Frequently Asked Questions › About Variables, Parameters, and Client Parameters

About Variables, Parameters, and Client Parameters

Symptom:

What are the purposes and differences of variables, parameters, and client parameters?

Solution:

Variables, parameters, and client parameters are all variables. Parameters and client parameters are simply more specific terms for describing the Packager-specific variables that you must know.

• In general computing terminology, variables are frequently used in programs to represent a value that changes for different users, computers, or conditions. This value is used to control the operation of a particular function or program.
• In packaging terminology, the variables that you should know are called parameters. There are two kinds of parameters: internal and external.

  Internal parameters are generated automatically by the Packager during the packaging process.

  The user defines external parameters usually called client parameters, after the initial packaging process is completed. These parameters customize installations. They are wildcards or placeholders for values that identify a specific target computer. Examples are the IP address and the installation path for a specific target computer. Client parameters serve as a substitute. During the installation on a target computer, they are replaced by the values defined in either internal or external parameters.

The general term parameter is used to identify both client parameters and variables, because the functionality discussed describes both terms.