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
Chapter 2 Capturing Applications
VMware, Inc. 23
Build Virtual Applications
You can adjust project files and build the application for deployment.
Build virtual applications in the Setup Capture wizard
1 (Optional) On the Ready to Build page, scan or change the project files.
2 (Optional) To prevent a build from taking place, select the Skip the build process check box.
You can build the package at a later time with the build.bat file in the virtual application folder. For
example, a Firefox 2.0.0.3 path to the build.bat file might be C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware
ThinApp\Captures\Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.3\build.bat.
3Click Build to build an executable package or MSI package containing the files you installed during the
capture process.
4 (Optional) Deselect the Open folder containing project executables after clicking Finish check box to
view the executable files and MSI files at a later time.
5Click Finish.
You can rebuild the package at any time after you click Finish to make changes.
Advanced Package Configuration
Advanced users might modify configuration files, such as the Package.ini or ##Attributes.ini files,
before building the package during the capture or after the initial build of the package.
Modifying Settings in the Package.ini File
You can modify the Package.ini file to update the overall package.
The file resides in the captured application folder. A Firefox 2.0.0.3 path might be C:\Program
Files\VMware\VMware ThinApp\Captures\Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.3\Package.ini.
The following parameters are a few examples of settings that you might modify:
DirectoryIsolationMode – Sets the isolation mode to Merged, WriteCopy, or Full.
PermittedGroups – Restricts use of an application package to a specific set of Active Directory users.
SandboxName – Identifies the sandbox.
You might keep the name for incremental application updates and change the name for major updates.
SandboxPath – Sets the sandbox location.
SandboxNetworkDrives – Specifies whether to redirect write operations on the network share to the
sandbox.
RequiredAppLinks – Specifies a list of external ThinApp packages to import to the current package at
runtime.
OptionalAppLinks – Specifies a list of external ThinApp packages to import to the current package at
runtime.
For information about all Package.ini parameters, download a copy of the ThinApp Package.ini Reference from
the ThinApp download site
Option Description
Edit Package.ini Modify application parameters for the entire package.
Open project folder Browse ThinApp project files in Windows Explorer.