Application Packaging Developer's Guide

Packaging Commands, Files, and Scripts

The purpose of this section is to describe the commands, files, and scripts you might use when manipulating packages. They are described in man pages and in detail throughout this book, in relation to the specific task they perform.

The table below shows the commands available to help you build, verify, install, and obtain information about a package.

Table 1–1 Packaging Commands


Function	Command	Description	For More Information, Go To ...
Create packages	pkgproto(1)	Generate a `prototype` file for input to the `pkgmk` command	Creating a `prototype` File With the `pkgproto` Command
Create packages	pkgmk(1)	Create an installable package	Building a Package
Install, remove, and transfer packages	pkgadd(1M)	Install a software package onto a system	Installing Software Packages
	pkgask(1M)	Store answers to a request script	Design Rules for `request` Scripts
	pkgtrans(1)	Copy packages onto a distribution medium	Transferring a Package to a Distribution Medium
	pkgrm(1M)	Remove a package from a system	Removing a Package
Obtain information about packages	pkgchk(1M)	Check consistency of a software package	Verifying the Integrity of a Package
	pkginfo(1)	Display software package information	The `pkginfo` Command
	pkgparam(1)	Display package parameter values	The `pkgparam` Command
Modify installed packages	installf(1M)	Incorporate a new package object into an already installed package	Design Rules for Procedure Scripts and Chapter 5, Package Creation Case Studies
Modify installed packages	removef(1M)	Remove a package object from an already installed package	Design Rules for Procedure Scripts

The table below shows the information files available to help you build a package.

Table 1–2 Package Information Files


Files	Description	For More Information, Go To ...
admin(4)	Package installation defaults file	The Administrative Defaults File
compver(4)	Package compatibility file	Defining Package Dependencies
copyright(4)	Package copyright information file	Writing a Copyright Message
depend(4)	Package dependencies file	Defining Package Dependencies
pkginfo(4)	Package characteristics file	Creating a `pkginfo` File
pkgmap(4)	Package contents description file	The `pkgmap` File
prototype(4)	Package information file	Creating a `prototype` File
space(4)	Package disk space requirements file	Reserving Additional Space on a Target System

The table below describes optional installation scripts that you can write that affect if and how a package is installed.

Table 1–3 Package Installation Scripts


Scripts	Description	For More Information, Go To ...
`request`	Solicit information from the installer.	Writing a `request` Script
`checkinstall`	Gather file system data.	Gathering Data With the `checkinstall` Script
`preinstall`	Perform any custom installation requirements before class installation.	Writing Procedure Scripts
`postinstall`	Perform any custom installation requirements after all volumes are installed.	Writing Procedure Scripts
`preremove`	Perform any custom removal requirements before class removal.	Writing Procedure Scripts
`postremove`	Perform any custom removal requirements after all classes have been removed.	Writing Procedure Scripts
Class Action	Perform a series of actions on a specific group of objects.	Writing Class Action Scripts