The USB Software Locator uses the Mac OS 9 feature, Software Update, to download a USB driver from the internet, if a driver for a USB device cannot be found locally. This Toolkit provides the information, tools and examples for a developer to implement USB Software Locator support for their product.
A key point is that the USB Software Locator only provides support for devices where no matching USB driver can be found locally either in the ROM file or in the Extensions folder. USB Software Locator does not provide support for finding alternate software drivers, extensions or applications, if a matching driver is found locally. Such support is being considered for a future version of Software Update/USB Software Locator.
USB Software Locator ToolKit Contents
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The USB Software Locator ToolKit contains the following:
1. USB_SWUpdate_TN - The draft version of the USB Software Locator Technote - which describes the process for developers to make their drivers downloadable by the USB Software Locator.
2. FileCrusher 1.3d3 - Tool for creating the 'tome' archive file which contains the required software when multiple files must be installed.
3. MergeScriptMPWTool1.0d1 - MPW tool for merging the 'tome' file contents into the Installer script file.
4. Software Locator Switch - Control Panel to control whether Software Update looks at the USB Production Server or the USB Staging server for information on downloadable USB drivers.
5. SampleDriverInstallerExample - CodeWarrior project sample which demonstrates a complete USB module, shim and installer for an ADB device. In this case, the device is for the Anchor "Fishbowl" device. Note the MPW is still required, in order to run the ScriptCheck tool followed by the MergeScriptMPWTool on the Installer script. If only a single USB Driver file is to be downloaded, there is no need for an Installer script.
USB Software Locator Known Issues
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1. If you create a localized software entry for your device then use the corresponding localized release of Mac OS 9.0, the Update dialog presents the "Z International" English package rather than the localized package.
2. The version field on the Update dialog only displays the major release number and truncates the minor release value from the version string.
3. If you encounter the problem where the downloaded file is not being installed correctly, check that the binhex'd file is not getting re-binhex'd on upload or on download. AppleShare IP has the facility to automatically binhex the file on download, which could happen to a file that is already binhex'd. Software Updater will un-binhex the file, but if the resulting file is still a binhex'd file, then it will quit the download process. The symptom is that you have a newly downloaded file with the extension .hqx1.
