Packages helps you create installation and distribution packages. In this regard, it supports adding installer plugins as well as using flat packages formats. It lets you pick the contents of your packages, which may include applications, bundles, documents and folders.
The application comes with a welcome menu to help you pick a template for your project, which can be Distribution or Raw Package. By selecting to create a distribution, you can include various packages as well as use a welcome message and customize its appearance. A raw package, in turn, lets you install files at specific locations. In both cases, you can specify user permissions if they are necessary.
It is excellent that Packages works as an integrated packaging environment. In this respect, it includes various tools. There is a built-in WYSIWYG editor, which allows customizing the look of your distribution. For instance, you can personalize the title, background, welcome message, read me message, end-user license agreement and conclusion message. It even lets you distribute multiple localizations and preview the package interface in different languages.
In addition, there is a dependencies editor which lets you establish dependency relationships between your choices and even checks for looping errors. The requirements editor is another tool that allows defining simple requirements without needing to use code. Yet, in case of more complex requirements, it is possible to use JavaScript. Finally, the application supports signing distribution packages with certificates to avoid unauthorized modifications to their original contents. The resulting packages are in PKG format.
All in all, Packages comes in very handy if you need to create installation and distribution packages. Thus, it is most helpful for developers. Luckily, the product is freeware.
v1.1 [Jan 13, 2012]
- New: packagesutil tool to change numerous project settings from shell scripts or command line.
- New: Support of QuickLook Plugins by the Smart Location Detector.
- New: SCM Exclusion Rule now supports Git (.git, .gitignore) (for new projects created with version 1.1.1).
- New: A package item can be exported as a Raw Package project from a Distribution project.
- New: Packages executables are codesigned.
- New: Installation distribution is signed for Gatekeeper.
- Upd: Updated graphic resources for Retina displays.
- Upd: Updated OS requirements to take into account Mac OS X 10.7.4/5 and OS X 10.8.
- Enh: Improved compatibility of the Project Assistant with Mac OS X Restoration mechanism.
- Enh: Better Keychain lookup. But productsign is still to be used to sign a distribution/package for Gatekeeper.
- Enh: Improved support of Internet Plugins by the Smart Location Detector.
- Enh: Look for Project templates in ÷/Library/Application Support/Packages/ too.
- Enh: An error should not be reported when only the reference type for a script has been defined.
- Enh: Use the Menlo font in the JavaScript editor when available.
- Enh: The format of package identifiers is now enforced more strictly.
- Fix: The Embed checkbox of the Shell Script requirement was not behaving correctly in some cases.
- Fix: Improved the positioning/display of the Presentation window resize indicator.
- Fix: Downgradable status is now correctly based on the state of the checkbox instead of the existence of a key.
- Fix: The Project Reference icon was displayed in the Add button.
- Fix: Changing the reference type of the background picture was not taken into account as long as no path had been defined.
- Fix: Modifications to a project Comments would not be saved in a case.
Mall Creeps
