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Software Distributor Administration Guide: HP-UX 11i v1, 11i v2, and 11i v3 > Chapter 1 Introduction to Software Distributor

Using the GUI and TUI Commands

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The swinstall, swcopy, swlist, swremove commands each provide a Graphical User Interface and Terminal User Interface. Advantages of the GUI/TUI include:

  • You can quickly create and visually monitor software management tasks interactively

  • You can easily analyze the effects of tasks and retry tasks that fail.

  • You do not have to be familiar with a broad range of defaults, options, software selections, and other variables that are required to enter complex commands on the command line.

(Additional GUI interfaces are available if you have enabled remote operations. See Chapter 7: “Remote Operations Overview”.)

The Terminal User Interface

The terminal user interface lets you use the SD-UX GUI capabilities on systems with text-based terminals. With the TUI, you use the Arrow, Tab, Space, and Return keys to navigate.

Figure 1-3 The Terminal User Interface (TUI)

The Terminal User Interface (TUI)
NOTE: All examples for GUI commands in this manual also apply to the TUI.

Starting the GUI/TUI Commands

To start the GUI or TUI for swinstall, swcopy, or swremove, enter:

/usr/sbin/swinstall

—or—

/usr/sbin/swcopy

—or—

/usr/sbin/swremove

TIP: Put /usr/sbin in your PATH to avoid typing the /usr/sbin prefix.

The TUI starts by default if you have not set the DISPLAY variable.

To invoke the GUI and specify other command-line arguments at the same time, you must include the -i option. For example:

swinstall -i -s sw_server cc pascal

To invoke the swlist GUI, you must use always use the swlist -i option.

NOTE: You can also launch the SD-UX GUIs from HP’s System Management Homepage (SMH) or System Administration Manager (SAM) applications.

Window Components

The main GUI/TUI windows (Figure 1-4: “GUI Window Components”,) contain the following components:

Figure 1-4 GUI Window Components

GUI Window Components
Menu bar

Provides pull-down menus for File, View, Options, Actions, and Help. Each choice has additional submenus for more activities. Items in the menus may or may not appear, depending on whether selections are highlighted or not. Some actions may also be grayed out to show they are not available for a specific item.

Message area

Provides messages and system information.

View/selections

Describes the current software view and the number of items selected in the object list.

Columns

Headings for columns of information in the object list.

Object list

Lists software selections, bundles, products, targets, or other information regarding selections, analysis and details.

Opening and closing items in the object list

The Software Selection window object list is hierarchical: you can open each object in the list and show its contents. Objects in the list that contain other objects that can be opened have an arrow () after the name.

  • To open a subproduct, double click on it, or highlight the name and then select ActionsOpen Item. For example, to see the subproducts in the SD-DATABASE product, open SD-DATABASE by double clicking on it. The object list then displays the subproducts for SD-DATABASE.

  • To close an object and return to the previous list, double click on the first item in the list (..(go up)) or highlight the item and select ActionsClose Level.

When a product is opened, subproducts and filesets may appear in the same list. Only products are listed together at the product level.

Filesets are the lowest level of hierarchical objects managed by SD-UX. You can not view the contents of files, but you can view the list of files in each fileset and information about each file.

Marking Items in the Object List

There are two ways to mark an object in the object list:

  • Use the menu bar:

    1. Click on the object to highlight it.

    2. Select Actions→Mark for Install (or Mark for Copy or Mark for Remove)

  • Use the pop-up menu:

    1. Click on the object to highlight it.

    2. Right click to display the pop-up menu.

    3. Select Mark for Install (or Mark for Copy or Mark for Remove)

Flags (Yes, Partial or blank) show whether items in the list have been marked for an activity (see the Marked? column).

(For the TUI, mark items by pressing Space when the cursor is on the item and then press the m key. Unmark items with the u key.)

Preselecting Host Files

The defaults.hosts file contains lists of hosts that are used by the GUI/TUI programs. This lets you use preselected choices for source and target systems. These lists are stored in the $HOME/.swdefaults.hosts or /var/adm/defaults.hosts files.

For each interactive command, target hosts containing roots or depots are specified in this file by separate lists (hosts, hosts_with_depots). The list of hosts are enclosed in {} braces and separated by white space (blank, tab and newline). For example:

swinstall.hosts={hostA hostB hostC hostD hostE hostF} swcopy.hosts_with_depots={hostS}

When you use the program, dialog boxes that let you choose a source system from a list will display all hosts specified in defaults.hosts or remembered from a previous session. Once a source is successfully accessed, that host is automatically added to the list in the defaults.hosts file and displayed in the dialog.

If there are no hosts specified in defaults.hosts, only the local host and default source host appear in the lists.

If a host system does not appear in the list, you can enter a new name from the GUI/TUI program.

Software Selection Window

The Software Selection Window (Figure 1-5: “Software Selection Window”,) is the standard window for all SD-UX GUI programs. It features the standard menu bar, message area, and object list of software available for selection. Menu items are discussed in the following sections.

Figure 1-5 Software Selection Window

Software Selection Window

Session and File Management—The File Menu

The File menu is the primary tool for managing session files, searching, and printing.

GUI Session Files

Each invocation of one of the GUI commands defines a session. All session information—including the options used to invoke the command, source specifications, software selections, and target hosts—are automatically saved. This lets you re-execute the command even if the session ends before proper completion. (See “Session Files”.)

You can save session information into a file at any time by selecting the Save Session or Save Session As choice from the File menu. The Recall Session choice lets you import the settings from a previously saved session file. Clear Session resets all options and operands to their default values.

Each session is saved to a file for that command. For example:

$HOME/.sw/sessions/swinstall.last $HOME/.sw/sessions/swcopy.last $HOME/.sw/sessions/swremove.last

This file is overwritten by each time you start the GUI.

NOTE: When you re-execute a session file, the values in the session file take precedence over values in the system defaults file. Likewise, any command line options or parameters that you specify when you invoke the GUI take precedence over the values in the session file.

Performing Text Searches

The Search... choice lets you perform a text search of the active list in a window.

Changing Software Views—The View Menu

The View menu manages your window view preferences.

Columns...

The View→Columns... choice brings up the Column Editor dialog (Figure 1-6: “Column Editor ”,), which lets you reformat the columns for the current object list. All viewable object attributes are listed.

Figure 1-6 Column Editor

Column Editor

The editor displays values 1 through the total number of attributes, plus an Ignore option, which removes that attribute from display in the object list.

You can specify an attribute’s justification by clicking on the Left or Right button in the Justify column.

Set the column width by placing the cursor in the appropriate text field in the Width column, then entering the width (number of characters). Use an asterisk (*) to size the column automatically.

  • To apply the changes made to the object list, select Apply. The list is updated to reflect any changes made, and the Column Editor dialog remains open.

  • To apply the changes and close the editor, select OK.

  • To return to the original default values, select System Defaults.

  • To cancel any changes and return to the object list window, select Cancel.

  • To save the changes made for the next invocation of the application, choose ViewSave View as Default.

Filter...

Figure 1-7 Filter Dialog

Filter Dialog

The ViewFilter... choice displays the Filter dialog (Figure 1-7: “Filter Dialog”,), which lets you specify the type of filtering desired for each attribute.

The Operator menu button lets you specify the operator for a given attribute. The following table presents the operator types:

Table 1-3 Operator Types

AnyDisplays objects regardless of the value of the attribute.
MatchesDisplays objects if their attribute value exactly matches the value specified in the Value column.
NotDisplays objects whose attribute value does not match the value specified in the Value column.
Less ThanDisplays objects if their attribute value is less than the value specified in the Value column. Less than is defined as a lesser integer value or earlier in the alphabet.
Greater ThanDisplays objects if their attribute value is greater than the value specified in the Value column. Greater than is defined as a higher integer value or later in the alphabet.

 

  • For Matches and Not, use an asterisk (*)as a wildcard, and a question mark (?) to match any single character.

  • Select Apply to apply the changes made to the object list and leave the Filter dialog open.

  • Select OK to apply the changes and close the Filter dialog.

  • To return to the original default values, select System Defaults.

  • Select Cancel to ignore any changes made and close the Filter dialog.

  • To save the changes made for the next invocation of the application, choose ViewSave View as Default.

Sort...

The ViewSort... choice displays the Sort dialog (Figure 1-8: “Sort Dialog”,), which lets you specify a sort method for the object list. All viewable object attributes are listed. For each attribute, you can specify the type of sort desired.

Figure 1-8 Sort Dialog

Sort Dialog

The Priority column displays values 1 through the total number of attributes, plus an Ignore option, which excludes the attribute from the sort. A sort priority of 1 sorts the list first on that attribute.

  • To specify whether the sort is ascending or descending, select the Direction menu button.

  • To apply the changes to the objects list and remain in the Sort dialog, select Apply.

  • Select OK to apply the sort and close the Sort dialog.

  • Select Cancel to ignore any changes made and close the Sort dialog.

  • To return to the original default sort values, select System Defaults.

Save View as Default

To save any changes for future sessions, choose ViewSave View as Default. Any changes you made to your view preferences are saved in the following file, in which username is your log-in name:

/var/adm/sw/ui/preferences/username.prefs.

Changing Options and Refreshing the Object List—The Options Menu

The Options menu lets you refresh the object list and change the default values of options that control command behaviors and policies. Selecting Options→Refresh List updates the object list to reflect any changes.

Selecting Options→Change Options opens the Options dialog (Figure 1-9: “Options Dialog”,), which lets you change a limited set of options for the command. These options are changed only for the duration of the interactive session. To change options for subsequent sessions, you must save a session file (see “Session and File Management—The File Menu”) or edit one of the options files (see “Using Command Options”).

Figure 1-9 Options Dialog

Options Dialog
NOTE: Use caution when changing option values. They allow useful flexibility but can produce harmful results if changed to an inappropriate value. Use the online help and consult Appendix A to understand fully each option before you change it.

Performing Actions—The Actions Menu

Each Action menu in the GUI/TUI programs has a series of actions for that command. These actions vary according to which command you invoke. (You may have to click on an item in the object list to enable some of the actions that are grayed out.) The following actions are common to swinstall, swcopy, swlist, and swremove.

Open Item/Close Level

The Open Item or Close Level menu choices let you see the contents of a selected object or close it.

Each object list is hierarchical. Objects that have an arrow () after the name can be opened to reveal other items. For example, to see the subproducts in a particular product, you can open that product by double clicking on the object or by selecting Actions ->Open Item. The object list then shows a listing of the subproducts for that product. If you want to open the subproduct, double click on it and its filesets are displayed. (In the TUI, move the cursor to the item you want to open and click Return.)

When the product is opened, all of its subproducts (and filesets that are not part of a subproduct) are shown in the list. At the product level, only products are listed together. If the software view is Bundle and the bundle is opened, all HP-UX OS products that are wholly or partially contained in the bundle will be shown. When one of the products is opened, only subproducts and filesets in the open product and open bundle are shown.

To close an object and return to the previous list, double click on the first item in the list (. .(go up)) or select Actions->Close Level. (In the TUI, you must use Close Level in the Actions menu or press Return while highlighting the (. .(go up)) item.)

Add/Save Software Group

These choices let you save and re-use groups of marked software.

The Save Software Group menu choice opens the Save Software Group dialog (Figure 1-10: “Save Software Group Dialog”,), which saves the current list of marked software as a group. SD stores the group definition in $HOME/.sw/software/ or a directory you specify.

You can recall and re-use a previously saved group of software selections by using the Add Software Group menu choice.

NOTE: Software automatically marked due to dependencies is not included in a software group. Dependencies are recomputed each time you select Add Software Group. See “Software Dependencies ” for more information about dependencies

Figure 1-10 Save Software Group Dialog

Save Software Group Dialog

Change Source

The Change Source... menu choice opens the Specify Source dialog (Figure 1-11: “Specify Source Dialog”,), which lets you change the source for the software to be used.

Figure 1-11 Specify Source Dialog

Specify Source Dialog
  1. (Optional) To specify another host system, type a source host name, or:

    1. Click on the Source Host Name button. The system displays a dialog that lists all host system names contained in the defaults.hosts file ($HOME/.sw/defaults.hosts or /var/adm/sw/defaults.hosts).

    2. Choose a host name from the list.

    3. Click OK. The host name appears in the appropriate box in the Specify Source dialog.

  2. (Optional) To specify the path to the depot, type a new path, or:

    1. Click on the Source Depot Path button to display a list of registered depots on the source host.

    2. Highlight one of the depots.

    3. Click OK to make it appear in the Specify Source dialog.

  3. Click OK. The Specify Source dialog closes, and the Software Selection window displays the software contained in the depot you specified.

Change Target

The Change Target... menu choice opens the Select Target Path dialog (Figure 1-12: “Select Target Path Dialog”,), which lets you change the targets of your software operation. The Root Path button opens a list of target paths from which to select (Figure 1-13: “Shared Root Paths Dialog”,).

For SD-UX local operations, the target is always a directory on the local host. See Chapter 7: “Remote Operations Overview” for information about specifying remote targets.

Figure 1-12 Select Target Path Dialog

Select Target Path Dialog

Figure 1-13 Shared Root Paths Dialog

Shared Root Paths Dialog

Getting Help—The Help Menu

All the GUI and TUI programs have an on-line help system. Each screen, dialog, or menu choice has associated help instructions that explain the activity.

Figure 1-14 Typical On-Line Help Screen

Typical On-Line Help Screen

To get “context-sensitive” help for individual menu choices, fields, options, or buttons on the various windows and menus, place the cursor on an item and press the F1 key on your keyboard (Ctrl-F in the TUI). This displays specific help for that item.

To view overview information for each major screen, to get help on keyboard usage, or to view other product information, select the Help menu from in the menu bar.

Overview...

This menu item provides information about the currently active SD-UX screen. This includes a list of the tasks you can do in that screen and a short description of the different areas of the screen and links to related topics.

Keyboard...

This menu item brings up help on how to use the keyboard to control the application, covering topics such as selection, menu bar activation and traversal, dialog box traversal, etc.

Using Help...

This menu item displays information about how to use the Help system.

Product Information...

This menu item displays copyright and revision information for SD-UX.

XToolkit Options and Changing Display Fonts

The GUI commands support the following subset of the HP-UX XToolkit command line options:

  • -bgor -background

  • -fgor -foreground

  • -display

  • -name

  • -xrm

Note that the SD-UX commands do not support the XToolkit -fn or the -font option used to change display fonts.

SD-UX commands do, however, recognize most Motif™ standard resources when running in the X11/Motif environment, plus the following additional resources:

*systemFont

Specifies the variable-width font used in the GUI menu bars and other areas where a variable width font is applicable. The default size is 8x13.

*userFont

Specifies the fixed-width font used in all other GUI displays. This font should be the same basic size as the *systemFont only in the fixed width style. The default size is also 8x13.

Here is an example of how to change the size of your fixed width font from 8x13 to 6x13:

swinstall -xrm ’Swinstall*userFont: user6x13’

Here is how to change the variable width font style to 12 point HP Roman 8:

swinstall -xrm ’Swinstall*systemFont: \ -adobe-courier-medium-r-normal12-120-75-75-m-70-hp-roman8’

You can also modify the defaults file (in /usr/lib/X11/app-defaults) for each command with a Graphical User Interface so that a resource will be set each time you invoke a specific command. Here is an example of an app-defaults file for swremove:

swremove app-defaults

Swremove*foreground:  red Swremove*background:  white Swremove*userFont:    hp8.8x16b Swremove*systemFont:  -adobe-courier-medium-r-normal12-120-75-75-m-70-hp-roman8
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