Problem: -------- The "product" element is officially documented to be reserved for application distributed via the (Mac) App Store but the System Information application is using it as if it was allowed to all distributions. Side problem ------------ The format of the version string is completely inconsistent between Apple software components (and even within the same software application). Detail: ------- • According to the "Distribution XML Reference" documentation (https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/DeveloperTools/Referen...), the "product" element is "Used for distributing via the App Store.". When you visit the "Software > Installations section" of the "System Information" application (/Applications/Utilities), the Version column list all installations (App Store or not). For software that is not part of the OS or distributed via the (Mac) App Store, the cell is empty. This can be confusing to end-users. • In addition to that, there's no coherency when it comes to the format of the string displayed in the "Version" column (i.e. the string provided via the "version" attribute). e.g. AirPort Utility 6,2 (separator is ',') AirPort Utility 6.3.1 (separator is '.') Core Suggestions Configuration Data 747 (that's more a build number than a version IMHO) Gatekeeper Configuration Data 1,0 Gatekeeper Configuration Data 90 XProtectPlistConfigData 1,0 (it's always 1,0 which is an issue by itself). • Add to the confusion that some software components not distributed via the App Store are apparently built to include the "product" element (e.g. Oracle VM VirtualBox). Questions: ---------- If the "product" element is supposed to be for distribution via the App Store, how comes it can be used by apps not distributed via the App Store? Is there any plan to bring some coherency to the version values for the Apple components? Is there a plan to improve the way 3rd Party components are listed? Because right now, without the version value, the records are not really that useful (for instance, you cannot figure out the version history of installations). Radar: #27424761 _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. Installer-dev mailing list (Installer-dev@lists.apple.com) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: https://lists.apple.com/mailman/options/installer-dev/site_archiver%40lists.... This email sent to site_archiver@lists.apple.com