Cannot install .mpkg files

I am trying to install the XCode tools from the 10.5 DVD, so it must be up to date, and also the same goes for the iPhone SDK.

An ctrl-click brings up the menu with "Open With > " and the only listed option is 'PackageMaker'. By selecting 'Other', it is possible to look for the installer app. But where is it normally found?

I just checked on another mac and "Open With" should show 'Installer'. So that is definitely part of the problem.

Another clue perhaps is that it shows the file with the extension '.mpkg' and I suppose it shouldn't. I know this is probably a Finder display option but I find it curious that it does that by default.

Another thing is that the context menu normally has the option of 'Show package contents', but in my installation of Leopard it doesn't. It did previously, prior to the upgrade.

So what might have happened to Installer.app, or what ever it is called? I did a search on the other mac, and nothing came up, so it must go under a different name.

Yep, did it after the install before posting here, and no issues found.

What I meant there is the show versus hide file extension...

"Customize button" - at what point is that visible? The start sequence of the DVD goes into first the language selection, then a selection of the location to install - ie HD, below that 'Options'. This is not selectable as the current OS version is newer than that on the DVD. I didn't see the customize button at any stage.

Is there no way to just install package files from the command line?

For some unknown (to me) reason, the OS now recognizes the .mpkg properly and when selecting open it launches the installer (this is after 4/5 reboots).

This means that the correct icon is now shown, and when ctrl-clicking on the icon in the contextual menu "Open with" now points to the default 'Installer'. The reason why it did not do before this I don't know. In any case, as suggested a package file can also be installed by selecting "System/Library/CoreServices/Installer", or the installer command via the terminal.

Remember not to confuse the system command 'install' with 'installer' - they are totally different.

So I tried both approaches and the terminal gave the following:
ronBook:Optional Installs ronanoc$ sudo installer -pkg "Optional Installs.mpkg" -target /Developer
Password:
installer: Package name is Optional Installs
installer: Installing at base path /
installer: The install was successful.

However the installer did not actually install the package and terminated very quickly. Perhaps it is because the developer tools for xcode were already installed in the same path and the command did not differentiate, but gave a 'success' command response all the same. I would think this message is incorrect, as in any case the command returned much too quickly.

Now back to the GUI, and it did not install correctly.
"The following install step failed: run postinstall script for CHUD.Contact the software manufacturer for assistance."

There is a discussion on this error here:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5645479

Upon deleting the /Developer folder and reinstalling, it solves the problem.

True, I didn't choose either. I backed up the /Users folder and went ahead (blindly). For emergencies, I still have another machine.

I was surprised at how many reboots it took (6 perhaps) - kind of reminded me of installing Windows XP and all the patches, well, ... not as bad but close.

This issue has been solved.

I still note that sometimes a .mpkg takes a while after startup to be recognized in Finder.