Document revision date: 30 March 2001

## POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility Developer's Guide

Begin | Index

Contents (summary)
Preface | Preface
Chapter 1 | Overview
Chapter 2 | Basic Concepts
Chapter 3 | Creating the Product Description File
Chapter 4 | Creating the Product Text File
Chapter 5 | Packaging the Kit
Chapter 6 | Advanced Topics
Chapter 7 | Product Description Language Statements
Appendix A | Migrating from VMSINSTAL to the POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility
| Glossary
| Index
| Figures
| Examples
| Tables

## Contents

Preface
Preface | Preface
Chapter 1
1 | Overview
1.1 | Features for Software Providers
1.2 | Coexistence with VMSINSTAL
1.3 | Creating an Installable Kit
1.3.1 | Plan Ahead
1.3.2 | Gather the Product Material
1.3.3 | Create a Product Description File
1.3.4 | Optionally, Create a Product Text File
1.3.5 | Package the Software Components
1.3.6 | Test and Debug the Installable Kit
1.3.7 | Example PDF and PTF for a Software Kit
Chapter 2
2 | Basic Concepts
2.1 | The Product Database
2.1.1 | Querying the Product Database
2.2 | Software Product Kit Formats
2.3 | Software Product Kit Naming Conventions
2.3.1 | Sequential Format
2.3.2 | Reference Format
2.3.3 | What Do the Fields in the Name Mean?
2.3.4 | More About the Version Field
2.3.5 | What Version Information Will the OpenVMS User See?
2.3.6 | More About the Kit Type
2.3.7 | Looking at Software Product Name Examples
2.3.8 | Input and Output Versions of the PDF and PTF
2.4 | User-Defined Logical Names
2.5 | Utility Defined Logical Names
2.6 | Managed Objects
2.6.1 | Creating Managed Objects
2.6.2 | Managed Object Conflict
2.6.3 | Preventing Managed Object Conflict
2.6.4 | Managed Object Replacement and Merging
2.6.5 | Managed Object Scope and Lifetime
2.7 | Creating a Platform (Product Suite)
Chapter 3
3 | Creating the Product Description File
3.1 | General Guidelines
3.2 | Defining Your Environment
3.3 | PDF File Naming Conventions
3.4 | Structure of a PDF
3.4.1 | Overview of PDL Statements
3.4.2 | PDL Statement Syntax
3.4.3 | PDL Function Syntax and Expressions
3.4.4 | PDL Data Types and Values
3.5 | Kit Types and Usage
3.5.1 | The Full Kit Type
3.5.2 | The Operating System Kit Type
3.5.3 | The Platform Kit Type
3.5.4 | The Partial Kit Type
3.5.5 | The Patch Kit Type
3.5.6 | The Mandatory Update Kit Type
3.5.7 | The Transition Kit Type
3.5.7.1 | The PCSI$REGISTER_PRODUCT.COM Command Procedure
Chapter 4
4 | Creating the Product Text File
4.1 | PTF File Naming Conventions
4.2 | Structure of a PTF
4.2.1 | Specifying the Product Name
4.2.2 | PTF Modules and the Relationship with the PDF
4.2.3 | PTF Modules Not Related with the PDF
4.2.4 | Including Prompt and Help Text
Chapter 5
5 | Packaging the Kit
5.1 | Description of the Product Material
5.2 | Files Required to Package the Kit
5.3 | Creating the Product Kit
5.4 | Listing the Contents of the Product Kit
5.5 | Extracting Files from the Kit
5.5.1 | Extracting Files by Name
5.5.2 | Extracting the PDF, PTF, or Release Notes
5.5.3 | Converting a Sequential Kit into Reference Format
5.6 | Displaying Information from the Product Database
Chapter 6
6 | Advanced Topics
6.1 | Using Command Procedures in PDL Statements
6.1.1 | Non-Interactive and Interactive Mode
6.1.2 | Packaging a Command Procedure
6.1.3 | Logical Names for Subprocess Environments
6.1.4 | Execute Statement Summary
6.1.5 | Processing Execute Statements
6.2 | Testing and Debugging Tips
6.2.1 | The /LOG Qualifier
6.2.2 | The /TRACE Qualifier
6.2.3 | The /DEBUG=CONFLICT Qualifier
6.2.4 | Installing Your Product on Older Versions of OpenVMS
Chapter 7
7 | Product Description Language Statements
7.1 | Product Description Language (PDL) Evolves Over Time
7.1.0.1 | Software Patch Kit Locations on the Internet
7.2 | PDL Conventions
7.3 | PDL Reference Section
Command 1 | account
Command 2 | apply to
Command 3 | bootstrap block (VAX only)
Command 4 | directory
Command 5 | end
Command 6 | error
Command 7 | execute abort
Command 8 | execute install...remove
Command 9 | execute login
Command 10 | execute postinstall
Command 11 | execute preconfigure
Command 12 | execute release
Command 13 | execute start...stop
Command 14 | execute test
Command 15 | execute upgrade
Command 16 | file
Command 17 | hardware device
Command 18 | hardware processor
Command 19 | if
Command 20 | infer
Command 21 | information
Command 22 | link
Command 23 | loadable image
Command 24 | logical name
Command 25 | module
Command 26 | network object
Command 27 | option
Command 28 | part
Command 29 | patch image (VAX only)
Command 30 | patch text
Command 31 | process parameter
Command 32 | process privilege
Command 33 | product
Command 34 | register module
Command 35 | remove
Command 36 | rights identifier
Command 37 | scope
Command 38 | software
Command 39 | system parameter
Command 40 | upgrade

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