Use of REQUIRED in Package Creation

Under what circumstances must REQUIRED be used? I have a package that requires another package to be installed in order for it execute. I can build the package, however, without specifying that package in REQUIRED and if I do specify it the build fails. The build works because my PRELOAD looks for the other package in the load-path and sets things up accordingly. As long as the other package has been installed, I am ok. So, do I have to bite the bullet and figure out why my build fails or can I leave it out of REQUIRED? If REQUIRE is only for build-time issues than I am OK. If REQUIRE is used so that the package management facility knows each package's runtime prerequisites than I am stuck. -- Jake Colman Principia Partners LLC Phone: (201) 209-2467 Harborside Financial Center Fax: (201) 946-0320 902 Plaza Two E-mail: colman(a)ppllc.com Jersey City, NJ 07311 www.principiapartners.com