Packaging Guide for MSI & APP-V

How to Sequence a New Application (App-V 4.6) Use the following procedure to create a new virtual application by using the Application Virtualization (App-V) Sequencer. Important During sequencing, if the computer running the sequencer is running Windows Vista or Windows 7, and a restart is initiated outside of the virtual environment, for example, by clicking Start / Shut Down, you must click Cancel when prompted to close the program that is preventing Windows from shutting down. If you click Force shut down, the package creation will fail, and the computer will restart. When you click Cancel, the sequencer successfully records the restart while the application is being sequenced. To sequence a new application To create the App-V drive, configure drive Q as the location that can be used to save files while you are sequencing an application. You must then create individual directories for each application that you plan to sequence on drive Q. You can create the virtual applicat...

Type :- App v  (contains add in and drivers, hence app v can only be done without them) Issues :- 1) installs PDF writer (driver) 2) contains add ins 3) Dictionary function error Solution and key points :- 1)MindManager  when installed with default settings with admin privileges, installs a printer (PDF-Xchange 3.0). On installing the source with custom settings, we are able to disable the feature for the PDF-Xchange. And the source works fine . The function of Export to PDF has been removed by disabling the feature of pdf writer. 2) User\%Sft_Sid%\Software\Mindjet\MindManager\8\Custom Dictionary\ 3) These keys had data for a Custom Dictionary ("custom.dic") in User's App.Data folder. Removed this data and set the number of dictionaries to "0", with "MindManager.dic" as Current. 4) contains add ins for microsoft office (excel , word, powerpoint) , hence we need to create a shortcut of the excel , word, powerpoint to load the add ins...

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet).                           The idea behind cloud computing is similar: The user can simply use storage, computing power, or specially crafted development environments, without having to worry how these work internally. Cloud computing is a systems architecture model for Internet-based computing. It is the development and use of computer technology on the Internet. The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet based on how the internet is described in computer network diagrams; which means it is an abstraction hiding the complex infrastructure of the internet. It is a style of computing in which IT-related capabilities are provided “as a service”, allowing users to acces...

What is APP V (Virtualization) Application virtualization is a term that describes software technologies that give portability, manageability and compatibility of applications.  It removes the need for local installation of the applications. A fully virtualized application is not installed in the traditional sense, although it is still executed as if it were. The application is appears to be directly interfacing with the  operating system and all the resources managed by it, where as in reality it is not. Why APP V Allows applications to run independent of environment. Helps reduce cost on hardware as well as licensing . Have multiple versions of a single application working on a system. Allows the executiong without much or limited interaction with the local OS. Benefits of App V 1) Allows applications to run in environments that do not suit the native application 2) Reduce system integration and administration costs by maintaining a common softw...

Application type :- App V Issue :- Generally the binary provided by Google cannot be used for creating the virtual package Follow the following steps for creating App V Steps followed are using the example of Google earth Close all browsers, cmd windows Start Sequencer and begin monitoring Open command prompt (I ran elevated as local Admin, not sure if this is necessary) run C:\<whatever>\GoogleEarthWin.exe /a Install to the Q:\<your-folder> location Disable automatic updates and metrics Launch after install - set your fave location Exit Google Earth I created a shortcut on the desktop; I noted Google Earth did NOT create a Start Menu shortcut Test Launch I unchecked "Enforce Security Descriptors" - not sure if this was necessary Save - Publish Reference :-  http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/appvgeneralsequencing/thread/9c42b666-1ad3-4543-84af-ce1599d083fb/

Application Type :- MSI Issue :- Capturing the application is not possible Resolution and key notes :- 1] Since Oracle Client application is itself a package, hence need to create silent installation using response file (.rsp).                                                                             2] Application requires modify permission on "C:\Windows\hh.exe", "C:\Windows\System32\odbcad32.exe", "C:\app" and "C:\Program Files\Oracle".       3] Since CMD does not support UNC path (might create issue while installing from network), hence created VBS(VB Script) for silent installation and uninstallation.                               4] Oracle client requires seperate "deinstall" tool for uninstall...

Application Type :- App V Issues :- JRE when present on local and virtual load the local version. Hence we need to make the virtual version to work. Resolution and key notes:- Procedure followed for the sequencing of this application 1) take clean sequencing machine (NO JRE(ANY VERSION) INSTALLED) 2) install JRE 1.6 locally on sequencing machine 3) launch "App-V Sequencer" 4) Click "Begin Monitoring" 5) during monitoring open "appwiz.cpl" and uninstall JRE 1.6 6) run the command from cmd "shutdown -r -t 0" to complete uninstallation of JRE 1.6 7) App-V sequencer captures the restart.  Just stop monitoring and start monitoring (to complete restart process) 8)  Now install the JRE 1.4 (during monitoring) 9) After completion of intallation create shorcut pointing to "iexplorer.exe" 10) Stop monitoring and save the captured sequence. Test the sequence package with www.javatester.org/version.html Packge works fine in both...

Application Type :- MSI Issues :- None Key notes :- The Setup extracts a MSI in the temp location. The setup also contains redistributables of .NET and Microsoft Visual J# . Install them as pre requisites. Use ISSETUPDRIVEN = 1 property so that MSI can be executed as stand alone .

Application Type :- App V Issues:- On Launch errors Settings to be done for updates Resolution and Key notes:- Dependancies .NET Framework; Office Professional Plus 2010; Windows Internet Explorer . These are present on the build On launch of SAP logon Pad , The shortcut opens a window, on selecting any module the application gives an error stating it could not connect to the various message server,since the server could not be accessed from offshore For other shortcuts ,it prompts for user id and password which is not available at the offshore thus which needs to be tetsed by the user After installing the SAP , post install scrip "onendinstall.bat" file is executed, which adds certain registries and services Extra settings required are "HKLM\SOFTWARE\SAP\SAPsetup\SAPstart\AutoUpdate\SapLgPad.exe\UpdateMode"= "ForceOff" "HKLM\Software\SAP\General\Enjoy\Active"= "On" "HKCR\CLSID\{Prog ID}\LocalServer32\"=...

Application type :- App V Issue :- updates Resolution and Key notes :- Default installation has been retained since it is a Microsoft application .Under the help menu there is an option "check for updates " , which can be removed using the option of customize toolbar. 

Application type :- MSI Issue :- Application contains OFFICE add ins . The dwreport.dot file is not compaitable with windows 7 as mentioned in the help file Resolutions and key notes:- The shortcut "getiing started " requires a file hh.exe which is not present in the system. Hence it throws an error saying that it could not locate this file and prompts to search for this file.This behaviour is same as the source. The shortcut "Browse examples " cannot be advertised, Since it points to a folder. Hence this shortcut cannot do self healing.

Application Type :- MSI Issue :- For this application the files get installed to the c:\CV Folder. This was retained as with client confirmation . This MSI installs many folders which the exe (Source) does not install. IP configuration needs to be done.Database reminder prompt needs to be disabled Resolution and key notes :- The source is a setup file which extracts the vendor MSi to the temp location.This vendor MSI has a very different structure than that one which setup installs. Also there are no dialogues when we install the MSI file. To obtain the same folder structure as that of the source we tried changing the directory manually, but that did not work. Hence we decided to take a setup capture of this application. The updates for the package have been disabled by adding a property "ShowDatabaseReminder=0", under user options section in VIEWPT.INI. The client identification and ip configuurations are passed through win.ini file

Application Type :- MSI Issues :- On uninstall Msi executes setup.exe   Autoupdates needs to be disabled Resolutions and key notes :- Custom Action RIM_MSIUsedForInstall has been commented Since this custom action calls the setup.exe for the installation of the application .While we need to install the application from the MSI. Registry value has been changed to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Research In Motion\DesktopAutoUpdate\ "AutoUpdateEnabled"=False to disable the automatic updates.

Application type  :- MSI Issue :- Application installs files and folder to C:\ (SystemDrive) instead of conventional ProgramFiles Resolution and key notes :- Application requires Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 as pre requisite. This needs to be inmstalled before installing the package Shortcut "print registration File" has been removed since it asks users to enter registration details. properties First_Name and Last_Name are added as Authorized and user respectively for registration details as mentioned in the intake document. 

Package Type :- MSI Issue :- On the first launch of this application the application sits in the task bar and the Globe for the application appears on the desktop. Resolution and key notes :- Application requires macromedia flash palyer as its pre requiste, which gets installed along with the package. On the first launch of this application the application sits in the task bar and the Globe for the application appears on the desktop. This globe can be enabled or disabled by going to settings of the application and selecting services TAB and then uncheck for diaplaying globe and keep it checked  if we do bnot want the Globe on the desktop. On all further launches the Babylon window will be displayed.

Packaging type : App V Issues :- Updates issues manual as well as automatic updates Resolution and key notes :- The automatic updates for the package has been disabled for the product. But There is an update option in the help menu through which the product can be updated. The File responsible for this is QuickTimeStreaming.qtx Location :- Asset Directory\QTSystem\QuickTimeStreaming.qtx On removing this file these manual updates can be disabled but at the same time the streaming functionality is also disabled. Since it is affecting the functionality of the package the manual update feature form help menu has been retained.The Quictime player Preference option(Edit>Preference>Quicktime Prefernce) has been disabled,Since on accessing the same it throws an error stating the QuickTime Control Panel applet is not installed correctly.

Package type :- App V Issue :- Removing updates Resolution and key notes :- Custom action To disable the updates , Following script has been added to the Microsoft_VisioStandard2010_14.0.4763_ENG_[APPID]_v1.00_003.osd reg add HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\Common\OfficeUpdate /v BlockUpdates /t REG_DWORD /d "00000001" /f