Local <varList> Element

The local <varList> element is a child of the <installSteps>, <uninstallSteps>, <snapshot>, and <control> elements. This element declares a list of variables that can be used by the steps of the enclosing element. The values of the variables are defined at the point of declaration. They cannot be redefined.

The steps of the enclosing element can use the following variables and parameters:

• Locally scoped variables that are declared in the local <varList> element

• Parameters that are declared in the <paramList> element

• Component-scoped variables that are declared in the component <varList> element of the enclosing component

If a local <varList> variable has the same name as a component <varList> variable, the value of the local variable is used. In this case, the local variable is said to “hide” the component variable. Hiding is not permitted between local variables and parameters because their names must be distinct.

The local <varList> element has one required child element, <var>, which is a local variable declaration that includes a name and a default value. You can specify more than one <var> element.

Local <var> Element

The local <var> element is a required child of the local <varList> element and is used to declare a local variable name and its value.

The local <var> element has the following attributes:

• name – A required attribute of type identifier, which specifies the name of the local variable. The name must be unique among every other local variable and parameter declared by the enclosing element.

• default – A required attribute of type String, which is the default value of the local variable. This local variable can include the following references:

  • Other local variables that were declared earlier

  • Parameters

  • Component variables

  • Target host attributes

  • Session variables

  • Installed component variables