About your software database

The software database for Workbench is located under the Sys Home sw subdirectory. If Workbench was installed using the use as an installation tool option, this directory contains several subdirectories for various distribution (.dist) files, with each subdirectory named using version numbers.

You can see your sw subdirectory structure using either Windows Explorer, or in the Workbench Nav tree, My File System, Sys Home as shown below.

Figure 49.   Software database is everything under sw
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 NOTE: Numbers of subdirectories and version number names in your sw subdirectories will be different, this is only a simple example. Do not manually create or rename subdirectories in this area for proper operation—instead, let the Software Manager automatically administer this database. 

For example, in the Niagara 4.0 installation (4.0.11.0), shown above, the software database has several versioned subdirectories, which are described in this example as follows:

  • 1.8.0.0.8 — Reflects the version of .dist files for the Oracle Java 8 “compact3” JRE for controllers (two files, one for PPC processor controllers and one for the ARM processor JACE-8000).
  • 1.8.0.31.0 — Reflects the version of .dist files for the Oracle Java 8 “Standard Edition” JRE for Windows platforms: two files one for 64-bit Windows and one for 32-bit Windows ( Niagara 4.8 and earlier).
  • 4.0.11.0 — Reflects the current Niagara release, by build number. Contains numerous Niagara nre “config” and “core” dist files, installed by the “installation tool” Workbench installation option. Also, after the Software Manager is first used, the contents of the build’s modules directory (module .jars) are automatically copied here too.
  • 4.0.25.0 — Reflects the version of .dist files for the QNX operating system for controllers, with four different .dist files.
  • 5.0.1 — Reflects a version of a few “prototype” Workbench help modules.
  • inbox — Provides a means for you to copy any installable file here, and have the Software Manager automatically create a proper “versioned” subdirectory for it. Or, if the correct subdirectory already exists, the Software Manager copies the inbox file(s) there.

As an equivalent to the inbox feature, you can use the Import button at the bottom of the Software Manager to add to your software database. For details, see “Software Import”.

When you add different-versioned installable files, the number of different subdirectories under your sw directory will continue to increase. By default, the Software Manager displays only the most recent version of any module as the Avail. Version.

 NOTE: You can select to install an older version of any module listed in the Software Manager, if available in your software database. Refer to “Right-click option to install earlier version”. Older software files (modules, .dists) are also useful in your software database when restoring a backup .dist for the controller, if the backup was made using a previous software release. You use the platform Distribution File Installer to restore a backup.