OpenG.org Nov 2002 Edition
About the OpenG Package Installer
Using the OpenG Package Installer
Installing, Uninstalling, and Upgrading Packages
Interactively (All Platforms)
Programatically (All Platforms)
From Windows Explorer (Windows)
From a Batch File (Windows)
Using AppleScript (Mac)
Using Named Pipes (Linux)
OpenG Package Installer - "A better way to install LabVIEW tools"
The OpenG Package Installer (OGPI) is an add-on package, which allows OpenG Package (.opg) files to be installed onto a LabVIEW development system. The OGPI is the first of (and foundation for) several OpenG Package Tools (OGPT) to come. This package installer provides the basis for a framework to easily package, distribute, install, and manage myriad varieties of LabVIEW tools. The OpenG Package files are simply zip files with an .ogp file extension -- .ogp stands for "OpenG Package". The zip archive packages are created and extracted using a ZLIB based shared library. This shared library has been compiled for each platform: Linux, Macintosh, and Windows. OpenG Packages are therefore inherently platform independent, but their contents may target a variety of different platforms and LabVIEW versions. This allows OpenG developers to distribute a single file for all platforms. The package installer does all of the hard work, putting the right files in the proper places.
As an end-user, the OpenG Package Installer makes adding and removing LabVIEW tools easy, I mean REALLY EASY! In Windows it is as easy as double-clicking the package file and pressing the "Install" button in the subsequent package info dialog. Upgrading and uninstalling work the same way. These OS integration features will eventually be added to the Linux and Mac platforms, and hopefully very sooner than later. But for now, you can still use all the functionality of the OpenG Package Installer with an easy-to-use GUI available from the LabVIEW Tools menu.
As a package developer the OpenG Package Installer make creating cross-platform distributions of LabVIEW tools easy. At the moment there is no fancy user interface or "wizard" for creating packages, but rest assured, it is comming. For now, the OpenG Packages may be created from .spec files which are simply INI files that describe the package, its dependancies, and the files (and thier dependencies) that comprise the package. Fundamentanly a package consists of groups of files, each group having different file system destinations, as well as OS and LabVIEW version dependencies. If the dependency is not met, the file fgroup is not installed, this meanse that the file groups are selectively installed depending on the platform.
User Features:
- Install/Uninstall/Upgrade packages interactively or programatically
- Install/Upgrade package by double-clicking on them (Windows)
- Install/Uninstall packages in groups
- View a list of all packages installed
Package Developer Features:
- Build packages by double-clicking package .spec files (Windows)
- Build packages programatically or interactively
All Platforms
Complete the following steps to install the Application Builder.
Note Some virus detection programs interfere with the installer program. Check the distribution media for viruses before you begin installation. Then, turn off the automatic virus checker and run the installer. After installation, check your hard disk for viruses again and turn on the virus checker.
1. Unzip the Installation files to a temporary directory
2. Open "Install.vi" from the Explorer using the LabVIEW instance in which you wish to install the OpenG Package Installer.
3. Select the "Install" button
4. Read the LGPL and agree to its terms and conditions.
5. When prompted, mass compile the package installer libraries to avoid unsaved VI messages when the package installer is in use.
Launch LabVIEW after you install the Package Installer and choose Tools >> OpenG Package Tools >> OpenG Package Installer >> OpenG Package Installer from the menu. This will launch the OpenG Package Installer dialog.
Interactively - (All Platforms)
Package Installer Window
Use the OpenG Package Installer to install packages interactively. To open the OpenG Package Installer, from the LabVIEW menu, select: Tools >> OpenG Package Tools >> OpenG Package Installer >> OpenG Package Installer.
Installing Packages
The "Install New" button of the OpenG Package Builder will present a message box allowing you to select either "single package" or "folder of packages" (*Note that this does not recursively look for packages inside the folder). If you select a single package it will be installed; however, if you select a folder of packages, you will be presented with a dialog (show below) that allows you to filter the packages found inside the folder. Unselect packages that you do not wish to install and press the "OK" button to install the selected packages. Make sure that you scroll down and view the hidden packages if there are more than ten (10) packages found in the folder.
Uninstalling Packages
The "Uninstall" button of the OpenG Package Builder will be enabled if one or more packages are selected. When package are selected the "Uninstall" button will operate on all the selected packages. You will be presented with a dialog stating which packages are going to be uninstalled. Pressing the "Uninstall" button on the confirmation dialog will uninstall the selected packages.
Upgrading Packages
The "Upgrade" button of the OpenG Package Builder will be enabled if one package is selected. When a package is selected the "Upgrade" button will operate on the selected package. You will be presented with a file dialog asking you to locate a newer version of the package to be upgraded. Pressing the "Upgrade" button on the confirmation dialog will upgrade the selected package.
Package Info Window
The "Open Package" button of the OpenG Package Builder will present a file dialog allowing you to select a single package file. Once selected, the "Package Info" dialog will display information about the package, as well as providing install, uninstall, and upgrade, options (if applicable).
Programatically (All Platforms)
Packages may be installed, uninstalled, or upgraded programmatically by calling "OGPI Install Package.vi", "OGPI Install Package.vi", or "OGPI Install Package.vi" (respectively) which are all located in the .\project\OGPI\_OGPI.llb directory. These VIs will produce errors if anything goes wrong.
From Windows Explorer (Windows)
Double-clicking on a package file in Windows Explorer will open the package in the "Package Info" dialog. This will display information about the package, as well as providing install, uninstall, and upgrade, options (if applicable).
Right-click on a package and select "Install Package" to install the package or "Upgrade Package" to upgrade to that package (this will uninstall older versions first, if installed).
ActiveX (Windows)
Of course, the calls to the VIs "OGPI Install Package.vi", "OGPI Install Package.vi", or "OGPI Install Package.vi" can also be made from another application using the ActiveX VI Server.
From a Batch File (Windows)
An package may be installed, uninstalled, or upgraded from a batch file or the command line. Issuing the commands
Install
wscript.exe "<labview dir>\project\OGPI\rsc\ogpi_shell.vbs" <ogp file path> /install
Uninstall
wscript.exe "<labview dir>\project\OGPI\rsc\ogpi_shell.vbs" <packagename or ogp file path> /uninstallUpgrade
wscript.exe "<labview dir>\project\OGPI\rsc\ogpi_shell.vbs" <ogp file path> /upgrade
will launch the package installer in a separate process and return immediately. If you want to wait until the task is finished, use the cscript.exe script host instead of wscript.exe
Using AppleScript (Mac)
Comming Soon
From a Named Pipe (Linux)
Comming Soon
From the LabVIEW menu, select:
Tools >> OpenG Package Tools >> OpenG Package Installer >> About OpenG Package Installer vx.xYou will be presented with the dialog show below. Press the Uninstall button, and confirm to uninstall.