View source for NI Package Manager

The NI Package Manager (https://www.ni.com/en/support/downloads/ni-package-manager.html) is  NI's proprietary version of a Debian package manager software framework. 
Almost every NI Software is installed using NI Packages (*.nipkg).
A very handy feature is the possibility to define package dependencies incl. version numbers.

== Consuming NI Packages ==

The mostly known way of consuming *.nipkg files is the NI Package Manager GUI (%Programs%\National Instruments\NI Package Manager\NIPackageManager.exe on Windows machines). NI Package Manager GUI is registered as the default application for handling *.nipkg files during installation.

The GUI is an application providing easier access to the usage of the Package Manager. Generally speaking it is a Windows application wrapping the functionality of the underlying command line tool (%Programs%\National Instruments\NI Package Manager\nipkg.exe on Windows machines) and providing a kind of shop experience for the user.

'''INFO:'''
since NI Package Manager is used to install software to the computer, it requires administrative privileges to run. 

== Use Cases for uisng NI Packages ==
* Installation of NI Software (like LabVIEW, TestStand, ....) and required components
* TestStand Deployments
* Installation of general software packages incl. required dependencies

== Contents of NI Packages ==
A NI Package can consist of different contents depending on what kind of software needs to be distributed

* Distribution and execution of MSI installers
* Distribution of files and folder structures
* Distirbution of multiple nipkg files (Package of Packages)


=== Internal structure of an NI Package ===
An *.nipkg file is an archive file which holds a defined file / folder structure. Detailed information can be found at https://www.ni.com/docs/en-US/bundle/package-manager/page/package-components.html


== How to create nipkg files ==
There are different possibilities to create nipkg files; the choice which one to actiually use is dependant on your workflow.

=== Using LabVIEW Build script ===
Details to be added

=== Using TestStand Deployment Tool ===
Details to be added

=== NI Package Builder === 

=== nipkg.exe ===
Refer to https://github.com/mbilyk/NIPM-Tutorial/blob/master/README.md for details