CMakePackageConfigHelpers — CMake 4.3.0 Documentation

# CMakePackageConfigHelpers

This module provides helper commands for creating config files that can be included by other projects to find and use a package.

Load this module in a CMake project with:

    include(CMakePackageConfigHelpers)

## Generating a Package Configuration File

configure_package_config_file

  Create a config file for a project:

      configure_package_config_file(<input> <output>
        INSTALL_DESTINATION <path>
        [PATH_VARS <var1> <var2> ... <varN>]
        [NO_SET_AND_CHECK_MACRO]
        [NO_CHECK_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS_MACRO]
        [INSTALL_PREFIX <path>]
        )

`configure_package_config_file()` should be used instead of the plain `configure_file()` command when creating the `<PackageName>Config.cmake` or `<PackageName>-config.cmake` file for installing a project or library. It helps make the resulting package relocatable by avoiding hardcoded paths in the installed `<PackageName>Config.cmake` file.

In a `FooConfig.cmake` file there may be code like this to make the install destinations known to the using project:

    set(FOO_INCLUDE_DIR   "@CMAKE_INSTALL_FULL_INCLUDEDIR@" )
    set(FOO_DATA_DIR   "@CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@/@RELATIVE_DATA_INSTALL_DIR@" )
    set(FOO_ICONS_DIR   "@CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX@/share/icons" )
    #...logic to determine installedPrefix from the own location...
    set(FOO_CONFIG_DIR  "${installedPrefix}/@CONFIG_INSTALL_DIR@" )

All four options shown above are not sufficient The first three hardcode the absolute directory locations. The fourth case works only if the logic to determine the `installedPrefix` is correct, and if `CONFIG_INSTALL_DIR` contains a relative path, which in general cannot be guaranteed. This has the effect that the resulting `FooConfig.cmake` file would work poorly under Windows and macOS, where users are used to choosing the install location of a binary package at install time, independent from how `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` was set at build/cmake time.

Using `configure_package_config_file()` helps. If used correctly, it makes the resulting `FooConfig.cmake` file relocatable. Usage:

1. Write a `FooConfig.cmake.in` file as you are used to.

2. Insert a line at the top containing only the string `@PACKAGE_INIT@`.

3. Instead of `set(FOO_DIR "@SOME_INSTALL_DIR@")`, use `set(FOO_DIR "@PACKAGE_SOME_INSTALL_DIR@")` (this must be after the `@PACKAGE_INIT@` line).

4. Instead of using the normal `configure_file()` command, use `configure_package_config_file()`.

The `<input>` and `<output>` arguments are the input and output file, the same way as in `configure_file()`.

The `<path>` given to `INSTALL_DESTINATION` must be the destination where the `FooConfig.cmake` file will be installed to. This path can either be absolute, or relative to the `INSTALL_PREFIX` path.

The variables `<var1>` to `<varN>` given as `PATH_VARS` are the variables which contain install destinations. For each of them, the macro will create a helper variable `PACKAGE_<var...>`. These helper variables must be used in the `FooConfig.cmake.in` file for setting the installed location. They are calculated by `configure_package_config_file()` so that they are always relative to the installed location of the package. This works both for relative and also for absolute locations. For absolute locations, it works only if the absolute location is a subdirectory of `INSTALL_PREFIX`.

Added in version 3.30: The variable `PACKAGE_PREFIX_DIR` will always be defined after the `@PACKAGE_INIT@` line. It will hold the value of the base install location. In general, variables defined via the `PATH_VARS` mechanism should be used instead, but `PACKAGE_PREFIX_DIR` can be used for those cases not easily handled by `PATH_VARS`, such as for files installed directly to the base install location rather than a subdirectory of it.

Note

When consumers of the generated file use CMake 3.29 or older, the value of `PACKAGE_PREFIX_DIR` can be changed by a call to `find_dependency()` or `find_package()`. If a project relies on `PACKAGE_PREFIX_DIR`, it is the project's responsibility to ensure that the value of `PACKAGE_PREFIX_DIR` is preserved across any such calls, or any other calls which might include another file generated by `configure_package_config_file()`.

Added in version 3.1: If the `INSTALL_PREFIX` argument is passed, this is used as the base path to calculate all the relative paths. The `<path>` argument must be an absolute path. If this argument is not passed, the `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` variable will be used instead. The default value is good when generating a `FooConfig.cmake` file to use your package from the install tree. When generating a `FooConfig.cmake` file to use your package from the build tree, this option should be used.

By default, `configure_package_config_file()` also generates two helper macros, `set_and_check()` and `check_required_components()`, into the `FooConfig.cmake` file.

`set_and_check()` should be used instead of the normal `set()` command for setting directories and file locations. In addition to setting the variable, it also checks that the referenced file or directory actually exists and fails with a fatal error if it doesn't. This ensures that the generated `FooConfig.cmake` file does not contain wrong references. Add the `NO_SET_AND_CHECK_MACRO` option to prevent the generation of the `set_and_check()` macro in the `FooConfig.cmake` file.

`check_required_components(<PackageName>)` should be called at the end of the `FooConfig.cmake` file. This macro checks whether all requested, non-optional components have been found, and if this is not the case, it sets the `Foo_FOUND` variable to `FALSE` so that the package is considered to be not found. It does that by testing the `Foo_<Component>_FOUND` variables for all requested required components. This macro should be called even if the package doesn't provide any components to make sure users are not specifying components erroneously. Add the `NO_CHECK_REQUIRED_COMPONENTS_MACRO` option to prevent the generation of the `check_required_components()` macro in the `FooConfig.cmake` file.

See also Example Generating Package Files.

## Generating a Package Version File

write_basic_package_version_file

  Create a version file for a project:

      write_basic_package_version_file(<filename>
        [VERSION <major.minor.patch>]
        COMPATIBILITY <AnyNewerVersion|SameMajorVersion|SameMinorVersion|ExactVersion>
        [ARCH_INDEPENDENT] )

Writes a file for use as a `<PackageName>ConfigVersion.cmake` file to `<filename>`. See the documentation of `find_package()` for details on such files.

`<filename>` is the output filename, which should be in the build tree. `<major.minor.patch>` is the version number of the project to be installed.

If no `VERSION` is given, the `PROJECT_VERSION` variable is used. If this hasn't been set, it errors out.

The `COMPATIBILITY` mode `AnyNewerVersion` means that the installed package version will be considered compatible if it is newer or exactly the same as the requested version. This mode should be used for packages which are fully backward compatible, also across major versions. If `SameMajorVersion` is used instead, then the behavior differs from `AnyNewerVersion` in that the major version number must be the same as requested, e.g. version 2.0 will not be considered compatible if 1.0 is requested. This mode should be used for packages which guarantee backward compatibility within the same major version. If `SameMinorVersion` is used, the behavior is the same as `SameMajorVersion`, but both major and minor version must be the same as requested, e.g version 0.2 will not be compatible if 0.1 is requested. If `ExactVersion` is used, then the package is only considered compatible if the requested version matches exactly its own version number (not considering the tweak version). For example, version 1.2.3 of a package is only considered compatible to requested version 1.2.3. This mode is for packages without compatibility guarantees. If your project has more elaborate version matching rules, you will need to write your own custom `<PackageName>ConfigVersion.cmake` file instead of using this macro.

Added in version 3.11: The `SameMinorVersion` compatibility mode.

Added in version 3.14: If `ARCH_INDEPENDENT` is given, the installed package version will be considered compatible even if it was built for a different architecture than the requested architecture. Otherwise, an architecture check will be performed, and the package will be considered compatible only if the architecture matches exactly. For example, if the package is built for a 32-bit architecture, the package is only considered compatible if it is used on a 32-bit architecture, unless `ARCH_INDEPENDENT` is given, in which case the package is considered compatible on any architecture.

Note

`ARCH_INDEPENDENT` is intended for header-only libraries or similar packages with no binaries.

Added in version 3.19: The version file generated by `AnyNewerVersion`, `SameMajorVersion` and `SameMinorVersion` arguments of `COMPATIBILITY` handle the version range, if one is specified (see `find_package()` command for the details). `ExactVersion` mode is incompatible with version ranges and will display an author warning if one is specified.

Internally, this macro executes `configure_file()` to create the resulting version file. Depending on the `COMPATIBILITY`, the corresponding `BasicConfigVersion-<COMPATIBILITY>.cmake.in` file is used. Please note that these files are internal to CMake and you should not call `configure_file()` on them yourself, but they can be used as a starting point to create more sophisticated custom `<PackageName>ConfigVersion.cmake` files.

## Generating an Apple Platform Selection File

generate_apple_platform_selection_file

  Added in version 3.29.

  Create an Apple platform selection file:

      generate_apple_platform_selection_file(<filename>
        INSTALL_DESTINATION <path>
        [INSTALL_PREFIX <path>]
        [MACOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [IOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [IOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [IOS_CATALYST_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [TVOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [TVOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [WATCHOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [WATCHOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [VISIONOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [VISIONOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [ERROR_VARIABLE <variable>]
        )

  Write a file that includes an Apple-platform-specific `.cmake` file, e.g., for use as `<PackageName>Config.cmake`. This can be used in conjunction with the `XCFRAMEWORK_LOCATION` argument of `export(SETUP)` to export packages in a way that a project built for any Apple platform can use them.

  `INSTALL_DESTINATION <path>`

    Path to which the generated file will be installed by the caller, e.g., via `install(FILES)`. The path may be either relative to the `INSTALL_PREFIX` or absolute.

  `INSTALL_PREFIX <path>`

    Path prefix to which the package will be installed by the caller. The `<path>` argument must be an absolute path. If this argument is not passed, the `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` variable will be used instead.

  `MACOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is macOS.

  `IOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is iOS.

  `IOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is iOS Simulator.

  `IOS_CATALYST_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    Added in version 3.31.

    File to include if the platform is iOS Catalyst.

  `TVOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is tvOS.

  `TVOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is tvOS Simulator.

  `WATCHOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is watchOS.

  `WATCHOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is watchOS Simulator.

  `VISIONOS_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is visionOS.

  `VISIONOS_SIMULATOR_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    File to include if the platform is visionOS Simulator.

  `ERROR_VARIABLE <variable>`

    If the consuming project is built for an unsupported platform, set `<variable>` to an error message. The includer may use this information to pretend the package was not found. If this option is not given, the default behavior is to issue a fatal error.

  If any of the optional include files is not specified, and the consuming project is built for its corresponding platform, the generated file will consider the platform to be unsupported. The behavior is determined by the `ERROR_VARIABLE` option.

## Generating an Apple Architecture Selection File

generate_apple_architecture_selection_file

  Added in version 3.29.

  Create an Apple architecture selection file:

      generate_apple_architecture_selection_file(<filename>
        INSTALL_DESTINATION <path>
        [INSTALL_PREFIX <path>]
        [SINGLE_ARCHITECTURES <arch>...
         SINGLE_ARCHITECTURE_INCLUDE_FILES <file>...]
        [UNIVERSAL_ARCHITECTURES <arch>...
         UNIVERSAL_INCLUDE_FILE <file>]
        [ERROR_VARIABLE <variable>]
        )

  Write a file that includes an Apple-architecture-specific `.cmake` file based on `CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES`, e.g., for inclusion from an Apple-specific `<PackageName>Config.cmake` file.

  `INSTALL_DESTINATION <path>`

    Path to which the generated file will be installed by the caller, e.g., via `install(FILES)`. The path may be either relative to the `INSTALL_PREFIX` or absolute.

  `INSTALL_PREFIX <path>`

    Path prefix to which the package will be installed by the caller. The `<path>` argument must be an absolute path. If this argument is not passed, the `CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX` variable will be used instead.

  `SINGLE_ARCHITECTURES <arch>...`

    Architectures provided by entries of `SINGLE_ARCHITECTURE_INCLUDE_FILES`.

  `SINGLE_ARCHITECTURE_INCLUDE_FILES <file>...`

    Architecture-specific files. One of them will be loaded when `CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES` contains a single architecture matching the corresponding entry of `SINGLE_ARCHITECTURES`.

  `UNIVERSAL_ARCHITECTURES <arch>...`

    Architectures provided by the `UNIVERSAL_INCLUDE_FILE`.

    The list may include `$(ARCHS_STANDARD)` to support consumption using the `Xcode` generator, but the architectures should always be listed individually too.

  `UNIVERSAL_INCLUDE_FILE <file>`

    A file to load when `CMAKE_OSX_ARCHITECTURES` contains a (non-strict) subset of the `UNIVERSAL_ARCHITECTURES` and does not match any one of the `SINGLE_ARCHITECTURES`.

  `ERROR_VARIABLE <variable>`

    If the consuming project is built for an unsupported architecture, set `<variable>` to an error message. The includer may use this information to pretend the package was not found. If this option is not given, the default behavior is to issue a fatal error.

## Example Generating Package Files

Example using both the `configure_package_config_file()` and `write_basic_package_version_file()` commands:

`CMakeLists.txt`

    include(GNUInstallDirs)
    set(INCLUDE_INSTALL_DIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_INCLUDEDIR}/Foo
        CACHE PATH "Location of header files" )
    set(SYSCONFIG_INSTALL_DIR ${CMAKE_INSTALL_SYSCONFDIR}/foo
        CACHE PATH "Location of configuration files" )
    #...
    include(CMakePackageConfigHelpers)
    configure_package_config_file(FooConfig.cmake.in
      ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/FooConfig.cmake
      INSTALL_DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/Foo
      PATH_VARS INCLUDE_INSTALL_DIR SYSCONFIG_INSTALL_DIR)
    write_basic_package_version_file(
      ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/FooConfigVersion.cmake
      VERSION 1.2.3
      COMPATIBILITY SameMajorVersion )
    install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/FooConfig.cmake
                  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/FooConfigVersion.cmake
            DESTINATION ${CMAKE_INSTALL_LIBDIR}/cmake/Foo )

`FooConfig.cmake.in`

    set(FOO_VERSION x.y.z)
    ...
    @PACKAGE_INIT@
    ...
    set_and_check(FOO_INCLUDE_DIR "@PACKAGE_INCLUDE_INSTALL_DIR@")
    set_and_check(FOO_SYSCONFIG_DIR "@PACKAGE_SYSCONFIG_INSTALL_DIR@")

    check_required_components(Foo)