Summary

Synopsis

This article discusses the Build Time Variables features in InstallAnywhere.

Discussion

Variables can have their values set during build time through build time variables. Similar to other standard IA variables, where $ is used to represent an IA variable like $IAVariable$, for build time variables, the @ symbol is used to identify build time variables such that a variable is represented as @BuildTimeVariable@.

Build time variables can be configured in three different ways, via:

The Advanced Designer:

TEST=value

@TEST@=value

Build <projectfile> -btv <filepath>

For example:

build.exe "C:\somefolder\My_Project.iap_xml" -btv "C:\MyPropertyFile.properties"

If there is a variable defined in the Advanced Designer as well as in the properties file, then the variable from properties file will be used.

Defining as Environment Variables:

Build time variables can also be defined as environment variables by using IA_BTV_ prefix in the actual variable name. For instance, if the build time variable name is MyVariable, then it can be defined as IA_BTV_MyVariable. This option is used to configure build time variables in case of command line builds.

Additional Information

Note: When using the Advanced Designer to configure a new build time variable, the build time variable does not get resolved after the project is built. However, after the build, if you go to Project>Variables>Build Time Variables section and without changing anything, click on the ?OK? button and then build the project again, the build time variable will resolve correctly. This is a Bug in InstallAnywhere reported to the Issue IOA-000066011.