanted to try using Smart for a while, as an alternative. I would really like to use the "GUI way" while rpmdrake is being improved, so I figured Smart would be the solution (or even the old rpmdrake).

It seems to be a nice program but I'm having a few issues. Hopefully someone here can explain me how to do this. I already looked at the Smart WIKI, but I didn't find the info I needed.

1. If I select "Upgrade all packages" I get a list of upgrades. How can I remove/de-select something from this list? Like a kernel update I do not want right now.
2. I have setup the channels, but where can I select if some sources (like PLF free/nonfree) should only be used for installs and NOT updates?

Other than these "problems" it seems to be a nice program.

Can someone solve this for me?

I used smart on 2007 but now I find rpmdrake less and less buggier with the updates and I use it almost exclusively now.
IIRC you just can't do the No 1 at least not on this version. you have to cancel update and unselect the unwanted updates and then start the update again.
Also I don't know a permanent setting like that in smart for No 2. You can use File\Update selected channels instaed of just Update channels.

Alternatively you can lock the package versions you don't want updating.

I already tried that, but it did not work. Perhaps I did something wrong. I will try this again, ty.

It is less buggy. I still get the occasional issues with it though. Another thing is the lack of information during installs or upgrading.

Thanks for the tip on #2. I think I'll do just that.

you can hide non-upgrades (from view) and select the ones you do want

regarding the second question from your OP: you can go to file->update selected channels