Better way to add alternative using update-alternatives?

I've looked up the manual of update-alternatives several times but I can't find out how to show the current link pointing to a specific alternative, and that information is needed when adding a new alternative. From the update-alternatives manual: --install Let's say I want to add a new version of Java Runtime Edition, but I don't know the current symlink that links to the alternative (`` parameter). What I currently do is: sudo update-alternatives --install /tmp/randomStuff java /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_25/bin/java 0 That command will output: update-alternatives: renaming java link from /usr/local/bin/java to /tmp/randomStuff. Reading the output I find out the old link that was pointing to the alternative, so I can finally run my command again with the right ` parameter, changing /tmp/randomStuff to /usr/local/bin/java`: sudo update-alternatives --install /usr/local/bin/java java /usr/local/java/jre1.7.0_25/bin/java 0 That works fine, but as you see, running the command with /tmp/randomStuff as the `` parameter is very awkward. So, here comes the questions: (1) Are there any update-alternative arguments that can output the current link that is pointing to a specific alternative, or (2) is there a way to install a new alternative without having to provide a new parameter, simply keeping the current ``?