On 03/10/2008, at 8:31 AM, Martin Sulkowski wrote:
hi everyone
is there a difference wether I install an application in the
harddrive or applications?
If yes what is the difference?
Martin
It very much depends on the application. Without exception, those
applications which come as part of Mac OS X (iCal, Mail, Address Book,
Font Book, etc) MUST be installed in the Applications folder and must
remain there, they must be located at the top level of the folder (ie,
not in a subfolder), and must not be renamed. This also applies to
many other Apple-supplied applications, such as the members of the
iLife suite. One exception to all of this is iWork, whose applications
CAN be placed inside a subfolder.
The principle reason for this is that Mac OS X uses a system of
document verification called Receipts. It's instructive to have a
look inside /Library/Receipts on your hard drive. Receipts are package
files that are saved on your hard drove every time an installer does
its work, and is a repository for a list of the files and resources
which were installed for that application.
When an application such as Apple Mail is updated (as part of a
system update, for example), the presence of a Receipt package is
checked, and the information it contains is used to increase the
efficiency of the update (which files need to be replaced, etc).
PLEASE NOTE: If you move an Apple-supplied application out of the
Applications folder, the Receipt file will not know, and future
updates will not work as expected, if at all. This is very important
to understand.
Most other applications you will ever install into Mac OS X can be
installed pretty much wherever you like, whether they have a Receipt
file or not. Generally, applications fall under two broad
classifications: those which require an Installer and those which do
not (are installed simply by dragging to their location).
In some cases an Installer will offer you the chance to specify the
installation location; others will not. Some of this latter group also
require the application to remain in the Applications Folder, although
this is rare.
Hope this helps,
--
Peter HinchliffeApwin Computer Services
FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer
Perth, Western Australia
Phone (618) 9332 6482Fax (618) 9332 0913
Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to.
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