User Guide

App-V Generator
User's manual

Version 1.4

page 1 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
Table of Contents
User Guide ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
App-V Generator ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
User's manual .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
Version 1.4 ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Product Description ................................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Main Features ................................................................................................................................................. 3
2. Product Installation ........................................................................................................................................ 3
2.1 System Requirements ............................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Installation ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Create App-V package from scratch............................................................................................................. 3
3.1 Package creation procedure ..................................................................................................................... 4
4 Edit App-V package .............................................................................................................................................. 8
5. Using Actions pool .............................................................................................................................................. 9
6. Using Properties Inspector ................................................................................................................................ 9
7. App-V Generator menu guide ...................................................................................................................... 11

page 2 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
1. Introduction
1.1 Product Description
App-V Generator tool is used for creation and editing Microsoft Application
Virtualization (App-V) packages. App-V Generator supports OSD, SFT editing and
creation.

1.2 Main Features

Main features of App-V Generator are:
 App-V packages editing (SFT, OSD)
 OSD files editing
 OSD scripts pool
 Application settings discovery and management
 App-V packages creation from scratch

2. Product Installation
2.1 System Requirements
Supported OS:
Win2K, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server, Vista, Windows 2008 Server, Windows
7

.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 is required for Win2K, Windows XP, Windows 2003 Server.

2.2 Installation
Software doesn’t require installation and can be started from the application folder

3. Create App-V package from scratch

In contrast to Microsoft App-V Sequencer, App-V Generator doesn’t monitor the
installation and setup process for an application.

App-V Generator uses system difference file which is created as a difference between 2
system snapshots. First system snapshot is created before application installation, and
second system snapshot is created after application is installed and configured.

page 3 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
 App-V Generator uses difference files created via Snapshots Maker module
(ssMake.exe and ssCompare.exe) or MSI Generator to detect system changes.

System snapshotting approach used by App-V Generator gives higher reliability of

system changes detection when application is installed, comparing to the process changes
monitoring used by App-V Sequencer.

3.1 Package creation procedure

Launch App-V Generator, select File → New menu and specify App-V package
parameters (package name, asset dir, etc.) in the Package Creation Wizard.

Then click next and App-V Generator will create the first system snapshot.

page 4 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
Wait until the menu on the picture below appears and then launch the application
installation.

When the application installation and configuration is finished click next and App-V
Generator will create the second system snapshot and compare them.

page 5 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
After the progress window disappears you can start customizing your package.

page 6 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
Edit “Package name” and “Output folder” values in the “General” tab if needed.

After all of the needed general fields are filled proceed to the “OSD Files” tab and
ensure that all info is correct in this section. Here you can add, change or remove the OSD
files in the package, add scripts to the OSD’s, adjust the ProgID’s, file extensions and
change the target system for deployment.

page 7 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
4 Edit App-V package
OSD and SFT files can be edited in the same way they were created. To open OSD
files for editing select “File” tab and then select “open” and navigate to the OSD file that
you want to edit.
To edit SFT file select “File\open”, make necessary changes. When selecting “Save”
after the changes are made you’ll be asked for the directory to extract files. It’s a
mandatory step. These files will be placed in the newly saved STF after extraction from the
old one.

page 8 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
5. Using Actions pool
You can add prewritten scripts by choosing “Actions pool” from the “Scripts” tab, or
add your own scripts by choosing “Add”.

In the actions pool cmd scripts, OSD scripts and VBscripts are stored as actions.
You can add or change the existing actions using this window. Also you can call the
actions pool window from “Tools\Actions pool” menu.

6. Using Properties Inspector

page 9 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
 “Properties Inspector” is the feature that allows you to find hardcoded paths, specific
properties, or adjustable options for the software you’re packaging. It uses regular
expressions to find the options mentioned above. Properties Inspector is currently available
under the “Application Settings” tab.

To start the search process select the type of properties you want to find from the
list and press the “Start search” button. After the search is done you’ll see the results in the
Files of Registry tabs.

page 10 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
7. App-V Generator menu guide
Main menu.
File\Open – opens the file selection dialog. Supported file types: diff, sft, osd

File\Save(Save as…) - saves the project to the desired destination

File\Close project – unloads the current project from the App-V Generator’s editing
environment

File\Exit – closes App-V Generator

Edit\Virual registry (Virtual file system, Virtual Services) – allows to edit the entries in
the virtual file system, virtual registry and virtual services lists.

Tools\Extract files – extracts the package’s files to the desired folder (Note: only in case if
SFT file is opened)

“General” tab

Package name – defines package’s name

Output folder – defines destination to which the project will be saved

AssetDir – defines the “AssetDir” name

Generate Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI) Package – defines whether the MSI
package for the standalone delivery model will be created (Note: “Select MSI template”
button allows you to choose the custom template for the MSI creation)

“Files” tab
In this tab you can view and modify the files attributes, review the mapping info.

page 11 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
“Path” field – real path of the file on the current machine.

“Map to” field – the path to which the files will be mounted to on the destination client
machine.

“Virtual registry” tab

In this tab you can view and modify the virtual registry. “Fully virtualized” attribute
defies whether the registry key will be merged with the current branch or override the
existing non virtualized value on the target machine.

“Virtual services” tab

Here you can view and modify the properties of the virtual services included in the
package

“OSD files” tab

“General” tab

In this tab you can view and modify basic OSD options.

“Softpkg” section – defines OSD name, version and displays the OSD’s GUID

“Codebase” section – defines the path to the SFT file (Href field), launch parameters,
target entry point (Filename field), target sysguard file and displays GUID and size of the
OSD.

“Clientversion” field – minimal client version required for the package to successfully
install.

“Info” field – additional information and comments.

“OS” field – here you can select operating systems which you want the package to be
installed on (Note: if none of the OS selected the OS check will not be performed and the
package will be allowed to install on any OS).

“Advanced” tab

“Vm” field – defines the type of the subsystem (Win16 or Win32)

page 12 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
“Subsystem” field – defines UI type

“Disksize” field – defines the amount of the disk space required for the application to
stream to the desired location (used only in streaming mode)

“Memsize” field – defines the amount of the RAM to successfully launch the application

“Policies” field – defines OSD launch policies.

“Scripts” tab

In this tab you can view and edit OSD scripts

“Registry” tab

In this tab you can review and edit the registry entry you wish to deliver into the App-
V environment via the OSD registry section.

“Environment variables” section

In this tab you can view and edit the list of environment variables available for the
current application.

“Shortcuts” section

In this tab you can view and edit the properties of the shortcuts in the current OSD
file.

“File extensions list” tab

In this tab you can view and edit file extensions that are linked to the current OSD.

“ProgID list” tab

In this tab you can view and edit the ProgID’s in the current OSD

“Dependencies” tab

In this tab you can set the DSC dependencies for the current application.

page 13 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/
 “Application settings” tab

In this tab you can set the rules list and the search parameters for the Options
explorer and view the search results.

“Browse” button – opens the window where you can select the rules set for the
properties search.

“Find properties” button – initiates the properties search process

“Edit…” button – opens the Options explorer search rules editor

Properties search result view

Common VFS & VRG columns:

Active – if selected, packager considers that this option is a good candidate for
replacement;
Path – location where match was found;
Name – file or registry value name. If empty, last node name in path matched the
Rule;
Option – text, captured by RegExp or ExactMatch;
Rule – rule name, that has regular expression or exact text which was used for
option capture.

VFS specific columns:

Line – line number, where captured text is placed. Of line equals to 0, file name
should be considered as capture.

VRG specific columns:

Value – registry value or part of value that matched the RegExp or Exactmatch. If
empty, regvalue name should be considered as capture.

page 14 of 14
http://www.infopulse.com.ua
/