Managing packages

Packages are containers for storing references to external binary files.

Packages allow you to manage binary files for applications. A package may contain one or more references to files. You can map a single package to one or more applications and then use the package in the steps of a request.

From a package, you create package instances that allow you to use package references in automation steps. You can add one or more references from a package to a package instance. When you create an instance from a package, the current package references and properties are added to the new instance. If you change the package later by adding new or editing the existent properties and references, all previously created instances are not updated with these changes.

A single package may contain different properties that can be overridden when you create a package instance, package-instance level or when you add a package instance to a step. While managing properties for packages, consider the following statements:

Property values assigned for a package override the default property values.
Property values assigned for a package reference override the default property values and the property values assigned for a package.
Property values assigned for a package instance override the default property values and the property values assigned for a package.
Property values assigned for a step that uses the package instance override the default property values, the property values assigned for a package, and the property values assigned for a package instance.

This topic describes how to create and modify packages.

To create a package

Go to Environments > Packages.
Click Add a new package.
In Name, enter a name for the package.
Click Create to create the package.
The Edit Package page opens.
In Instance name format, enter the mask for names of instances related to this package (for example, 0.0..0[#]).
In Next instance number, enter the value to be used in a mask for the next package instance name (for example, 1).
In the Properties section, add properties to the package.
In the References section, add references to the package.
Click Update to save your settings.

To add properties to a package

Go to Environments > Packages.
From the list of packages, click the appropriate package.
The Edit Package page opens.
To add existing properties to the package, perform the following actions:
1. In the Properties section, click Map/Unmap Properties
  The Select properties dialog box opens
2. From the left property list, move properties that you want to add to the package to the right property list.
3. Click Select Properties to save your changes.
To add a new property to the package, perform the following actions:
1. In the Properties section, click Add Property.
  The Create New Property dialog box opens.
2. Enter the necessary property data as described in Managing properties.
3. Click Create to save your changes.
Click Update to save changes to the package.

To add references to a package

Go to Environments > Packages.
From the list of packages, click the appropriate package.
In the References section, click Add Reference.
Specify the following details for the reference:
- In the Name field, enter the name for the reference.
- In the Method field, ensure that the File access method to a package is selected.
- From the Server list, select the appropriate server for a reference.
- In the Uri field, enter the server URL address for the reference.
  Click here to expand.
  
  Note
  
  The Uniform resource identifier (Uri) is a string of characters used to identify a name of a resource. The Uri is metadata and can be in any format, but the most common format is a URL. Depending on the packaging tool that you are using, you can add whatever you need. Properties should be in the format of the packaging tool. For example, for BladeLogic Server Automation, you can use ??PROP??. For BMC Release Package and Deployment, you can use ${prop}.
Click Create Reference to save your changes.

To override the property value for a reference in a package

Go to Environments > Packages.
From the list of packages, click the appropriate package.
The Edit Package page opens.
In the References section, click Edit for the appropriate reference.
The Edit Reference page opens.
In the Properties section, click Override a property.
The Override Property dialog box opens.
From the Property list, select the property for which you want to change the value.
Note

The Property list contains only those properties that you assigned to the package.
In Value, enter the value for the selected property.
Click Update Property to save your changes.

To edit a package

Go to Environments > Packages.
From the list of packages, click the appropriate package.
The Edit Package page opens.
Make the necessary changes.
Click Update to save your changes.

To create a package instance

Go to Environments > Packages.
From the list of packages, click Instances next to the appropriate package.
The Package instances page opens.
Click Add a new package instance on the right.
The Create Package Instance page opens.
Enter the following details for the package instance:
1. In Name, enter the name for the package instance.
2. From the References list, select the Include? check box for the references you want to include in the package instance.
Click Create to save your changes.

To override the property value in a package instance

Go to Environments > Packages.
From the list of packages, click Instances next to the appropriate package.
The Package instances page opens.
From the list of package instances, click Edit next to the appropriate instance.
The Edit Package Instance page opens.
To override the reference properties, complete the following steps:
1. In the References section, click Edit Properties next to the appropriate reference.
  The Edit Property Values dialog box opens.
2. Enter new values for the reference properties.
3. Click Update values to save your changes.
To override the package properties, complete the following steps:
1. In the Properties section, click Edit values.
  The Edit Property Values dialog box opens.
2. Enter new values for the package properties.
3. Click Update values to save your changes.
Click Update to save your changes to the package instance.

To assign packages to an application

Click the Applications tab.
From the list of applications, click edit for the required application.
Click the Packages tab on the right.
Click Add/Remove Packages.
The Select Packages dialog box opens.
For each package that you want to assign to the application, move the package from the list on the left to the list on the right.
Click Select Packages to save your package selection.