[Req] How to trace app installed files?

**shrgawi** · 05-31-2008 11:53 AM

Hi,

I'd installed an App into my iphone and I want to know what files were installed and where so I can make a backup for them for future manual installation.

Is there any tool that shows the modification to the system files done by that app?

**shrgawi** · 06-01-2008 12:33 PM

anyone?????????

**shrgawi** · 06-01-2008 02:38 PM

anyone please????

Former Bender · 06-01-2008 04:13 PM

You can see what files are installed with an Application by opening this file:

/var/mobile/Library/Installer/LocalPackages.plist

When you open it with a plist editor you can see for each item what is installed including the path.

Check the item 7 in the screenshot.

**shrgawi** · 06-01-2008 10:13 PM

Great works man

Unfortunately this file shows only apps installed via installer.
Some applications used Safari for installation or it opens a self installation process, in that case how can we find those files?

Former Bender · 06-02-2008 06:29 AM

Are you talking about MobileSafari ?

If you used PXL files to install, you can find similar install script in the file itself. PXL files are Zip archives.

**TwistyValhalla** · 06-02-2008 07:19 AM

Problem is that most apps create cache or preference files AFTER the .app has been installed by installer and thus doesn't show up on the plist. Those files must be tracked manually.

**Jim Danner** · 06-02-2008 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by TwistyValhalla

Problem is that most apps create cache or preference files AFTER the .app has been installed by installer and thus doesn't show up on the plist. Those files must be tracked manually.

There we have an idea for a new app. An application remover.

**shrgawi** · 06-02-2008 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by XianLi

Are you talking about MobileSafari ?

If you used PXL files to install, you can find similar install script in the file itself. PXL files are Zip archives.

Actually I'm talking about +Arabtaller Pro+
I bought the app from it's official site .. the installer only install an application icon on Home Screen which by clicking it, it will guide you through the downloading and installation process.

Because I have a licensed app installed in my device, I don't want to download it every single time I restore my device.
That's why I want to backup my app installed file.

**Jim Danner** · 06-02-2008 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by shrgawi

Actually I'm talking about +Arabtaller Pro+
I bought the app from it's official site .. the installer only install an application icon on Home Screen which by clicking it, it will guide you through the downloading and installation process.

Because I have a licensed app installed in my device, I don't want to download it every single time I restore my device.
That's why I want to backup my app installed file.

Though it's not quite the same thing, you could use iBackup to copy the entire Applications and /var/mobile folders to your computer before you do any restore.

I wonder if there's a way to let the operating system log all write operations to the flash memory. If you could activate that type of logging during the installation and the first use of an application, you'd have the information you need. Does anyone know about this?