RCP Packager


An Overview

Preparing an application for deployment can be a frustrating and time-consuming process for the developer. Often, installing an application into the proper directories and getting it to work correctly is also a slow process for the end-user. RCP Packager changes all that—the tool makes it quick and easy for a developer to build an executable installer for their Eclipse RCP application files.

RCP Packager is a functional component of the RCP Developer product that installs into the Eclipse IDE environment. Once a developer has created an Eclipse RCP application, they can use RCP Packager to easily create a self-contained installer that they can give to their customers to quickly install the application on the end-user desktop. Using RCP Packager, a developer can create a fully functional executable installer in minutes. The installer created by RCP Packager is a stand-alone product—the end-user simply double clicks on the executable and it launches and installs the RCP application so that it is ready to run.

Building an Installer Executable using RCP Packager

RCP Packager contains wizards that let the developer quickly create an installer package to deliver the application (“the deliverable”) to their customers’ desktop. The installer created by RCP Packager is a thin shell wrapped around the deliverable code. The deliverable can be a set of Eclipse RCP plug-ins, any Java Eclipse-based plug-in or the Eclipse RCP itself. The developer defines which code they want to include in the build, including the Eclipse RCP plug-in.

After creating the RCP Application, (see Creating a Sample Application) the developer would export the application to a directory, to ready it for packaging into an installer. This is done by using the Export RCP Wizard.  Once this is done, the developer then creates a new installer project using the New Installer Project Wizard. The developer can customize the installer and specify the messages that would be displayed to the end-user. Upon generation, the installer project contains an Ant script called  build-installer.xml. When this Ant script is run the installer executable is created. 

Benefits of using the RCP Packager

Using the RCP Packager to build and deploy the RCP Application has the following benefits:

  • The executable Installer is built automatically and saves time for the developer. 
  • The developer can customize what is seen by the end user in the installer, and this is done easily through the wizard.  
  • The installer code can be further modified by the developer, if needed. 
  • The end-user has a user friendly installer available, and with a click, the application is installed.