How to create a simple installation file

The simplest installation file is one which bundles the files of an application, and installs them to a specified location on the Symbian OS phone. The installation will not support multilingual files, secure installation, or display text or run a program at install time. The process is:

1. Create a text file with extension .pkg.

2. Specify the package header. In the simplest installation this consists of the application’s name, its UID, and its major, minor and build numbers.

3. Specify the source location of files which should be installed and their destination on the target machine.

4. Invoke the Installation File Generator on the package file.

The project file for a minimal installation is provided in epoc32ex\ToolsAndUtilities\HelloWorld.pkg. A listing of the file is given below:

#{"Minimal application"},(0x10004299),1,0,0
; Only two files to install for the minimal application
"HelloWorld.app"-"!:\system\apps\HelloWorld\HelloWorld.app"
"HelloWorld.rsc"-"!:\system\apps\HelloWorld\HelloWorld.rsc"

The package header defines the application’s name “Minimal application”, UID (0x10004299) ,major and minor build numbers (1 , 0) and the build number (0). The second line, preceded by a semi-colon, is a comment. The final two lines specify the location of the files which should be put in the installation file, and their destination on the target machine.

To create the installation file HelloWorld.sis, invoke the Installation File Generator on the package file:

makesis HelloWorld.pkg

HelloWorld.sis can then be installed on the target machine. After installation the application may be run by selecting the HelloWorld icon on the extras bar.

• The UID is a unique number, used by Symbian OS to specify the application. For more information on the UID, review the documentation for your SDK (C++, OPL, Java).

• Relative path names should be used to specify source files. By default .sis files are compressed. If the NOCOMPRESS option is set then the Software Installer uses the filename directly. The .sis file will have a relative path which will result in a "Bad name" error when the .sis file is installed. This will happen with the PC installer and Symbian OS installer. The full path should be specified, as the .pkg file will result in a "Bad name" error when the .sis file is installed.

• The application's major and minor version numbers are required for version control (e.g. AppName 3.1 specifies a major build 3, and minor build 1).

• The build number is generally incremented whenever the component is rebuilt.

• Lines preceded by a semicolon are comments. These are not used by the Installation File Generator as part of the build process.

• The target drive is (probably) selected by the user. This is indicated in the pkg file by specifying ! as the destination drive, rather than, for example, c:.

• If directories in the installation path do not exist, they are automatically created by the Symbian OS Installer.