5.1
Table Of Contents
- ThinApp User’s Guide
- Contents
- About This Book
- Installing ThinApp
- Capturing Applications
- Phases of the Capture Process
- Preparing to Capture Applications
- Capturing Applications with the Setup Capture Wizard
- Create a System Image Before the Application Installation
- Rescan the System with the Installed Application
- Defining Entry Points as Shortcuts into the Virtual Environment
- Set Entry Points
- Manage with VMware Horizon Application Manager
- Set User Groups
- Defining Isolation Modes for the Physical File System
- Set File System Isolation Modes
- Storing Application Changes in the Sandbox
- Customize the Sandbox Location
- Send Anonymous Statistics to VMware
- Customize ThinApp Project Settings
- Defining Package Settings
- Customize Package Settings
- Opening Project and Parameter Files
- Build Virtual Applications
- Advanced Package Configuration
- Capturing Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP
- Capturing Multiple Application Installers with ThinApp Converter
- ThinApp Package Management
- Deploying Applications
- ThinApp Deployment Options
- Establishing File Type Associations with the thinreg.exe Utility
- Building an MSI Database
- Controlling Application Access with Active Directory
- Starting and Stopping Virtual Services
- Using ThinApp Packages Streamed from the Network
- Using Captured Applications with Other System Components
- Performing Paste Operations
- Accessing Printers
- Accessing Drivers
- Accessing the Local Disk, the Removable Disk, and Network Shares
- Accessing the System Registry
- Accessing Networking and Sockets
- Using Shared Memory and Named Pipes
- Using COM, DCOM, and Out-of-Process COM Components
- Starting Services
- Using File Type Associations
- Sample Isolation Mode Configuration Depending on Deployment Context
- Updating and Linking Applications
- Application Updates That the End User Triggers
- Application Sync Updates
- Using Application Sync in a Managed or Unmanaged Environment
- Update Firefox 2.0.0.3 to Firefox 3 with Application Sync
- Fix an Incorrect Update with Application Sync
- Application Sync Effect on Entry Point Executable Files
- Updating thinreg.exe Registrations with Application Sync
- Maintaining the Primary Data Container Name with Application Sync
- Completing the Application Sync Process When Applications Create Child Processes
- Application Link Updates
- View of the Application using Application Link
- Link a Base Application to the Microsoft .NET Framework
- Set Up Nested Links with Application Link
- Affecting Isolation Modes with Application Link
- PermittedGroups Effect on Linked Packages
- Sandbox Changes for Standalone and Linked Packages
- Import Order for Linked Packages
- File and Registry Collisions in Linked Packages
- VBScript Collisions in Linked Packages
- VBScript Function Order in Linked Packages
- Storing Multiple Versions of a Linked Application in the Same Directory
- Using Application Sync for a Base Application and Linked Packages
- Application Sync Updates
- Application Updates That the Administrator Triggers
- Automatic Application Updates
- Upgrading Running Applications on a Network Share
- Application Synchronization Using Group Policy Object
- Sandbox Considerations for Upgraded Applications
- Updating the ThinApp Version of Packages
- Application Updates That the End User Triggers
- Locating the ThinApp Sandbox
- Creating ThinApp Snapshots and Projects from the Command Line
- ThinApp File System Formats and Macros
- Creating ThinApp Scripts
- Callback Functions
- Implement Scripts in a ThinApp Environment
- API Functions
- Monitoring and Troubleshooting ThinApp
- Glossary
- Index
ThinApp User’s Guide
16 VMware, Inc.
Capturing Applications with the Setup Capture Wizard
The capture process packages an application and sets initial application parameters. If you use a virtual
machine, consider taking a snapshot before you run the wizard. A snapshot of the original clean state enables
you to revert to the snapshot when you want to capture another application.
This information uses Mozilla Firefox as a key example for application capture.
Create a System Image Before the Application Installation
The Setup Capture wizard starts the capture process by scanning the system to assess the environment and
create a baseline system image.
Create a system image before the application installation
1 Download the applications to capture.
For example, download Firefox Setup 2.0.0.3.exe and copy it to the clean computer you are working
with.
2 Close any applications, such as virus scans, that might change the file system during the capture process.
3 From the desktop, select Start > Programs > VMware > ThinApp Setup Capture.
4 (Optional) In the Ready to Prescan dialog box, click Advanced Scan Locations to select the drives and
registry hives to scan.
You might want to scan a particular location other than the C:\ drive if you install applications to a
different drive. In rare cases, you might want to avoid scanning a registry hive if you know that the
application installer does not modify the registry.
5Click Prescan to establish a baseline system image of the hard drive and registry files.
The scanning process takes about 10 seconds for Windows XP.
Rescan the System with the Installed Application
You can install the application to virtualize before the Setup Capture wizard rescans the system and assess
changes from the initial system image.
Install the application and rescan the system
1 When the Install Application page appears, minimize the Setup Capture wizard and install the
applications to capture.
For example, double-click Firefox Setup 2.0.0.3.exe to install Firefox. If the application needs to
restart after the installation, restart the system. The process restarts the Setup Capture wizard.
2 (Optional) If you are capturing Internet Explorer, in the Install Application page, click Internet Explorer,
to complete additional steps before installing the browser.
If you are capturing Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP, see “Capturing Internet Explorer 6 on Windows
XP” on page 24.
For more information about entry points, see “Defining Entry Points as Shortcuts into the Virtual
Environment” on page 17.
3 (Optional) Make any necessary configuration changes to comply with your company policies, such as
using specific security settings or a particular home page.
If you do not make configuration changes at this time, each user must make changes.
4 (Optional) Start the application and respond to any messages for information before you continue with
the Setup Capture wizard.
If you do not respond to any messages at this time, each user who uses the application must do so during
the initial start.