Before reading on, you should know some definitions used in this documentation:

• element aka tag: an instruction used to tell the package manager what to do. ie <install></install>
• attribute aka property: an additional value used to describe an element
• inline: code or text that is written in this file instead of coming from an outside source
• file: the name or location of a file to be used instead of "inline"
• location aka path: the location on the computer of a directory and/or file

There are also variables that may be used in place of a path.

• $sourcedir: The directory where the source files are contained (ie Post.php, Admin.php, etc)
• $boarddir: The directory where index.php is found. Usually one level beneath the source files are contained.
• $avatardir: The directory where the avatars may be found
• $themedir: The directory where the directories of the themes are located
• $imagesdir: The directory of the images for each theme
• $languagedir: The location of the directories of language files
• $smileysdir: The location of the smiley directory

package-info.xml All elements, unless otherwise stated, are not optional and contain no attributes.

• <package-info></package-info>
• Must encompass all other elements in the file.
• Attributes:
• xmlns: defaults to http://www.simplemachines.org/xml/package-info; optional
• <id></id>

• Contains the id of the package. Should be in the format of [username]:[package name]. For instance sleepy:LeetMod When submitting a mod to the mod site, the username should be your username from www.simplemachines.org
• <name></name>

• Contains the name of the package.
• <type></type>

• The type of package - "avatar", "language", or "modification".
• <version></version>

• The package's current version.
• <install></install>, <upgrade></upgrade>, and <uninstall></uninstall>

• Actions taken on installation. The elements and their attributes are the same for the install, upgrade, and uninstall elements.
• Attributes:

• for: What versions to install/upgrade/uninstall for. Comma delimited string with ranges such as "1.0-1.5,2.0"; optional
• from: Upgrade Only; What mod versions they are upgrading from. Comma delimited string with ranges such as "1.0-1.5,2.0"; optional
• Elements:

• <readme></readme> or <readme /> (for use with type="file" only)

• Filename of the readme file
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• lang: which language this readme applies to; optional
• parsebbc: whether or not to parse bbcode in the readme; optional; defaults to false
• type: "inline" or "file"; defaults to "file"; optional
• or (for use with type="file" only)

• Filename of a php file to be executed.
• Deprecated use in SMF 2.0, please use <database> in SMF 2.0 or higher
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• type: "inline" or "file"; defaults to "file"; optional

<database></database> or <database /> (for use with type="file" only)

• Filename of a database code to be executed.
• Only exists in SMF 2.0 or higher
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• type: "inline" or "file"; defaults to "file"; optional
• <modification></modification> or <modification /> (for use with type="file" only)

• Instructions to take for a modification.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• type: if "inline", you may use the <file>, <operation>, <search>, and <add> elements listed in the modification.xml documentation."inline" or "file"; defaults to "file"; optional
• reverse: reverse the instructions; "true" or "false"; defaults to "false"; optional
• format: this documentation only covers xml formatted modifications and it is recommended that you use this format; "xml" or "boardmod"; defaults to "xml"; optional
• <create-dir />

• Create a new directory.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• name: the name of the directory
• destination: the path of the directory where you want to create this new directory
• <create-file />

• Create a blank file.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• name: the name of the file
• destination: the path of the directory where you want to create this new file
• <require-dir />

• Require a directory and all files in it from inside the package.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• from: the path to the directory
• name: the name of the directory
• destination: the path of where you want to put this directory>
• <require-file />

• Require a file from inside the package.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• from: the path to the file
• name: the name of the file
• destination: the path of where you want to put this file
• <move-dir />

• Move an entire directory. May also be used to rename a directory by moving it to it's parent directory with a different name.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• from: the path of the directory you want to move
• name: the name of the directory
• destination: the path to where you want to put the directory
• <move-file />

• Move a file. May also be used to rename a file by moving it to it's parent directory with a different name.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• from: the path of the file you want to move
• name: the name of the file
• destination: the path to where you want to put the file
• <remove-dir />

• Remove a directory and all files in it.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• name: the name and path of the directory to be removed
• <remove-file />

• Remove a file.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• name: the name and path of the file to be removed
• <redirect></redirect> or <redirect />

• Redirect after install/upgrade/uninstall.
• Optional: Yes
• Attributes:

• url: the url to redirect to; Required. "$boardurl", "$scripturl", and "$session_id" are accepted.
• type: inline or file. Whether to use a file or inline text for redirect text.
• timeout: Time until the redirect occurs. Default: 5 seconds