Managing Package Dependencies

OK, you've gotten through all the basics of package building and your ready for the advanced stuff.  Now, let's learn about package dependencies. First, what is a dependency?  Basically, its something you need -- a Package Dependency is something your package needs.  Here's a simple example:

• When a package ("Package A") uses subVIs that are part of another package ("Package B"), we say that Package B is a dependency of Package A.

We can manage the dependencies of the package we're building in the Dependencies page of Advanced Build Parameters dialog:

1) Open the Package Builder window and select the “Test Package Source” folder as your VI Package Source Folder. (Note that you obtained Test Package Source.zip in the Building your First Package exercise)

2) Under Advanced section, click on the Package Dependencies item in the tree, to open the Dependencies page.

3) To discover what our package's dependencies are, we need to press the Scan for Package Dependencies button, as shown below:

4) This will cause VIPM to scan all the VIs in your VI Package Source Folder to discover which packages your VIs are using (by calling subVI from those packages).

5) Once, the scanning process is complete, you will see a list of all the package dependencies that were discovered.  Press the Continue button to confirm the dependencies.

6) You will be returned to the Dependencies page of the Advanced Build Parameters dialog and you will see that the discovered package appear in the list of dependencies.

A Package Dependency is something your package needs.  For example: When your package ("Package A") uses subvis that are part of another package ("Package B"), we say that Package B is a dependency of Package A.

In order for your source to have dependencies on a package (“Package B”), it is assumed that some of your source code is calling VIs installed in LabVIEW that got there by installing (“Package B”).

Before you can build your package, please make sure that the package your source depends on is already installed in LabVIEW using VIPM and make sure you have declared this dependency in the Dependencies list.

You can add or remove a dependency to the dependency list by clicking the  buttons . This will open the Add\Edit Package Dependency Dialog.

If you have more advanced dependency requirements, you can edit the VI Package Configuration of your VI Package by pressing the  button.

In order to edit an existing dependency entry, click on the  button. You can also double-click on a package name in the list. This will open the Add\Edit Package Dependency Dialog.

Now, let's look at another, related feature: Package Configuration Management. 

Up: VI Package Building Guide