How is this different than using the "Show Package Contents" option in the Finder? - timdoug

When you select "Show Package Contents", you almost always find a file named Archive.pax, or Archive.pax.gz. This file is the archive that has the .pkg's contents (for example, System files you're trying to install, or whatever).

Hitting "Show Package Contents" opens up the package, but *does not* extract the files in the archive. That is the key difference.

Reply to This

Saturday, June 24 2006 @ 09:21 AM PDT

How is this different than using the "Show Package Contents" option in the Finder? - rowanwood

I usually use unpkg to see what is really inside the package, not the gibberish code that the package installer will convert into actual files. The Finder's "Show Package Contents only shows what is literally there (gibberish), not what is going to be installed. It is also possible to extract the actual files themselves, not merely peek inside.

I can usually get an idea of what files and where they are going to be installed. Since Apple's version of package installers does not generate a log of actual files installed (or at least, no log I can find...) this is the only way I can determine what garbage is being dumped into my system.

The only defect in upkg (as of version 2.1) is its inability to handle meta-package installers (mpkg). I hope this can be improved eventually.

Reply to This

Saturday, January 17 2009 @ 03:58 AM PST