5.1

ThinApp User’s Guide
22 VMware, Inc.
Customize Package Settings
The capture process includes initial settings for the primary data container, MSI packages, and executable
package compression.
Customize package settings in the Setup Capture wizard
1On the Package Settings page, select the primary data container from the list that is based on your
executable file entry points.
 If the size of the primary container is smaller than 200MB, ThinApp creates a .exe file as the primary
container. For a small application such as Firefox, any .exe file can serve as the main data container.
 If the size of the primary container is larger than 200MB, ThinApp creates a separate.dat file as the
primary container because Windows XP and Windows 2000 cannot show shortcut icons for large
.exe files. Generating separate small .exe files together with the .dat file fixes the problem.
 If the size of the primary container is between 200MB and 1.5GB, ThinApp creates the default .dat
file unless you select a .exe file to override the default .dat file.
2(Optional) If you select a .exe file to override the default .dat file when the size of the primary container
is between 200MB and 1.5GB, ignore the generated warning.
Selecting a .exe file enables all applications to work properly but might prevent the proper display of
icons.
3 (Optional) If you cannot select a primary data container, type a primary data container name to generate
a .dat file.
If you plan to use the Application Sync utility to update a captured application, ThinApp uses the primary
data container name during the process. You must use the same name across multiple versions of the
application. You might not be able to select the same primary data container name from the list.
For example, Microsoft Office 2003 and Microsoft Office 2007 do not have common entry point names.
4 (Optional) Select the Generate MSI package check box and change the MSI filename.
5 (Optional) To create a smaller executable package for locations such as a USB device, select the Compress
virtual package check box.
6Click Save.
Opening Project and Parameter Files
The capture process provides an opportunity to review the project files to update settings before building the
executable package or MSI package.
For example, if you capture Firefox 2.0.0.3, you might browse the C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware
ThinApp\Captures\Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.3 directory to update a setting, such as an Active Directory
specification, in the Package.ini file that contains the parameters set during the capture process. For
information about updating settings, see “Advanced Package Configuration” on page 23.
The project includes folders, such as %AppData%, that represent file system paths that might change locations
when running on different operating systems or computers. Most folders have ##Attributes.ini files that
specify the isolation mode at the folder level.