This Window shows the paths where packages are installed by PackMan.
Each entry shows the Logical name of the path used in the package along with the location on disc it is mapped to.
The Show Definitions option button toggles the display between
showing the path used and the definition of the path in the Paths
file.
The Open button will open a filer window for the currently selected path. If the path contains the special "@" character it is not possible to open the path in this way so a message will be shown instead.
The installation paths cannot be currently changes through the PackMan
user interface so you have to use the following instructions if you
wish to change them. This is not recommended for anything but the Apps
and Manuals
paths.
The file Choices:PackMan.Paths
contains a list of mappings
from logical to physical pathnames. Logical pathnames are those used within
the package file. For example, System.310.Modules.CLib
refers
to a location within the active !System
folder without making
any assumption as to the physical location of that folder.
Each line of the paths
file consists of a logical pathname,
followed by an equals-sign, followed by a physical pathname.
These components must be separated by whitespace. For example:
RiscPkg = <Packages$Dir>.Info.@
Apps = <Boot$Dir>.^.Apps
System = <System$Dir>
SysVars = <Packages$Dir>.SysVars
Comments are introduced by a hash character. Blank lines are ignored.
Each logical and physical pathname acts as the root of a sub-tree and
applies to any file within that sub-tree. If two or more logical pathnames
match then the longest one is used. An at-sign is converted into the name
of the package to which the file belongs, so the file
RiscPkg.Control
from the package Foo
would
become <Packages$Dir>.Info.Foo.Control
.
In principle you are free to choose any mappings you wish and the package
manager will act accordingly. In practice, the scope for doing so is fairly
limited if you want installed packages to work afterwards. The best way to
ensure correct behaviour is to refer to locations indirectly using system
variables. For example, the mapping given above for System
will work even if the system folder moves.
One path that is freely changable is Apps
. This is where
applications are installed, and there is no requirement for them to be
placed in any particular location. However the location you choose should
not be used for any other purpose: if you want to mix applications and user
data in the same directory then create symbolic links to the applications.
If you supply a Paths
file then it takes precedence over
the default but does not necessarily replace it. Any paths that you do
not specify will continue to use the default mapping.
Be aware that if you change the Paths
file while there are
packages installed, you must make corresponding changes to the physical
filesystem (otherwise PackMan
will not be able to perform
upgrades correctly).
Warning: !PackMan and !RiscPkg have their own choices folder
with their own copies of the Paths
file. If you are
using both programs on your system and change the paths you should
ensure that Choices:PackMan.Paths
and
Choices:RiscPkg.Paths
paths are the same.