PKG Example Scripts

pkg

And googling hasn't helped much, I'm trying to find some example shell scripts to help me figure-out an installer.pkg pre- / post-install scripts I've been ordered to build. I have very little knowledge of shell scripting and need to find something to work with. This project was not my choice, but was dropped into my lap and I'm stuck doing it. The app could be a drag and drop affair but my manager wants an installer.pkg, no, if, ands, or buts.

Anyway, I have no clue as to where to begin. I am most experienced in applescripting, not shell scripting. If someone could point me in the right direction I would appreciate it.

Edit:

• I need to import user saved "info" from any old versions.

• If the app was never installed, I have to put the app icon in the Dock (using emmett).

• How do I get the path to the installer at run-time so as to refer to path to emmett?

Best Answer

What's the task you're trying to accomplish? If you can provide requirements, it should make it easier to point you towards relevant examples.

For example, if you want to remove an existing copy of your application before installing the new one, you could use a preinstall script like this:

#!/bin/sh

# Remove existing copy of YourApplication.app from /Applications

if [[ -d "$3/Applications/YourApplication.app" ]]; then
   rm -rf "$3/Applications/YourApplication.app"
fi

The drive value is defined as "$3" because some information is passed along by the installer to its included scripts when those scripts are run by the installation process. (For more information, see the PackageMaker How-To available here and search on the page for $3)

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Foolproof way of extracting .pkg files

It's easy enough to create a shell script which checks for a few conditions and then takes the appropriate action.

I've put mine at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18414/bin/unpkg.sh but will copy the initial version below:

#!/bin/zsh
#
#   Author:     Timothy J. Luoma
#   Email:      luomat at gmail dot com
#   Date:       2011-12-29
#
#   Purpose:    extract .pkg files, either xar archives or directory
#               
#   URL:       http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18414/bin/unpkg.sh
#   
#   See also:  http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/34957/foolproof-way-of-extracting-pkg-files

NAME="$0:t"

    # Brief explanation of how program works
USAGE="$NAME is meant to extract package files. (Filenames must end in .pkg). Can handle both .pkg directories or xar archives.

Usage: $NAME /path/to/foo.pkg
"

    # in case of emergency, report error and exit
die ()
{
    echo "$NAME: $@"
    exit 1
}

    # if not given any input, explain how to use it
if [ "$#" = "0" ]
then
        die "$USAGE"    
fi

    # put whatever we get as an argument into a variable
INPUT="$@"

    # does the input actual refer to an existing file?
    # if not, exit
[[ -e "$INPUT" ]]       || die "$INPUT does not exist"

    # get the extension of the input. i.e. if we are
    # given "foo.pkg" this will just be "pkg"
EXT="$INPUT:e"

    # check to make sure that the extension is 'pkg'
    # because that's what we're looking for
[[ "$EXT" = "pkg" ]]    || die "$INPUT is not a pkg"

TYPE=`file -b "$INPUT"`

case "$TYPE" in 
    directory)
                gzcat "$INPUT/Contents/Archive.pax.gz" | pax -r

    ;;

    "xar archive - version 1")
                # Put whatever commands you want here
                :
    ;;


    *)
            die "$USAGE"    
    ;;

esac



exit 0
#EOF

zsh has been included in Mac OS X for several releases now. I prefer it over /bin/sh because… well, let's not get into a "my shell is better than your shell" war, because my shell would win :-)

In any event, zsh makes things a little easier and a little nicer, and it's included, so there's no reason not to use it, IMO. Especially for a OS X-specific script like this.

This was tested on 10.7.

Terminal Install – Guide to Installing .pkg with Terminal

/usr/sbin/installer

The installer command is used to install Mac OS X installer packages to a specified domain or volume. The installer command installs a single package per invocation, which is specified with the -package parameter ( -pkg is accepted as a synonym). It may be either a single package or a metapackage. In the case of the metapackage, the packages which are part of the default install will be installed unless disqualified by a package's check tool(s).

See man installer for the full functionality. Often

sudo installer -pkg /path/to/package.pkg -target /

is all that's needed. Here / is the mount point of Macintosh HD volume. -target accepts path like "/Volumes/Macintosh HD", or /dev/disk0 also.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Foolproof way of extracting .pkg files

Terminal Install – Guide to Installing .pkg with Terminal

/usr/sbin/installer

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