Patent ID: 6324691
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for generating custom distribution media packages for a suite of software components, said method comprising the steps of:providing an installation processing engine;abstracting an installation process for the suite so that each software component has associated therewith a component-specific data file, each component-specific data file including a collection of component persistent objects, each component persistent object defining either a particular characteristic of the associated software component or a command required for the installation of the associated software component, and the suite has associated therewith a process control file, said process control file including a collection of state objects, each of which defines a single step in the installation process flow, said process control file controlling the ordered accessing of the component-specific data files by the installation processing engine;including a link to a remote server site where new or updated component-specific data files and an updated process control file may be stored, said link being present on an original distribution media package which contains an original set of the component-specific data files, the process control file and the installation processing engine;selecting the components of the suite which are to be included in a new distribution package;identifying a medium on which the new distribution package will be created;accessing the remote server site;comparing component-specific data files present on the original distribution media with those at the remote server site;copying component-specific data files for the selected components and an updated process control file from the remote site if those component-specific data files have been updated since the original distribution media package was created;copying component-specific data files for the selected components from the original distribution media package if they have not been updated since the original distribution media package was created;updating installation data files, including setup data files, to reference files now resident on the new distribution package medium.