"Simple Build System" is a demonstration of how powerful it can be to combine InstallerMaker with AppleScript and a database. While this isn't a real "build system" for an installer, it does have a lot of the "guts" that you would need to create a real build system.
How It Works: InstallerMaker maintains two bytes of data called a "user tag". The tag belongs to you, and you can set its value to anything that two bytes can hold. You can set the value through the "Get Info" dialog for a selected item, or by using AppleScript or some other scripting environment. In turn, you can get back your user tag for an item in an AppleScript, or test for it from within our "IMid" code resource at install time.
This example uses the contents of the "user tag" to hold a key value for a record in a FileMaker 2.1 database. In this early version of the system, we supply two scripts that link an arbitrary InstallerMaker archive to a database.
Parts of the System: Currently, our simple system has three parts.
"Build DBMS": A simple FileMaker Pro 2.1 template that has some data fields, and a "Key" field that FileMaker Pro automatically fills in when a record is created.
"Register in DBMS": an AppleScript that takes any items that you've selected in an InstallerMaker archive, and registers them into the "Build DBMS" database. It does this by asking InstallerMaker for information about an item, creating a new record in the FileMaker Pro database, initializing the new record using the item data, and then stashing the "Key" number in the FileMaker Pro database in the "user tag" of the item in the InstallerMaker archive.
"Find in Build DBMS": an AppleScript that takes the selection in your InstallerMaker archive and checks to see if its "user tag" matches a record in "Build DBMS"; if it does, it will bring FileMaker Pro to the front and display the corresponding record.
How to Use It: Open up the "Build DBMS" file in FileMaker Pro, and start working in your favorite InstallerMaker archive. If you run the "Register" script, you'll create new entries, which will be linked back into your archive via the contents of the "user tag".
What's It Good For: Not much! This is not a real build system, and you won't hear us claiming that it is. We've done this to help our users [currently, our testers] learn how to script InstallerMaker, and to show some of the features in InstallerMaker that would be useful to someone creating a real build system.
Use this example to help you learn how to script our product, and for ideas for doing a system of your own. Since this is a simple example, we are certain that you can easily find any number of bugs and other defects in its scripts. We'd love to hear what you think, but Aladdin Systems does not promise to update or fix this system. Which brings us to our usual words to the wise....
LEGAL FUN STUFF:
This source code is (c) 1995-1997 Aladdin Systems, Inc. You are free to use it in connection with your own products and distribute it in either source code or object code form. However, this source code and accompanying written materials (including instructions for use) are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Further, Aladdin Systems does not warrant, or make representations regarding the use, or the results of the use, of the source code or written materials in terms of correctness, accuracy, reliability, currentness, orotherwise. No oral or written information or advice given by Aladdin Systems or its employees shall create a warranty, and you may not rely on such information or advice.
Neither Aladdin Systems nor anyone else who has been involved with the creation, production, or delivery of the source code shall be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages (including damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, and the like) arising out of the use or the inability to use the source code even if Aladdin Systems has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages or the limitations of duration of implied warranty, the above limitations may not apply to you.
FINALLY...
Have fun with this demo application of InstallerMaker scripting. While we can't promise you that this example will solve all your problems or answer all your questions, we do hope it helps you get started. Send your questions to dev.support@aladdinsys.com, or call us at 408-761-6200, and we'll try to help you get to next level.
