Lenovo ThinkPad SL300 - Manual (Page 42)

Filters
Filters automate a decision during the installation process. You typically use filters to obtain hardware-related
information from a target computer to determine if a specific module or set of modules should be installed.
The ImageUltra Builder program provides filters that check the machine type, machine type and model
number, hardware platform (mobile or desktop), and whether or not a computer is an Lenovo branded
computer. You can also develop your own filters if needed.
Filters are Win32-based programs that run during the installation process. In most cases filters query the
BIOS of the target computer, but they can query other devices that store identification information in a ROM
or EEPROM module. For example, you might want to check for the presence of a PCI modem before
installing a modem-related application program or you might want to check for a specific machine type to
determine which device drivers should be installed.
You can implement filters two different ways:
• Assign a filter to a menu item in either a base map or driver map by using the Filter tab attributes for the
menu item.
• Assign a filter directly to an application or device-driver module by using the Filter-tab attributes for
that specific module.
Using filters enables you to develop one map that works across many computer types. For information
about creating your own filters or information about using the filters provided with the ImageUltra Builder
program, refer to the ImageUltra Builder help system.
Utilities
Utilities are Win32-based EXE, BAT, or COM files that run during the installation process. For example, an
installer might want to run CHKDSK to determine the size and condition of a hard disk before any files get
installed. Utilities are copied to the service partition of the target computer during deployment, run during
the installation process, but never get copied to the active partition of the target computer.
You can incorporate utilities in a map to run immediately before the installation menus, immediately after the
installation menus, or as a result of a selection in the installation menus. You determine how the utilities run
and the order in which they run.
The ImageUltra Builder program does not provide any utilities. If you want to include utilities, you will
have to build your own utility modules.
To use a utility, you either assign a utility module to a base-map menu item or use the Before/After Menu
tab in the Map Settings window for base maps.
For information about creating your own utilities, see Chapter 8 “Preparing source files for modules” on
page 123. For more information about maps, see Chapter 6 “Map construction overview” on page 69 and
Chapter 7 “Creating maps” on page 107.
28 ImageUltra Builder Version 5.01 User Guide