CPack — CMake 3.17.2 Documentation

# CPack

Configure the binary and source package installers.

## Introduction

The CPack module generates the configuration files `CPackConfig.cmake` and `CPackSourceConfig.cmake`. They are intended for use in a subsequent run of the `cpack` program where they steer the generation of installers or/and source packages.

Depending on the CMake generator, the CPack module may also add two new build targets, `package` and `package_source`. See the packaging targets section below for details.

The generated binary installers contain everything installed via CMake’s `install()` command (and the deprecated commands `install_files()`, `install_programs()`, and `install_targets()`). For certain kinds of binary installers (including the graphical installers on macOS and Windows), CPack generates installers that allow users to select individual application components to install. See `CPackComponent` module for further details.

## CPack Generators

The `CPACK_GENERATOR` variable has different meanings in different contexts. In a `CMakeLists.txt` file, `CPACK_GENERATOR` is a list of generators: and when `cpack` is run with no other arguments, it will iterate over that list and produce one package for each generator. In a `CPACK_PROJECT_CONFIG_FILE`, `CPACK_GENERATOR` is a string naming a single generator. If you need per-cpack-generator logic to control other cpack settings, then you need a `CPACK_PROJECT_CONFIG_FILE`.

The CMake source tree itself contains a `CPACK_PROJECT_CONFIG_FILE`. See the top level file `CMakeCPackOptions.cmake.in` for an example.

If set, the `CPACK_PROJECT_CONFIG_FILE` is included automatically on a per-generator basis. It only need contain overrides.

Here’s how it works:

- `cpack` runs
- it includes `CPackConfig.cmake`
- it iterates over the generators given by the `-G` command line option, or if no such option was specified, over the list of generators given by the `CPACK_GENERATOR` variable set in the `CPackConfig.cmake` input file.
- foreach generator, it then
  - sets `CPACK_GENERATOR` to the one currently being iterated
  - includes the `CPACK_PROJECT_CONFIG_FILE`
  - produces the package for that generator

This is the key: For each generator listed in `CPACK_GENERATOR` in `CPackConfig.cmake`, cpack will reset `CPACK_GENERATOR` internally to the one currently being used and then include the `CPACK_PROJECT_CONFIG_FILE`.

For a list of available generators, see `cpack-generators(7)`.

## Targets package and package_source

If CMake is run with the Makefile, Ninja, or Xcode generator, then `include(CPack)` generates a target `package`. This makes it possible to build a binary installer from CMake, Make, or Ninja: Instead of `cpack`, one may call `cmake --build . --target package` or `make package` or `ninja package`. The VS generator creates an uppercase target `PACKAGE`.

If CMake is run with the Makefile or Ninja generator, then `include(CPack)` also generates a target `package_source`. To build a source package, instead of `cpack -G TGZ --config CPackConfig.cmake` one may call `cmake --build . --target package_source`, `make package_source`, or `ninja package_source`.

## Variables common to all CPack Generators

Before including this CPack module in your `CMakeLists.txt` file, there are a variety of variables that can be set to customize the resulting installers. The most commonly-used variables are:

`CPACK_PACKAGE_NAME`

  The name of the package (or application). If not specified, it defaults to the project name.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_VENDOR`

  The name of the package vendor. (e.g., “Kitware”). The default is “Humanity”.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_DIRECTORY`

  The directory in which CPack is doing its packaging. If it is not set then this will default (internally) to the build dir. This variable may be defined in a CPack config file or from the `cpack` command line option `-B`. If set, the command line option overrides the value found in the config file.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR`

  Package major version. This variable will always be set, but its default value depends on whether or not version details were given to the `project()` command in the top level CMakeLists.txt file. If version details were given, the default value will be `CMAKE_PROJECT_VERSION_MAJOR`. If no version details were given, a default version of 0.1.1 will be assumed, leading to `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR` having a default value of 0.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR`

  Package minor version. The default value is determined based on whether or not version details were given to the `project()` command in the top level CMakeLists.txt file. If version details were given, the default value will be `CMAKE_PROJECT_VERSION_MINOR`, but if no minor version component was specified then `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR` will be left unset. If no project version was given at all, a default version of 0.1.1 will be assumed, leading to `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR` having a default value of 1.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH`

  Package patch version. The default value is determined based on whether or not version details were given to the `project()` command in the top level CMakeLists.txt file. If version details were given, the default value will be `CMAKE_PROJECT_VERSION_PATCH`, but if no patch version component was specified then `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH` will be left unset. If no project version was given at all, a default version of 0.1.1 will be assumed, leading to `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH` having a default value of 1.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION`

  A description of the project, used in places such as the introduction screen of CPack-generated Windows installers. If not set, the value of this variable is populated from the file named by `CPACK_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION_FILE`.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION_FILE`

  A text file used to describe the project when `CPACK_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION` is not explicitly set. The default value for `CPACK_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION_FILE` points to a built-in template file `Templates/CPack.GenericDescription.txt`.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_DESCRIPTION_SUMMARY`

  Short description of the project (only a few words). If the `CMAKE_PROJECT_DESCRIPTION` variable is set, it is used as the default value, otherwise the default will be a string generated by CMake based on `CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME`.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_HOMEPAGE_URL`

  Project homepage URL. The default value is taken from the `CMAKE_PROJECT_HOMEPAGE_URL` variable, which is set by the top level `project()` command, or else the default will be empty if no URL was provided to `project()`.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_FILE_NAME`

  The name of the package file to generate, not including the extension. For example, `cmake-2.6.1-Linux-i686`. The default value is:

      ${CPACK_PACKAGE_NAME}-${CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION}-${CPACK_SYSTEM_NAME}

`CPACK_PACKAGE_INSTALL_DIRECTORY`

  Installation directory on the target system. This may be used by some CPack generators like NSIS to create an installation directory e.g., “CMake 2.5” below the installation prefix. All installed elements will be put inside this directory.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_ICON`

  A branding image that will be displayed inside the installer (used by GUI installers).

`CPACK_PACKAGE_CHECKSUM`

  An algorithm that will be used to generate an additional file with the checksum of the package. The output file name will be:

      ${CPACK_PACKAGE_FILE_NAME}.${CPACK_PACKAGE_CHECKSUM}

  Supported algorithms are those listed by the string(<HASH>) command.

`CPACK_PROJECT_CONFIG_FILE`

  CPack-time project CPack configuration file. This file is included at cpack time, once per generator after CPack has set `CPACK_GENERATOR` to the actual generator being used. It allows per-generator setting of `CPACK_*` variables at cpack time.

`CPACK_RESOURCE_FILE_LICENSE`

  License to be embedded in the installer. It will typically be displayed to the user by the produced installer (often with an explicit “Accept” button, for graphical installers) prior to installation. This license file is NOT added to the installed files but is used by some CPack generators like NSIS. If you want to install a license file (may be the same as this one) along with your project, you must add an appropriate CMake `install()` command in your `CMakeLists.txt`.

`CPACK_RESOURCE_FILE_README`

  ReadMe file to be embedded in the installer. It typically describes in some detail the purpose of the project during the installation. Not all CPack generators use this file.

`CPACK_RESOURCE_FILE_WELCOME`

  Welcome file to be embedded in the installer. It welcomes users to this installer. Typically used in the graphical installers on Windows and Mac OS X.

`CPACK_MONOLITHIC_INSTALL`

  Disables the component-based installation mechanism. When set, the component specification is ignored and all installed items are put in a single “MONOLITHIC” package. Some CPack generators do monolithic packaging by default and may be asked to do component packaging by setting `CPACK_<GENNAME>_COMPONENT_INSTALL` to `TRUE`.

`CPACK_GENERATOR`

  List of CPack generators to use. If not specified, CPack will create a set of options following the naming pattern `CPACK_BINARY_<GENNAME>` (e.g. `CPACK_BINARY_NSIS`) allowing the user to enable/disable individual generators. If the `-G` option is given on the `cpack` command line, it will override this variable and any `CPACK_BINARY_<GENNAME>` options.

`CPACK_OUTPUT_CONFIG_FILE`

  The name of the CPack binary configuration file. This file is the CPack configuration generated by the CPack module for binary installers. Defaults to `CPackConfig.cmake`.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_EXECUTABLES`

  Lists each of the executables and associated text label to be used to create Start Menu shortcuts. For example, setting this to the list `ccmake;CMake` will create a shortcut named “CMake” that will execute the installed executable `ccmake`. Not all CPack generators use it (at least NSIS, WIX and OSXX11 do).

`CPACK_STRIP_FILES`

  List of files to be stripped. Starting with CMake 2.6.0, `CPACK_STRIP_FILES` will be a boolean variable which enables stripping of all files (a list of files evaluates to `TRUE` in CMake, so this change is compatible).

`CPACK_VERBATIM_VARIABLES`

  If set to `TRUE`, values of variables prefixed with `CPACK_` will be escaped before being written to the configuration files, so that the cpack program receives them exactly as they were specified. If not, characters like quotes and backslashes can cause parsing errors or alter the value received by the cpack program. Defaults to `FALSE` for backwards compatibility.

## Variables for Source Package Generators

The following CPack variables are specific to source packages, and will not affect binary packages:

`CPACK_SOURCE_PACKAGE_FILE_NAME`

  The name of the source package. For example `cmake-2.6.1`.

`CPACK_SOURCE_STRIP_FILES`

  List of files in the source tree that will be stripped. Starting with CMake 2.6.0, `CPACK_SOURCE_STRIP_FILES` will be a boolean variable which enables stripping of all files (a list of files evaluates to `TRUE` in CMake, so this change is compatible).

`CPACK_SOURCE_GENERATOR`

  List of generators used for the source packages. As with `CPACK_GENERATOR`, if this is not specified then CPack will create a set of options (e.g. `CPACK_SOURCE_ZIP`) allowing users to select which packages will be generated.

`CPACK_SOURCE_OUTPUT_CONFIG_FILE`

  The name of the CPack source configuration file. This file is the CPack configuration generated by the CPack module for source installers. Defaults to `CPackSourceConfig.cmake`.

`CPACK_SOURCE_IGNORE_FILES`

  Pattern of files in the source tree that won’t be packaged when building a source package. This is a list of regular expression patterns (that must be properly escaped), e.g., `/CVS/;/\\.svn/;\\.swp$;\\.#;/#;.*~;cscope.*`

## Variables for Advanced Use

The following variables are for advanced uses of CPack:

`CPACK_CMAKE_GENERATOR`

  What CMake generator should be used if the project is a CMake project. Defaults to the value of `CMAKE_GENERATOR`. Few users will want to change this setting.

`CPACK_INSTALL_CMAKE_PROJECTS`

  List of four values that specify what project to install. The four values are: Build directory, Project Name, Project Component, Directory. If omitted, CPack will build an installer that installs everything.

`CPACK_SYSTEM_NAME`

  System name, defaults to the value of `CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME`, except on Windows where it will be `win32` or `win64`.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION`

  Package full version, used internally. By default, this is built from `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR`, `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR`, and `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH`.

`CPACK_TOPLEVEL_TAG`

  Directory for the installed files.

`CPACK_INSTALL_COMMANDS`

  Extra commands to install components. The environment variable `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` is set to the temporary install directory during execution.

`CPACK_INSTALL_SCRIPTS`

  Extra CMake scripts executed by CPack during its local staging installation, which is done right before packaging the files. The scripts are not called by a standalone install (e.g.: `make install`). For every script, the following variables will be set: `CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR`, `CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR` and `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` (which is set to the staging install directory). The singular form `CMAKE_INSTALL_SCRIPT` is supported as an alternative variable for historical reasons, but its value is ignored if `CMAKE_INSTALL_SCRIPTS` is set and a warning will be issued.

`CPACK_INSTALLED_DIRECTORIES`

  Extra directories to install.

`CPACK_PACKAGE_INSTALL_REGISTRY_KEY`

  Registry key used when installing this project. This is only used by installers for Windows. The default value is based on the installation directory.

`CPACK_CREATE_DESKTOP_LINKS`

  List of desktop links to create. Each desktop link requires a corresponding start menu shortcut as created by `CPACK_PACKAGE_EXECUTABLES`.

`CPACK_BINARY_<GENNAME>`

  CPack generated options for binary generators. The `CPack.cmake` module generates (when `CPACK_GENERATOR` is not set) a set of CMake options (see CMake `option()` command) which may then be used to select the CPack generator(s) to be used when building the `package` target or when running `cpack` without the `-G` option.