mkinstallp Command

Purpose

Creates software packages in installp format.

Syntax

mkinstallp [ -d BaseDirectory ] [ -T TemplateFile ]

Description

The mkinstallp command allows users to create their own software packages for AIX®. Packages created with the mkinstallp command are in installp format and can be installed or removed with the installp command.

Files to be packaged by the mkinstallp command must be in a directory structure such that the location of the file relative to the root build directory is the same as the destination of the file after installation. For example, if /usr/bin/somecommand is to be installed through a mkinstallp package, the somecommand parameter must be in the buildroot/usr/bin directory when the mkinstallp command is run.

After the contents of a package are located in the correct directory structure, the mkinstallp command prompts for basic package data. This data includes the package name, requisites, descriptions of files to be packaged, and more. The mkinstallp command will then generate a template file based on responses given by the user. To prevent command-line prompting, template files can be created and edited directly by the user and passed to the mkinstallp command with the -T flag.

Flags

Item	Description
-d BaseDirectory	Specifies the root build directory containing the files to be packaged. If not specified, the current working directory is used.
-T TemplateFile	Specifies the full path name of the template file to be passed to the mkinstallp command. If not specified, the mkinstallp command prompts for package information and creates a new template file based on user responses.

Note: Do not use the .info directory located in the BaseDirectory to store a template file. The template file may be removed when you run the mkinstallp command.

Examples

This example demonstrates how to package the file /usr/bin/foo using the /tmp/packages directory as the root build directory.

First, create the directory structure by typing the following at the command line:

mkdir -p /tmp/packages/usr/bin

Then, type the following to create the file /usr/bin/foo:

touch /tmp/packages/usr/bin/foo

Then, type the following to create the package using the mkinstallp command:

mkinstallp -d /tmp/packages

For more examples, see the /usr/lpp/bos/README.MKINSTALLP file.

Files

Item	Description
/usr/sbin/mkinstallp	Contains the mkinstallp command.