Additional Action Information

LaunchAnywhere

A LaunchAnywhere executable, or LAX, is a file used to launch a Java application on any LaunchAnywhere-compatible platform (all Windows, UNIX platforms, and Mac OS X). LaunchAnywhere enables end-users to double-click on an icon (Windows or Mac OS X) or type a single command (UNIX) to start a Java application. The LAX is also in charge of configuring the Java application environment by setting the classpath; redirecting standard out and standard error; passing in system properties, environment variables, and command-line parameters; and many other options.

The launcher looks at a configuration file, <MyLauncherName>.lax, to determine how the launcher runs. This lax file is created during the installation and is placed in the same location as the launcher.

Please see the list of LAX properties located in Appendix I.

Manifest Files

Manifest files are text files that specify a list of files and directories. The manifest file has a certain format (listed below). The format specifies the file's source, its destination (which is relative to the location of the action in the visual tree of the Files task), and optionally, which UNIX file permission it should have and if it should be placed on the classpath. At build time, this file is analyzed, and its contents are placed into the installer.

Manifest File Format

For files:

F,[SOURCEPATH]relative_path_to_source_file,./
 relative_path_to_destination_file
F,absolute_path_to_source_file,./relative_path_to_destination_file

To put files on the classpath:

F,absolute_path_to_source_file,./
 relative_path_to_destination_file,cp

To set a file's permissions on UNIX:

F,[SOURCEPATH]relative_path_to_source_file,./
 relative_path_to_destination_file,755

For directories:

D,[SOURCEPATH]relative_path_to_source_dir[/],./
 relative_path_to_destination_dir[/]
D,absolute_path_to_source_dir[/],./
 relative_path_to_destination_dir[/]

Examples:

F,$IA_HOME$/path/to/source/file.txt,./destination/path/
 thisfile.txt
F,/absolute/path/to/source/file.txt,./destination/path/
 thisfile.txt,cp,655
D,$IA_HOME$/path/to/dir,./destination/path/dir
D,/absolute/path/to/dir,./destination/path/dir