POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility Developer's Guide

This document is the "POLYCENTER Software Installation Utility Developer's Guide," published by Compaq Computer Corporation in April 2001. It is intended for individuals responsible for packaging software products for OpenVMS Alpha or VAX systems.

The guide describes how to create installable software kits using the POLYCENTER Software Installation utility, covering:

• Product Description Files (PDFs): These text files use Product Description Language (PDL) to define product components (files, directories, accounts, etc.), configuration options, requirements (software dependencies, hardware configurations), and installation actions.
• Product Text Files (PTFs): These optional text files provide product information, copyright notices, configuration choice descriptions, and message text for use during installation.
• Packaging Process: It explains how to use the PRODUCT PACKAGE command to create a .PCSI container file (sequential format) or a directory tree (reference format) from PDF, PTF, and product material.
• Kit Types: Details various kit types including Full, Operating System, Platform (product suite), Partial, Patch, Mandatory Update, and Transition kits, each with specific characteristics and usage.
• Key Concepts: Defines the Product Database (PDB) which stores information about installed products, managed objects (files, directories, etc., created and tracked by the utility), and how the utility handles managed object conflicts during installation or upgrade.
• Advanced Topics: Covers the use of command procedures within PDL statements for custom tasks, testing, and debugging (/LOG, /TRACE, /DEBUG=CONFLICT qualifiers), and provides flow diagrams for INSTALL, RECONFIGURE, and REMOVE operations.
• PDL Reference: Provides a detailed reference for individual PDL statements and functions, explaining their syntax, parameters, options, and descriptions, including their evolution across OpenVMS versions.

The guide also includes an appendix on migrating from the VMSINSTAL utility to the POLYCENTER Software Installation utility.