cpack(1) — CMake 4.3.3 Documentation

# cpack(1)

## Synopsis

    cpack [<options>]

## Description

The cpack executable is the CMake packaging program. It generates installers and source packages in a variety of formats.

For each installer or package format, cpack has a specific backend, called "generator". A generator is responsible for generating the required inputs and invoking the specific package creation tools. These installer or package generators are not to be confused with the makefile generators of the `cmake` command.

All supported generators are specified in the `cpack-generators` manual. The command `cpack --help` prints a list of generators supported for the target platform. Which of them are to be used can be selected through the `CPACK_GENERATOR` variable or through the command-line option `-G`.

The cpack program is steered by a configuration file written in the `CMake language`. Unless chosen differently through the command-line option `--config`, the file `CPackConfig.cmake` in the current directory is used.

In the standard CMake workflow, the file `CPackConfig.cmake` is generated by the `cmake` executable, provided the `CPack` module is included by the project's `CMakeLists.txt` file.

## Options

-G <generators>

  `<generators>` is a semicolon-separated list of generator names. cpack will iterate through this list and produce package(s) in that generator's format according to the details provided in the `CPackConfig.cmake` configuration file. If this option is not given, the `CPACK_GENERATOR` variable determines the default set of generators that will be used.

-C <configurations>

  Specify the project configuration(s) to be packaged (e.g. `Debug`, `Release`, etc.), where `<configurations>` is a semicolon-separated list. When the CMake project uses a multi-configuration generator such as `Xcode` or Visual Studio, this option is needed to tell cpack which built executables to include in the package. The user is responsible for ensuring that the configuration(s) listed have already been built before invoking cpack.

-D <var>=<value>

  Set a CPack variable. This will override any value set for `<var>` in the input file read by cpack.

--config <configFile>

  Specify the configuration file read by cpack to provide the packaging details. By default, `CPackConfig.cmake` in the current directory will be used.

-V, --verbose

  Run cpack with verbose output. This can be used to show more details from the package generation tools and is suitable for project developers.

--debug

  Run cpack with debug output. This option is intended mainly for the developers of cpack itself and is not normally needed by project developers.

--trace

  Put the underlying cmake scripts in trace mode.

--trace-expand

  Put the underlying cmake scripts in expanded trace mode.

-P <packageName>

  Override/define the value of the `CPACK_PACKAGE_NAME` variable used for packaging. Any value set for this variable in the `CPackConfig.cmake` file will then be ignored.

-R <packageVersion>

  Override/define the value of the `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION` variable used for packaging. It will override a value set in the `CPackConfig.cmake` file or one automatically computed from `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MAJOR`, `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_MINOR` and `CPACK_PACKAGE_VERSION_PATCH`.

-B <packageDirectory>

  Override/define `CPACK_PACKAGE_DIRECTORY`, which controls the directory where CPack will perform its packaging work. The resultant package(s) will be created at this location by default and a `_CPack_Packages` subdirectory will also be created below this directory to use as a working area during package creation.

--vendor <vendorName>

  Override/define `CPACK_PACKAGE_VENDOR`.

--preset <presetName>

  Use a preset from `cmake-presets(7)`.

--list-presets

  List presets from `cmake-presets(7)`.

-version[=json-v1] [<file>], --version[=json-v1] [<file>], /V[=json-v1] [<file>], /version[=json-v1] [<file>]

  Show program name/version banner and exit. If `json-v1` is specified, print extended version information in JSON format. The JSON output contains the versions for the CMake and its dependencies. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

  The JSON output format is described in machine-readable form by `this JSON schema`.

-h, -H, --help, -help, -usage, /?

  Print usage information and exit.

  Usage describes the basic command line interface and its options.

--help <keyword> [<file>]

  Print help for one CMake keyword.

  `<keyword>` can be a property, variable, command, policy, generator or module.

  The relevant manual entry for `<keyword>` is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

  Changed in version 3.28: Prior to CMake 3.28, this option supported command names only.

--help-full [<file>]

  Print all help manuals and exit.

  All manuals are printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-manual <man> [<file>]

  Print one help manual and exit.

  The specified manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-manual-list [<file>]

  List help manuals available and exit.

  The list contains all manuals for which help may be obtained by using the `--help-manual` option followed by a manual name. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-command <cmd> [<file>]

  Print help for one command and exit.

  The `cmake-commands(7)` manual entry for `<cmd>` is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-command-list [<file>]

  List commands with help available and exit.

  The list contains all commands for which help may be obtained by using the `--help-command` option followed by a command name. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-commands [<file>]

  Print cmake-commands manual and exit.

  The `cmake-commands(7)` manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-module <mod> [<file>]

  Print help for one module and exit.

  The `cmake-modules(7)` manual entry for `<mod>` is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-module-list [<file>]

  List modules with help available and exit.

  The list contains all modules for which help may be obtained by using the `--help-module` option followed by a module name. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-modules [<file>]

  Print cmake-modules manual and exit.

  The `cmake-modules(7)` manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-policy <cmp> [<file>]

  Print help for one policy and exit.

  The `cmake-policies(7)` manual entry for `<cmp>` is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-policy-list [<file>]

  List policies with help available and exit.

  The list contains all policies for which help may be obtained by using the `--help-policy` option followed by a policy name. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-policies [<file>]

  Print cmake-policies manual and exit.

  The `cmake-policies(7)` manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-property <prop> [<file>]

  Print help for one property and exit.

  The `cmake-properties(7)` manual entries for `<prop>` are printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-property-list [<file>]

  List properties with help available and exit.

  The list contains all properties for which help may be obtained by using the `--help-property` option followed by a property name. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-properties [<file>]

  Print cmake-properties manual and exit.

  The `cmake-properties(7)` manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-variable <var> [<file>]

  Print help for one variable and exit.

  The `cmake-variables(7)` manual entry for `<var>` is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-variable-list [<file>]

  List variables with help available and exit.

  The list contains all variables for which help may be obtained by using the `--help-variable` option followed by a variable name. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

--help-variables [<file>]

  Print cmake-variables manual and exit.

  The `cmake-variables(7)` manual is printed in a human-readable text format. The output is printed to a named `<file>` if given.

## See Also

The following resources are available to get help using CMake:

Home Page

  https://cmake.org

  The primary starting point for learning about CMake.

Online Documentation and Community Resources

  https://cmake.org/documentation

  Links to available documentation and community resources may be found on this web page.

Discourse Forum

  https://discourse.cmake.org

  The Discourse Forum hosts discussion and questions about CMake.