Inspect package and file properties

Updated: September 12, 2023

Using the QNX Software Center, you can inspect the properties of any package or file available for, or deployed in, an installation.

Note: To view all of the links displayed in the property dialogs, you must, in your web browser, be logged in to your myQNX account: https://www.qnx.com/account/login.html

Inspecting the properties of a package

To inspect the properties of a package displayed in any tab of the main screen:

  1. Click the package.
  2. In the Properties view, select one of the following categories:
Select: To view:
General Information

Name, version, provider, status (Package status), publication date, runtime subsystem, links to license and product information, and other general properties of the package.

Intellectual Property Copyright and patent information for the package.
End User License Agreement License agreement for the package.
Package Contents

Files contained in the package and detailed properties of each file.

See “Inspecting the properties of a file,” below, for details.

Release notes Release notes for the package, if applicable.
Package Dependencies

Raw dependencies (for instance, libraries) of the package as well as packages that the QNX Software Center will install to satisfy those dependencies.

On occasion, this pane may indicate that any one of several packages can satisfy a raw dependency. Suppose, for example, that either of two packages can satisfy a raw dependency for a package that we'll call Package A. In that case, you can choose one of the following approaches:

  • Do nothing and allow the QNX Software Center to decide which of the two dependency packages to install when you install Package A.

    OR

  • Determine which dependency package you prefer and then install it before installing Package A.

Inspecting the properties of a file

To inspect the properties of a file, you can use the Package Contents pane of the Properties view (see table above) or the Advanced tab:

Package Contents pane
The Package Contents pane lets you inspect the properties of any file in the currently selected package.
Simply right-click any file in the pane to perform the following actions:
  • inspect the file's package asset properties or file properties (see “Package asset properties versus file properties,” below)
  • open the file, if it's installed
  • open the directory that contains the file, if the file is installed
  • copy the file path to the clipboard
You can also configure the pane's column headings (Name, Subsystem, Status, etc.) to inspect a variety of package-asset properties for each file:
  • Right-click any column heading to hide, show, sort, or group properties.
  • Drag the heading of any column left or right to rearrange the data.
Advanced tab
The Advanced tab lets you inspect the properties of any file in an installation, without having to first locate or select the file's package.

Simply click the tab and do the following:

  1. Search or browse for the file:
    • To search, enter a string in the “type filter text” field.
    • To browse, right-click in the pane, then choose Group by Package or Group by Directory.
  2. Click the file, then go to the Properties view (or simply double-click the file) to inspect the file's package asset properties or file properties.
Note: You can also inspect the properties of files on your host or target by generating manifest reports. See the “Manifest Reports & File Lookup” chapter for details.

Understanding properties

For descriptions of the various properties displayed for files, see “Manifest report fields” in the “Manifest Reports & File Lookup” chapter.

Package asset properties versus file properties

For each file, the QNX Software Center can display the following property types:

Package asset properties
The properties of the file, as declared in the package to which the file belongs. Normally, the QNX Software Center retrieves this information from the myQNX server. If can't connect to the server, it will retrieve the information from local package data instead.
These properties are displayed whenever you choose Package Asset Properties; they are also displayed in the Package Contents pane of the Properties view.
Note:

The myQNX server may define newer, more accurate properties than local package data. Thus, we recommend you always use the QNX Software Center online.

If you have to use the QNX Software Center offline, you can still inspect the server-defined values of a file by using the QNX Software Center Portal on the QNX website: https://www.qnx.com/swcenter/

File properties
The properties of the actual file on disk. File properties are displayed only for installed files.

In most cases, the file properties of a file are identical to its package asset properties. The two property types may differ if, for example, you override the file provided by QNX Software Systems with your own file.

Note: To generate a report that flags modified, missing, or unexpected files in an installation, you can use the Verify Installation feature. See “Verify and Repair” for details.

Dismissing and restoring the Properties view

To dismiss the Properties view, click the X in the upper-right corner of the view. To restore the view, select Window > Show Properties View or select File > Upkeep > Reset Window Layout.

To inspect the properties of any package or file when the view is dismissed, right-click the item and select Properties.