Comments on: Software Update Downloader

By: systemsboy

systemsboy — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:26:18 +0000

Huh. Very cool tip, but I’m having trouble getting it to work. I’ve created /Contents/Packages at the same level as the .dist, but it still doesn’t see the packages (i.e., Show Files does not generate a file listing) and installation still fails. I’ve checked the log, but it doesn’t tell me where it’s looking, or, rather, it seems to be trying to look within the .dist.

In fact, I can’t get any of these .dist files to work, which is the crux of the problem. If you could supply a bit more information on how you got this to work, that’d be great, because it sounds very useful.

Thanks.

-systemsboy

By: Rodrigo G

Rodrigo G — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 18:30:41 +0000

(sorry for my english, i’m from Argentina)

for bundles (like FinalCut) make a /Contents/Packages/ directory and put the files there, leaving the .dist
or during the installation, check the log, it will show the path required for the files

By: David

David — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:32:18 +0000

Thanks for the putting together the script, for your help and for the realism in this situation. It’s always good to be open to the state of “not knowing” and awe in the face of the mystery of it all.

Cheers!

By: systemsboy

systemsboy — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:12:12 +0000

My guess here is that the majority of those packages are simply drivers for various printers, and that their installation order is unimportant. However, I would also guess that the MakeQueuesScripts.pkg does some printer setup once the updates have occurred. I would probably run it last. If you wanted to be safe, you could run it before and after the driver update packages.
These are, of course, only educated guesses.

To be honest, I’ve come across Software Update bundles in the past — particularly ones for the Final Cut Suite — that can’t be installed by hand, and that must be installed via the Software Update mechanism. The telltale sign in these cases is that the Installer app simply refuses to install them. This was true even using 10.5′s “Install and Keep” functionality (which is what I’m trying to mimic here), and will likely be true with some 10.6 updates as well. The bottom line is that there are some things that will need to be installed the old fashioned way using Software Update. So if you’re unsure, or having troubles, just do that. It’s always the safe bet.

Cheers!

-systemsboy

By: David

David — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:59:54 +0000

Thanks for your input.
I wondered if there might be a way to run just one package.
As you alluded to, I found that the .dist file didn’t do anything except produce a message in the installation window saying “The installation failed. The Installer could not install the software. The Installer could not install the software because there was no software found to install.” Too bad, because the other packages are sitting right under its nose in the same folder!

So I have one other question, if you wouldn’t mind taking the time:

Given the slew of packages to install, do you know if it matters what order I install them? I suspect that it doesn’t matter, based on what I tried.
I also see that one of the packages is called “MakeQueuesScript.pkg”. I’m wondering if I should do that one first? I did install it first and noticed that after being asked for my Admin password, I didn’t have to enter my password for the other remaining packages. But I don’t know if there was a causal relationship there or not. Any additional info you would be willing to share would be appreciated. Thanks.

By: systemsboy

systemsboy — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:20:23 +0000

Yes, certain updates use a number of packages. In the case of the HP printer driver update, I believe each package represents a different printer model. Along with each set of packages there is also a .dist file. You should be able to use this to install the entire (or the appropriate) set of packages to your system. I say “should” because I’ve had mixed results with these. But try it first. The .dist file is used by Software Update to handle multi-package installs. If for some reason it fails when you run it by hand you can always install each package individually.

-systemsboy

By: David

David — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:26:59 +0000

I’m using 10.6.2 on a new iMac 21 1/2″.

I found that typing the following in the Terminal Application worked fine for me: softwareupdate -d -a.
Although there wasn’t a progress bar, it showed a list of what was downloaded and indicated in words to me when it was finished.

My question: When I check the Updates folder, for some of the updates, I see more than one package. For example, an Epson printer drivers update included 10 different packages. Would I need to open and install each of those packages? Is this because each update is particular to each computer according to what it needs, and I’m getting necessary pieces? I notice, for example, that Software update on my computer will indicate that I need current HP Printer Drivers, and the update is supposedly about 50 megs. However, when I go to Apple’s website, the HP Printer Driver update is well several hundred megs.

By: systemsboy

systemsboy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:39:39 +0000

Yes, unfortunately this only works in the command line, and doesn’t show in any graphical way. So, when used within the service, the -v flag is pretty useless. I wish there were some graphical way to get progress, but I’m not seeing one offhand.

-systemsboy

By: Luca Nalin

Luca Nalin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:02:05 +0000

You can see progress information by adding the “-v” argument:
softwareupdate -d -a -v

By: systemsboy

systemsboy — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:28:34 +0000

Chris,

To be completely honest, I’m not sure what will happen if you leave Software Update open. I’d be curious to find out.

If you want to be safe, though, I would close the Software Update app, then run the service, which will reopen Software Update when it’s done. Otherwise you run the risk of Software Update not realizing that downloads have been completed.

If you happen to try it with SU open, let me know what happens.

-systemsboy