Expeditor Deployers: Using the global install handler

Install handlers are Java™ classes that are run by the Update Manager during the install, configuration, and uninstall processing of a feature.

Update manager can handle standard installation of features, plug-ins, and fragments without writing any Java code. However, if additional tasks are required to be performed during install, configuration, and uninstall processing, an install handler can be used to perform these tasks. An example of tasks that might be performed by install handlers include configuration file updates.

The client platform provides an install handler that can be used to perform updates to files present on the client system. The install handler provides additional capabilities beyond that offered by the default install handler provided by Eclipse. Capabilities provided by the install handler include the following:

Ability to modify rcpinstall.properties settings for single or multi-user for:
- bootclasspath
- PATH / LD_LIBRARY_PATH
- class path
- VM System properties
- VM
- Other properties
Ability to set locations of Virtual Machne (VM) that implements the Java specifications, RCP base location, RCP launcher location, provisioning manifest location and version
Ability to launch a native script or executable

Creating the install handler instructions file
The install handler processes instructions from a file named handler.properties that is present within the feature.
Creating instructions for desktop updates
The global install handler supports the creation of desktop-related objects.
Adding the global install handler to a feature
You can add the global install handler to a feature.

Parent topic: Packaging applications for deployment