The FILES tab is designed to assist packagers in their task to organize the file related properties of components. Therefore, it beholds a control item to define the components basic directory as well as a file browser to import new files into, or remove already imported files from the components file stock. The number of files that are currently organized within the component is displayed at the right-hand side of the FILES tab label.
To Modify the Components Directory Property
When new components are created, their directory property is set to the INSTALLDIR defined for the main packaging project. To change this default, users click on the button at the right hand side of the read-only directory path input control, and open the Select a folder dialog. Please refer to the common dialogs section for more details regarding the handling of this dialog.
To Manage the Components Files
The lower area of the FILES tab contains a list view, displaying all files that have been added to the current component. The list is sortable by the name, version, and size column, switching between ascending and descending order by simply clicking once or twice on the desired column header.
With a right-click on any file, the context menu is displayed, revealing a substantial set of manipulation options along with the Go to Row option. Clicking this option loads the TABLES view, with the File table displayed and the row of the originally selected file marked for swift orientation.
To Import New Files into a Component
1.Somewhere inside the list view of files attached to a component:
a.Right-click and select Import file(s)... from the context menu.
or
b.Left-click to focus the file list, and hit Insert on the keyboard.
2.A Select files system explorer window is displayed. Browse to the file that has to be added.
Please note that it is possible to select several files by using the control key for multi-selection. However, adding a mixed selection of files and folders, or adding several folders is not available. To add the content of several folders to a component, the content of each folder has to be added in a separate step.
3.As soon as all desired files are selected, click Open to add them to the current component.
4.All files are automatically added to the directory that has been defined as root directory for the current component. The Select files dialog is closed and the list view of component files is updated to contain the newly added files.
To Define a File to be the Key Path of a Component
The icon displayed in the outer left column of the file list indicates if one of the files is marked as key path for the current component:
This is a standard file which has been added to the component
This file is marked as key path for the current component
Since only one file or registry value can be the key path for a component, setting this property for one file automatically removes it from the current key path object (file or registry value). To define a file as key path of a component:
•Right-click a file from the list, and select Set as key path from the context menu
or
•Double-click a file from the list, activate the checkbox "This file is critical for a given component (key path)" within the displayed FILE PROPERTIES dialog, and click OK.
The file icon is automatically switched to indicate the new key path status of the file.
To Remove a File
Users may trigger file removal by
•right-clicking a file within the list, and selecting Delete from the context menu
of
•left-clicking a file within the list, and hitting Delete on the keyboard
Either way, a confirm dialog is displayed, requesting the user to confirm the irrevocable file deletion:
•With a click on the REMOVE button, the file is actually deleted
•With a click on the DO NOT REMOVE or CANCEL button, the deletion procedure is aborted.
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Note: It is possible to suppress the confirm dialog by activating the "In future do not show this confirmation for delete operations" checkbox. However, deleting objects accidentally may cause serious consequences for the packaging project. Therefore, it is recommended to keep the confirmation as active part of the regular deletion procedure. |
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Be aware: Removing a file from a component actually removes the file from the whole packaging project! |
To Edit a File
Editing file properties is triggered by one of the following user activities:
•Right-click a file from the list, and select Properties from the context menu
or
•Double-click a file from the list
Either way, the FILE PROPERTIES dialog is displayed. Please refer to the help section regarding file manipulation to get detailed descriptions for this dialog.
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Be aware: Editing a file via the components file tab changes the file properties globally for the whole packaging project! |
To Rename a File
Renaming a file is triggered by one of the following user activities:
•Right-click a file from the list, and select Rename from the context menu
or
•Double-click a file from the list, and change the file name within the FILE PROPERTIES dialog
or
•Select a file from the list, and hit F2 on the keyboard to set the name into direct inline edit mode.
Please refer to the help section Rename a file for details regarding file name conventions and restrictions.
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Be aware: Renaming a file via the components file tab changes the file name globally for the whole packaging project! |
To Define a New File Operation
1.Somewhere inside the list view of files attached to a component, right-click any file and select New operation from the context menu
2.Select the required operation type:
a.Duplicate file: The file will be copied to another path
b.Move file: The file will be moved or renamed
c.Remove file: The file will be removed
3.The wizard contains additional configuration options which can be used to define the behavior and schedule of file operations.
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Note: After the file operation is created, it will appear in the OPERATIONS tab. The component view does not show file operations along with other files. |