Paths to scan

During a reference installation, the Packager records the following files and directories:

• Files and directories added when the product is installed
• Files and directories deleted when the product is installed
• Files modified when the product is installed, based on size and date

During the packaging process, the Packager checks only those areas that are specified on the Paths to scan tab of the Configure Reference System dialog for changes, when you use the automatic method of packaging. On the Paths to scan tab, you can specify an entire drive or a specific path. If you specify a path, only that path is checked. A path name is interpreted recursively, meaning that the Packager checks for changes in the specified path and all of its subdirectories. For example, if you specify c:, the entire c: drive is checked. If you specify c:\winnt, the c:\winnt directory and all of its subdirectories are checked. User-specific data entries show a face on the icon.

To add any other directory to the path list, use the Browse button (...) or enter the directory name directly into the Path field. Note that removing a folder from the path list does not affect the Paths to exclude tab.

The Special Folder dialog lets you add or remove special folders from the path list. Removing a special folder from the path list automatically adds it to the list of available folders. Adding a special folder to the path list removes the folder from the list of available folders.

In general, additional and modified files and directories are copied completely to the product. The exception is ASCII files. For each ASCII file, you can specify that only the changes to the file are recorded. By default, changes to any file with a .ini extension are always recorded in this way.

Files and directories marked for deletion are deleted on the target computer when the product is installed.

If existing files or directories are deleted or modified on the Packaging Computer's reference system while the product is being installed, they can be restored only in the following cases.

• If the files and directories are removed during reference installation at the time scheduled for software installation
• If the files or directories were specified on the Backup files tab, and therefore were backed up

Important! If you do not specify a path on the Paths to scan tab, then changes made to the path during the reference installation are not recorded, and the path is not reset to its original state after the reference installation has completed.