PackageMaker: restrict some pkgs to authorized users?

This isn't a real "techy" answer. Some of the compression protocol have password encryption capability. So if you compressed your package with a password, only those with the password could get to your package. Of course once it was open, anyone could use it, but it might be a simple first line defense that you could implement today.

Normally you wouldn't do that at the installer package level, but rather you'd implement it in the app you are creating the installer package for.

Does anyone know of a way to embed a serial number with an installation. I basically want to create a metapackage to reside on our server with all of the software packages it references. I don't know how I can distribute software without giving people the serial number, yet allowing them to download/install it. I don't want them copying the software either. Also, how does packagemaker handle multidisc installations.

Here was the intent:
- alias of metapackage on server sharepoint everyone has access to
- actuall packages on server volume that only the admin (myself) has access to
- users can use the metapackage to install all of our software, drivers, etc from one window.

Software like Filemaker 8 requires a password before it is installed.

Any thoughts or directions on where I can get info like this.

i have a similar question with packagemaker. i am somewhat of a lab administrator at my place of business and have lately been tasked to install Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac (for which we have an unlimited site license for) on all of the machines in my lab, which is about 20 or so. I was wondering if there was an easier way to install Office to each of the computers without having to manualy go through the install process ( ie. type in serial keys, click "next" several times...etc..) I have gotten a copy of ARD (apple remote desktop) to play around with and noticed that i can distribute software "packages" to all the computers that i have setup with ARD in my lab. However, when i try to make a software package of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac to distribute through ARD to all my machines in the lab, the install process doesnt work and none of the applications open (i noticed that none of the word, powerpoint, and entourage icons were showing up and OS X couldnt find an application to open them with). So what i was wanting to know is if there is either some other way to easily distribute Office or is there something im doing wrong with packagemaker? The computers in my lab are iMac g5's and the admin computer i use, that has the admin client of ARD installed is a powerMac g5. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Make sure you have the developer tools installed on the machine making the package. Also, make sure under Contents that you select to preserve resource forks.

just tried making sure that the resource forks were preserved and now im getting errors that either "there is nothing to install" or i actually get through to the install process once i make my package and it says that there was an error installing the package and that i should try installing again. im curious if im building the package incorrectly. i believe im putting all of the necessary files into a package_contents folder then within its designated subfolders (such as putting the microsoft 2004 folder into an "applications" folder and such), but for some reason i still cant get a package made that will install office 2004 on a labful of computers...and thx btw for your help so far, i really appreciate it 🙂

Did you make sure you have the Developer's tools installed on the machine that you are trying to make the package with? I would try a brand new package, create the folder for your package with the Applications folder inside, and then copy the Office 2004 folder into it. Make sure the Dev. Tools are installed and make sure resource forks are set to copy and try again. Does this work?

awesome, that seems to have done it, what i did was, i took the microsoft office 2004 folder directly off of the cd and put it into an "applications" folder in my package_contents folder and made a packing making sure to preserve the resource forks and it placed the main files exactly where i needed them with the icons as well, thx dude.

No problem - glad I could help out.

Jeff