Microsoft KB Archive/190053

= XCLN: Adding Custom Applications to Active Setup with the ODK =

Article ID: 190053

Article Last Modified on 10/28/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Outlook 98 Deployment Kit
 * Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q190053



IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.



SUMMARY
This article describes how to add other programs to the Active Setup to Customize install packages created by the Outlook Deployment Kit (ODK.)



MORE INFORMATION
You can add custom components to the Active Setup during Stage 2 of the Outlook Deployment Wizard. You can add up to 10 custom components which your users may install along with Outlook and other Microsoft components you have selected. These custom components may be provided in the form of a self-extracting file or a compressed cabinet (.cab) file.

It is recommended that you sign any custom code. Code-signing lets users know that they can trust your code before installing it on their computers. The default settings in Setup (and Internet Explorer) will reject unsigned code.

Below are definitions of the various boxes that need to be filled out at this stage.

Component
Type the name of your component in this box.

Location
Type the path to your program, or click Browse to search for it.

Command
If you specify a .cab file, you must also specify a command to run it.

GUID
If your program already has a globally unique identifier, or GUID, type it in this box. If your program doesn't have a GUID, then click Generate to assign a GUID. A GUID establishes a unique identity for programs, objects, and other items.

Parameter
You can specify any switches to run with your program.

Size
Type the size of your program in kilobytes (KB).

Version
The version number helps you track versions of your program and ensure that the latest version is installed.

Uninstall key
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

This is the registry entry, or key, for your uninstall program. Registering your uninstall program enables users to remove your program by clicking the Add/Remove Programs icon in Control Panel. To register your uninstall program, add the entries for your application to the Uninstall subkey:   HKEY_LOCAL_computer\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Uninstall\ApplicationName\UninstallString

ApplicationName = the display name of your program

UninstallString = path [ switches ] Both the ApplicationName and UninstallString values must be supplied and be complete for your uninstall program to appear in Control Panel. The path you supply to UninstallString must be the complete command line used to carry out your uninstall program. The command line you supply should carry out the uninstall program directly rather than from a batch file or subprocess.

Verify
Programs installed over the Internet typically need "digital signatures" that identify their source and guarantee that the code hasn't changed since it was signed. Depending on safety settings, users can be warned before the program is downloaded. Certificate authorities can supply public and private keys needed to sign code. To determine whether the program has been digitally signed, click Verify.

For current information about code signing, see the Microsoft Web site.

Tools for building .cab files and creating Internet Express scripts are included in the ODK. Additional tools are available in the Microsoft Internet Client Software Development Kit (SDK). For more general information about Active Setup technology, see Active Setup.

