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Chapter 2 Capturing Applications
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5 Close the application.
6 Maximize the Setup Capture wizard, click Postscan to proceed with another scan of the computer, and
click OK to confirm the postscan operation.
ThinApp stores the differences between the first baseline image and this image in a virtual file system and
virtual registry.
Defining Entry Points as Shortcuts into the Virtual Environment
Entry points are the executable files that act as shortcuts into the virtual environment and start the virtual
application. The entry points you can choose from depend on the executable files that your captured
application creates during installation.
For example, if you install Microsoft Office, you can select entry points for Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel,
and other applications that are installed during a Microsoft Office installation. If you install Firefox, you might
select Mozilla Firefox.exe and Mozilla Firefox (SafeMode).exe if users require safe mode access.
During the build process that occurs at the end of the Setup Capture wizard, ThinApp generates one
executable file for each selected entry point. If you deploy the application as an MSI file or use the
thinreg.exe utility, the desktop and Start menu shortcuts created on user desktops point to these entry
points.
Entry Points for Troubleshooting
ThinApp provides entry points to troubleshoot your environment.
Debugging an application might involve the following entry points:
 cmd.exe – Starts a command prompt in a virtual context that enables you to view the virtual file system.
 regedit.exe – Starts the registry editor in a virtual context that enables you to view the virtual registry.
 iexplore.exe – Starts iexplore.exe in a virtual context that enables you to test virtualized
ActiveX controls.
Entry points start native executable files in a virtual context. Entry points do not create virtual packages of
cmd.exe, regedit.exe, or iexplore.exe.
If you cannot predict the need for debugging or troubleshooting the environment, you can use the Disabled
parameter in the Package.ini file at a later time to activate these entry points.
Set Entry Points
You can designate the executable files that make up the list of entry points. ThinApp installs the executable
files during the capture process.
Set entry points in the Setup Capture wizard
1On the Entry Points page, select the check boxes for user-accessible entry points.
The wizard displays the executable files that were directly accessible through the desktop or Start menu
shortcuts.
2 (Optional) To debug your environment, select the Show entry points used for debugging check box to
display the iexplore.exe, regedit.exe, and cmd.exe troubleshooting options.
Manage with VMware Horizon Application Manager
You can use VMware Horizon Application Manager to manage the deployment and entitlement of ThinApp
packages. See Using VMware Horizon Application Manager to Manage the Deployment and Entitlement of ThinApp
Packages, available from the ThinApp download site.