Eclipsing is a mechanism to upgrade files existing on the ROM drive, by installing a new version of the same on the RAM drive. The file name and path of the existing file and the new version must be the same.
For example, the file, a.exe located on z:\...\, can be eclipsed by placing a latest version of a.exe on C:\...\.
The eclipsing of binary and data files in the ROM is strictly controlled. That is, device creators can eclipse only the files that are listed in the Stub SIS file. The eclipsing fails if there is no associated Stub SIS file present in ROM.
The following are important considerations for eclipsing ROM files:
Drives are scanned in the order Y to A and lastly the Z drive. Therefore a file in Z drive can be eclipsed by the newer version of the file placed on any drive between Y to A.
The upgrading package must have the same package UID and non-localized vendor name as the package that installed the original file.
The file in ROM can be eclipsed only once.
The installation is blocked if a data file with the same name as the file to be eclipsed exists in the file system. The device creators can configure the installation policy to enable the Symbian device user to remove the obstructing files and continue with the installation.
Eclipsing of EXEs, DLLs and data files either by installation or by inserting the media card into the Symbian device returns an error. This aborts the installation or renders the media card application unusable until the conflict is resolved. This restriction is not applicable if the file being eclipsed is an orphaned file.