Packaging and Distributing Products › Using the Manual Method

Using the Manual Method

The manual method of packaging is intended for products that must be installed using the original product setup. The original data is accepted in unmodified form and a response file for unattended installation must be supplied. The Installer on the target computer installs the product by invoking the product's original setup program. After finishing the packaging process, register the product in the Software Package Library, from where it can be distributed, and installed unattended on target computers.

Follow these steps:

1. In the Product archive tree window, click the Archive to create a new product, or click a product to create a new version of an existing product.
2. Click the Create Product Version icon on the toolbar.
3. Select Edit, Product version, Create from the Packager main menu.

   The Create Product Version dialog opens.

4. (Optional) Enter the name and the version number of the new product.

   For the product name, you can enter a maximum of 32 characters.

5. Check Custom mode and Create templates to be edited manually, and click Continue.

   The Create Templates for Archive Files dialog opens.

6. Select all required files and enter a number of files to be created.

   The Packager creates empty archive files. You must manually enter the actual product data.

7. Click Continue.

   Note: The original.sxp archive file is important for products to be installed on a target computer using their original setup program.

8. Create a subdirectory under the version directory and copy the original installation media into the subdirectory.
9. Save the response file for unattended installation in the version directory, or a subdirectory.
10. (Optional) Create a script to modify the response file when the package is installed on the target computer.

    This script must contain parameters that assist in modifying the response file for specific target computers. Import the script into the version directory, or one of its subdirectories.

11. Enter the names of the response file and the script for modifying the response file in the appropriate sections of the original.sxp file.
12. You must specify absolute path names. The specification must start with the internal "$(SxpSrvRelDir)" parameter (-> parameters). This parameter specifies the path name of the archive files.
13. Enter the installation and removal statements for the product in the appropriate sections of the original.sxp file. The following restrictions apply:
    • Maximum Path Length is 64 characters.
    • Avoid following special characters in directory and file names:

      	blanks  umlauts  $  \  /  ;  F  ´  "  *  ?  [ ]  #  { }  &
      

14. Register the packaged product, as described in Packaging and Distributing SXP and MSI Products.