Manage components

BladePack allows you to organize your product installation package into three layers: component, subcomponent, and shared component.

To see the component hierarchy for your product, click the Components tab in the project view.

Organizing an installation package into a component structure allows you to define Typical, Compact, and Custom installations. You specify whether each component or subcomponent is included in the Typical and Compact installations, and whether it is initially selected when users choose the Custom installation.

Use a shared component for those portions of your product that are shared by more than one component. A shared component is always installed with the subcomponent with which it is associated.

During a Custom installation, users can choose to install any components or subcomponents. When you mark a component Custom, the component is initially selected. The user can choose to include or exclude any components, except shared components, from the installation.

In most cases, the component level is sufficient to create Typical, Compact, and Custom installation options. For example, suppose you have created the following components (and no subcomponents) in your installation package and marked them as shown:
  • DataBlade® module. Typical, Compact, Custom.
  • Help. Typical.
  • Examples. Typical.
  • Debugging Support. Custom.

In this scheme, users install the DataBlade module, help files, and examples if they choose the Typical installation. If they choose the Compact installation, they install the DataBlade module only. If they choose the Custom installation, the DataBlade module and debugging support are preselected. They can choose to add help and examples.