Create a package file based on the differences between the files in a reference directory and a directory which contains updated versions of those files.

Syntax

object.Create [oldfiles] [, newfiles] [, directory] [, exclude] [, options]

The Create method syntax has the following parts:

Part	Description
object	An object expression that evaluates to a Package object.
oldfiles	A string which specifies the name of the directory which contains the original version of the files to be stored in the package. This parameter is optional.
newfiles	A string which specifies the name of the directory which contains the updated version of the files to be stored in the package. This parameter is optional.
directory	A string which specifies the name of the installation directory on the target system. This parameter is optional.
exclude	A string which specifies one or more files which are to be excluded from the package. Wildcards may be used, and multiple files may be specified by separating them with semicolons. This parameter is optional.
options	A numeric value which specifies one or more options for creating the package. These options are specific to creating and updating packages, and are separate from those options specified in the Options parameter. This parameter is optional.

Settings

The settings for the options parameter are:

Constant	Description
apRecursiveUpdate	The reference and update directories should be recursively scanned for new, modified and deleted files. If this update option is not used, only those files in the specified directory will be included in the package. If the option parameter is omitted from the method, this option is selected by default.
apPartialUpdate	This is a partial update, therefore files missing from the new file directory should not be marked for removal from the target system.
apAlwaysReplace	Always replace changed files instead of creating a patch. The file on the target system will always be overwritten, regardless of its previous version.

Remarks

The FileName property should be set to the name of the package file that you wish to create. If this property is not set, a temporary package file will be created and the FileName property will be set to the name of that file. Note that if a package with the same file name already exists, it will be overwritten. If you wish to protect the package with a password, the Password property must be set before the Create method is called.

If the oldfiles parameter is omitted, then those files in the directory specified by the newfiles parameter will be added to the package and will replace any existing files on the target system. If the oldfiles parameter is specified, but the newfiles parameter is omitted, then those files will be marked for deletion from the target system. If both parameters are omitted, an empty package file is created.

If you wish to include multiple versions of a file, or files with the same names targeted for different operating systems, you must set the Options property and specify the apMultipleVersions option before calling this method.

An application method will be associated with each file that is added to the package. The possible application methods are: Create, Replace, Modify, and Delete. An application method for a given file is determined by this method through comparison of the files referred to by the oldfiles and newfiles specifications.

Example

'
' Create a package file, specifying that missing files should be
' ignored and this is a partial update (so no files will be
' removed from the target system)
'
Package1.FileName = strPackageFile
Package1.Password = strPassword
Package1.Options = apIgnoreMissing
nCreateOptions = apRecursiveUpdate Or apPartialUpdate


On Error Resume Next: Err.Clear
Package1.Create strOldFiles, strNewFiles, , , nCreateOptions

If Err.Number Then
   MsgBox Err.Description
   Exit Sub
End If

See Also

FileName Property, Options Property, Password Property, Progress Event