VMware ThinApp 4.6.1 User guide

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Antivirus security software
Type
User guide

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ThinApp User’s Guide
ThinApp 4.6.1
This document supports the version of each product listed and
supports all subsequent versions until the document is replaced
by a new edition. To check for more recent editions of this
document, see http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
EN-000400-01
VMware, Inc.
3401 Hillview Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94304
www.vmware.com
2 VMware, Inc.
ThinApp User’s Guide
You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on the VMware Web site at:
http://www.vmware.com/support/
The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates.
If you have comments about this documentation, submit your feedback to:
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intellectual property laws. VMware products are covered by one or more patents listed at
http://www.vmware.com/go/patents.
VMware is a registered trademark or trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other jurisdictions. All other marks
and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
VMware, Inc. 3
Contents
AboutThisBook 9
1 InstallingThinApp 11
ThinAppRequirements 11
OperatingSystems,Applications,andSystemsThatThinAppSupports 11
ApplicationsThatThinAppCannotVirtualize 12
RecommendationsforInstallingThinApp 12
UsingaCleanComputer 12
UsingtheEarliestOperatingSystemRequiredforUsers 13
InstallThinAppSoftware 13
CheckingThinAppInstallationFiles 13
2 CapturingApplications 15
PhasesoftheCaptureProcess 15
PreparingtoCaptureApplications 15
CapturingApplicationswiththeSetupCaptureWizard 16
CreateaSystemImageBeforetheApplicationInstallation 16
RescantheSystemwiththeInstalledApplication 16
DefiningEntryPointsasShortcutsintotheVirtualEnvironment 17
SetEntryPoints 17
SetUserGroups 18
DefiningIsolationModesforthePhysicalFileSystem 18
SetFileSyst
emIsolationModes 20
StoringApplicationChangesintheSandbox 20
CustomizetheSandboxLocation 20
SendAnonymousStatisticstoVMware 20
CustomizeThinAppProjectSettings 21
DefiningPackageSettings 21
CustomizePackageSettings 22
OpeningProjectandParameterFiles 22
BuildVirtualApplications 23
AdvancedPackageConfiguration 23
ModifyingSettingsinthePackage.iniFile 23
ModifyingSettingsinthe##Attributes.iniFile 24
GuidelinesforPackagingMicrosoftOffice2
007 24
RequirementsforPackagingMicrosoftOffice2007 25
CapturingMicrosoftOffice2007 25
ConfigureMicrosoftOffice2007 27
CapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP 28
RequirementsforCapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP 28
CaptureInternetExplorer6onWindowsXPbyUsingtheSetupCaptureWizard 28
CaptureInternetExplorer6onWindowsXPFromtheCommandLi
ne 29
ExtractingandRegisteringThinDirect 30
CapturingMultipleApplicationInstallerswithThinAppConverter 30
ThinAppConverterConversionProcess 30
SystemRequirementsforRunningThinAppConverter 32
PreparingtheConfigurationFileforThinAppConverter 32
PredefinedEnvironmentVariables 38
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3 DeployingApplications 39
ThinAppDeploymentOptions 39
DeployingThinAppwithDeploymentTools 39
DeployingThinAppintheVMwareViewEnvironment 39
DeployingThinApponNetworkShares 40
DeployingThinAppUsingExecutableFiles 40
EstablishingFileTypeAssociationswiththethinreg.exeUtility 40
ApplicationSyncEffectonthethinreg.exeUtility 40
Runthethinreg.exeUtility 41
Optionalthinreg.exeParameters 41
BuildinganMSIDatabase 43
CustomizingMSIFileswithPackage.iniParameters
43
ModifythePackage.iniFiletoCreateMSIFiles 43
ControllingApplicationAccesswithActiveDirectory 45
Package.iniEntriesforActiveDirectoryAccessControl 45
StartingandStoppingVirtualServices 46
AutomaticStartupforVirtualServices 46
UsingThinAppPackagesStreamedfromtheNetwork 47
HowThinAppApplicationStreamingWorks 47
RequirementsandRecommendationsforStreamingPackages 48
StreamThinAppPackagesfromtheNe
twork 49
UsingCapturedApplicationswithOtherSystemComponents 49
PerformingPasteOperations 49
AccessingPrinters 49
AccessingDrivers 49
AccessingtheLocalDisk,theRemovableDisk,andNetworkShares 49
AccessingtheSystemRegistry 50
AccessingNetworkingandSockets 50
UsingSharedMemoryandNamedPipes 50
UsingCOM,DCOM,andOutofProcessCOMComponents 50
StartingServices 50
UsingFileTypeAssociations 50
SampleIsolationModeConfiguratio
nDependingonDeploymentContext 51
ViewofIsolationModeEffectontheWindowsRegistry 51
4 UpdatingandLinkingApplications 53
ApplicationUpdatesThattheEndUserTriggers 53
ApplicationSyncUpdates 53
ApplicationLinkUpdates 56
ApplicationUpdatesThattheAdministratorTriggers 60
ForcinganApplicationSyncUpdateonClientMachines 61
UpdatingApplicationswithRuntimeChanges 61
AutomaticApplicationUpdates 62
DynamicUpdatesWithoutAdministratorRights 63
SidebySideUpgradingofRunningApplicationsonaNetworkShare 63
FileLocks 63
UpgradeaRunningAppl
ication 63
SandboxConsiderationsforUpgradedApplications 64
UpdatingtheThinAppVersionofPackages 64
relinkExamples 64
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Contents
5 ConfiguringPackageParameters 65
Package.iniFileStructure 66
ParametersThatApplytoPackage.inior##Attributes.iniFiles 66
ConfiguringtheThinAppRuntime 66
NetRelaunch 66
RuntimeEULA 67
VirtualComputerName 67
Wow64 68
QualityReportingEnabled 68
LoadDotNetFromSystem 68
ConfiguringIsolation 68
DirectoryIsolationMode 68
RegistryIsolationMode 69
ConfiguringFileandProtocolAssociations 70
FileTypes 70
Protocols 70
ConfiguringBuildOutput 71
ExcludePattern 71
Icon 71
OutDir 72
RetainAllIcons 72
ConfiguringPermissions 72
AccessDeniedMsg 72
AddPageExecutePermission 72
PermittedGroups 73
UACRequestedPrivilegesLevel 74
UACRequestedPrivilegesUIAccess 74
ConfiguringObjectsandDLLFiles 74
ExternalCOMObjects 74
ExternalDLLs 75
ForcedVirtualLoadPaths 75
IsolatedMemoryObjects 76
IsolatedSynchronizationObjects 76
NotificationDLLs 77
NotificationDLLSignature 77
ObjectTypes 77
SandboxCOMObjects 78
VirtualizeExternalOutOfProcessCOM 78
ConfiguringFileStorage 78
CachePath 78
UpgradePath 79
VirtualDrives 80
ConfiguringProcessesandServices 81
AllowExternalKernelModeServices 81
AllowExternalProcessModifications 81
AllowUnsupportedExternalChildProcesses 82
AutoShutdownServices 82
AutoStartServices 82
ChildProcessEnvironmentDefault 83
ChildProcessEnvironmentExceptions 83
ConfiguringSizes 83
BlockSize 83
CompressionType 84
MSICompressionType 85
OptimizeFor 85
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ConfiguringLogging 86
DisableTracing 86
LogPath 86
ConfiguringVersions 86
CapturedUsingVersion 86
StripVersionInfo 86
Version.XXXX 87
ConfiguringLocales 87
AnsiCodePage 87
LocaleIdentifier 87
LocaleName 88
ConfiguringIndividualApplications 88
CommandLine 88
Disabled 88
ReadOnlyData 89
ReserveExtraAddressSpace 89
Shortcut 89
Shortcuts 90
Source 90
WorkingDirectory 91
ConfiguringDependentApplicationswithApplicationLink 91
ApplicationLinkPathnameFormats 91
RequiredAppLinks 92
OptionalAppLinks 93
ConfiguringApplicationUpdateswithApplicationSync 93
AppSyncClearSandboxOnUpdate 94
AppSyncExpireMessage 94
AppSyncExpirePeriod 94
AppSyncURL 94
AppSyncUpdateFrequency 95
AppSyncUpdatedMessage 95
AppSyncWarningFrequency 95
AppSyncWarningMessage 95
AppSyncWarningPeriod 96
ConfiguringMSIFiles 96
MSIArpProductIcon 96
MSIDefaultInstallAllUsers 96
MSIFilename 97
MSIInstallDirectory 97
MSIManufacturer 98
MSIProductCode 98
MSIProductVersion 98
MSIRequireElevatedPrivileges 99
MSIUpgradeCode 99
MSIStreaming 100
ConfiguringSandboxStorageandInventoryNames 100
InventoryName 100
RemoveSandboxOnExit 101
SandboxName 101
SandboxNetworkDrives 101
SandboxPath 102
SandboxRemovableDisk 102
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Contents
6 LocatingtheThinAppSandbox 103
SearchOrderfortheSandbox 103
ControllingtheSandboxLocation 105
StoretheSandboxontheNetwork 105
StoretheSandboxonaPortableDevice 105
SandboxStructure 106
MakingChangestotheSandbox 106
ListingVirtualRegistryContentswithvregtool 106
7 CreatingThinAppSnapshotsandProjectsfromtheCommandLine 107
MethodsofUsingthesnapshot.exeUtility 107
CreatingSnapshotsofMachineStates 107
CreatingtheTemplatePackage.inifilefromTwoSnapshotFiles 108
CreatingtheThinAppProjectfromtheTemplatePackage.iniFile 108
DisplayingtheContentsofaSnapshotFile 109
Samplesnapshot.exeCommands 109
CreateaProjectWithouttheSetupCaptureWizard 109
Customizingthesnapshot.iniFile 110
8 ThinAppFileSystemFormatsandMacros 111
VirtualFileSystemFormats 111
ThinAppFolderMacros 111
ListofThinAppMacros 112
Processing%SystemRoot%inaTerminalServicesEnvironment 113
9 CreatingThinAppScripts 115
CallbackFunctions 115
ImplementScriptsinaThinAppEnvironment 116
.batExample 116
TimeoutExample 116
ModifytheVirtualRegistry 117
.regExample 117
StoppingaServiceExample 117
CopyingaFileExample 117
AddaValuetotheSystemRegistry 118
APIFunctions 119
AddForcedVirtualLoadPath 119
ExitProcess 119
ExpandPath 120
ExecuteExternalProcess 120
ExecuteVirtualProcess 121
GetBuildOption 121
GetFileVersionValue 121
GetCommandLine 122
GetCurrentProcessName 122
GetOSVersion 123
GetEnvironmentVariable 124
RemoveSandboxOnExit 124
SetEnvironmentVariable 124
SetfileSystemIsolation 125
SetRegistryIsolation 125
WaitForProcess 125
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8 VMware, Inc.
10 MonitoringandTroubleshootingThinApp 127
ProvidingInformationtoTechnicalSupport 127
LogMonitorOperations 127
TroubleshootActivitywithLogMonitor 128
PerformAdvancedLogMonitorOperations 128
LogFormat 130
TroubleshootingSpecificApplications 134
TroubleshootRegistrySetupforMicrosoftOutlook 134
ViewingAttachmentsinMicrosoftOutlook 134
StartingExplorer.exeintheVirtualEnvironment 135
TroubleshootingJavaRuntimeEnvironmentVersionConflict 135
Glossary 137
Index 141
VMware, Inc. 9
TheThinAppUser’sGuideprovidesinformationabouthowtoinstallThinApp™,captureapplications,deploy
applications,andupgradeapplications.You canrefertothisguidetocustomizeparametersandperform
scripting.
Intended Audience
ThisbookisintendedforanyonewhoinstallsThinAppanddeployscapturedapplications.Typicalusersare
systemadministratorsresponsibleforthedistributionandmaintenanceofcorporatesoftwarepackages.
VMware ThinApp Documentation
ThecompletedocumentationsetforVMwareThinAppconsistsofthefollowingdocuments.
ThinAppUsersGuide.Conceptualandproceduralinformationtohelpyoucompleteatask.
ThinApp4.6ReleaseNotes.Latebreakingnewsanddescriptionsofknownissuesandworkarounds.
MigratingApplicationswithThinAppDuringanUpgradefromMicrosoftWindowsXPtoWindows7.
ProceduralinformationforusingThinApptomigrateapplicationsfromWindowsXPtoWindows7.
Document Feedback
VMwarewelcomesyoursuggestionsforimprovingourdocumentation.Ifyouhavecomments,sendyour
feedbacktodocfeedback@vmware.com.
Technical Support and Education Resources
Thefollowingsectionsdescribethetechnicalsupportresourcesavailabletoyou.To accessthecurrentversion
ofthisbookandotherbooks,gotohttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
Online and Telephone Support
Touseonlinesupporttosubmittechnicalsupportrequests,viewyourproductandcontractinformation,and
registeryourproducts,gotohttp://www.vmware.com/support.
Customerswithappropriatesupportcontractsshouldusetelephonesupportforthefastestresponseon
priority1issues.Gotohttp://www.vmware.com/support/phone_support.
Support Offerings
TofindouthowVMw aresupportofferingscanhelpmeetyourbusinessneeds,goto
http://www.vmware.com/support/services.
About This Book
ThinApp User’s Guide
10 VMware, Inc.
VMware Professional Services
VMwareEducationServicescoursesofferextensivehandsonlabs,casestudyexamples,andcoursematerials
designedtobeusedasonthejobreferencetools.Coursesareavailableonsite,intheclassroom,andlive
online.Foronsitepilotprograms andimplementationbestpractices,VMwareConsultingServicesprovides
offeringsto helpyouassess,plan,build,andmanageyo
urvirtualenvironment.To accessinformationabout
educationclasses,certificationprograms,andconsultingservices,gotohttp://www.vmware.com/services.
Legal Notice
ThinAppusestheregularexpressionlibraryoriginallywrittenbyHenrySpencer.
Copyright(c)1986,1993,1995byUniversityofToronto.
WrittenbyHenrySpencer.Notderivedfromlicensedsoftware.
Permissionisgrantedtoanyonetousethissoftwareforanypurposeonanycomputersystem,andto
redistributeitinanyway,subjecttothefollowingrest
rictions:
1Theauthorisnotresponsiblefortheconsequencesofuseofthissoftware,nomatterhowawful,evenif
theyarisefromdefectsinit.
2Theoriginofthissoftwaremustnotbemisrepresented,eitherbyexplicitclaimorbyomission.
3Alteredversionsmustbeplainlymarkedassu
ch,andmustnotbemisrepresented(byexplicitclaimor
omission)asbeingtheoriginalsoftware.
4Thisnoticemustnotberemovedoraltered.
VMware, Inc. 11
1
YoucaninstallThinApptoisolateapplications,simplifyapplicationcustomization,deployapplicationsto
differentoperatingsystems,andeliminateapplicationconflict.
Thisinformationincludesthefollowingtopics:
“ThinAppRequirements”onpage 11
“RecommendationsforInstallingThinApp”onpage 12
“InstallThinAppSoftware”onpage 13
“CheckingThinAppInstallationFiles”onpage 13
ThinApp Requirements
ReviewtherequirementsforoperatingsystemsandcapturedapplicationsbeforeinstallingThinApp.
Operating Systems, Applications, and Systems That ThinApp Supports
ThinAppsupportsvariousoperatingsystems,applications,andsystems.
32bitplatformsincludeWindowsNT,Windows2000,Windows XP,WindowsXPE,Windows2003
Server,WindowsVista,WindowsServer2008,Windows7
64bitplatformsincludeWindowsXP64bit,Windows200364bit,WindowsVista64 bit,
Windows Server 2008 64bit,Windows Server 2008 R2 64bit,Windows 7 64 bit
16bitapplicationsrunningon32bitWindowsoperatingsystems
32bitapplicationsrunningon32bitand64bitWindowsoperatingsystems
TerminalServerandCitrixXenapp
ThinAppsupportsJapaneseapplicationscapturedandrunonJapaneseoperatingsystems.
CertainoperatingsystemsandapplicationsarenotsupportedbyThinApp.
16bitornonx86platformssuchasWindowsCE
64bitapplicationsrunningon32bitor64bitWindowsoperatingsystems
16bitapplicationsrunningon64bitWindowsoperatingsystems
Installing ThinApp
1
ThinApp User’s Guide
12 VMware, Inc.
Applications That ThinApp Cannot Virtualize
ThinAppcannotconvertsomeapplicationsintovirtualapplicationsandmightblockcertainapplicationfunctions.
Youmustusetraditionalinstallationtechnologiestodeploysomeapplicationtypes.
Applicationsthatdonotnativelysupportthedeploymentoperatingsystem.
Ifanoperatingsystemdoesnotsupportthenativeinstallationofanapplication,thatoperatingsystemis
notasupportedThinAppdeploymentplatformforthatapplication.
Applicationsrequiringinstallationofkernelmodedevicedrivers
ODBCdriversworkbecausetheyareusermodedrivers.
Antivirusandpersonalfirewalls
Scannerdriversandprinterdrivers
SomeVPNclients
Device Drivers
ApplicationsthatrequiredevicedriversdonotworkwhenpackagedwithThinApp.Youmustinstallthose
devicedriversintheiroriginalformatonthehostcomputer.BecauseThinAppdoesnotsupportvirtualized
devicedrivers,youcannotuseThinApptovirtualizeantivirus,VPNclients,personalfirewalls,anddiskand
volumemountingrelatedu
tilities.
IfyoucaptureAdobeAcrobat,youcanmodifyandsavePDFfiles,butyoucannotusethePDFprinterdriver
thatenablesyoutosavedocumentstoPDFformat.
Shell Integration
SomeapplicationsthatprovideshellintegrationhavereducedfunctionswhentheyexistinaThinApp
package.Forexample,avirtualapplicationthatintegrateswithWindowsExplorercannotaddspecificentries
totheWindowsExplorercontextmenus.
DCOM Services that are Accessible on a Network
ThinAppisolatesCOMandDCOMservices.ApplicationsthatinstallDCOMservicesareaccessibleonthe
localcomputeronlybyothercapturedapplicationsrunninginthesameThinAppsandbox.ThinAppsupports
virtualDCOMandCOMonthesamecomputerbutdoesnotsupportnetworkDCOM.
Global Hook Dynamic Link Libraries
SomeapplicationsusetheSetWindowsHookExAPIfunctiontoaddaDLLfiletoallprocessesonthehost
computer.TheDLLinterceptsWindowsmessagestocapturekeyboardandmouseinputfromother
applications.ThinAppignoresrequestsfromapplicationsthatusetheSetWindowsHookExfunctiontotryto
installglobalhookDLLs.ThinAppmig
htreducetheapplicationfunctions.
Recommendations for Installing ThinApp
WhenyouinstallThinApp,considertherecommendationsandbestpracticesforthesoftware.
Using a Clean Computer
VMwarerecommendsusingacleancomputertoinstallThinAppbecausetheenvironmentaffectsthe
applicationcaptureprocess.AcleancomputerisaphysicalorvirtualmachinewithonlyaWindowsoperating
systeminstalled.Inacorporateenvironmentwhereyouhaveabasedesktopimage,thebasedesktopimage
isyourcleancom
puter.Thedesktopcomputermightalreadyhavesomecomponentsandlibrariesinstalled.
VMware, Inc. 13
Chapter 1 Installing ThinApp
Applicationinstallersskipfilesthatalreadyexistonthecomputer.Iftheinstallerskipsfiles,theThinApp
packagedoesnotincludethemduringtheapplicationcaptureprocess.Theapplicationmightfailtorunon
othercomputerswherethefilesdonotexist.Acleancomputerenablesthecaptureprocesstoscanthe
compu
terfilesystemandregistryquickly.
Ifyouin stal lThinAppandcaptureanapplicationonacom pu te rthathas Microsoft.NET2.0alreadyinstalled,
.NET2.0isnotincludedintheThinApppackage.Thecapturedapplicationrunsonlyoncomputersthathave
.NET2.0alreadyinstalled.
Using Virtual Machines for Clean Computers
Theeasiestwaytosetupacleancomputeristocreateavirtualmachine.YoucaninstallWindowsonthe
virtualmachineandtakeasnapshotoftheentirevirtualmachineinitscleanstate.Afteryoucapturean
application,youcanrestorethesnapshotandrevertittoacl
eanvirtualmachinestatethatisreadyforthenext
applicationcapture.
YoucanuseVMwareWorkstationorotherVMwareproductstocreatevirtualmachines.Forinformation
aboutVMwareproducts,seetheVMwareWebsite.
Using the Earliest Operating System Required for Users
InstallThinApponacleancomputerwiththeearliestversionoftheoperatingsystemyouplantosupport.
In mostcases,theearliestplatformisWindows 2000orWindows XP.MostpackagescapturedonWindowsXP
workonWindows2000.In somecases,WindowsXPincludessomeDLLsthatWindows2000lacks.ThinApp
excludestheseDLLSfromth
ecapturedapplicationpackageiftheapplicationtypicallyinstallstheseDLLs.
AfteryoucreateaThinAppapplicationpackage,youcanoverwritefilesinthepackagewithupdatedversions
andrebuildtheapplicationwithoutthecaptureprocess.
Install ThinApp Software
UsetheThinAppexecutablefiletoinstallThinApp.
Install ThinApp software
1 DownloadThinApptoacleanphysicalorvirtualWindowsmachine.
2DoubleclicktheThinAppexecutablefile.
3InthePatentListsdialogbox,clickNext.
4Acceptthelicense,typetheserialnumber,andtypealicensedisplaynamethatappearswhenyouopen
applicationsthatThinAppcaptur
es.
5ClickInstall.
ThinAppisinstalled.
Checking ThinApp Installation Files
TheThinAppinstallationgeneratestheVMwareThinAppdirectoryinC:\Program Files\VMware.Youmight
checkthefilesinthisdirectorytoperformoperationssuchasstartingtheLogMonitorutilitytoviewrecent
activity.
ThefollowingkeyfilesintheVMwareThinAppdirectoryaffectThinAppoperations:
AppSync.exeKeepscapturedapplicationsuptodatewiththelatestavailableversion.
logging.dllGenerates.tracefiles.
dll_dump.exeListsallcapturedapplicationsthatarecurrentlyrunningonasystem.
log_monitor.exeDisplaystheexecutionhistoryanderrorsofanapplication.
relink.exeUpdatesexistingpackagestothelatestThinAppversioninstalledonthesystem.
ThinApp User’s Guide
14 VMware, Inc.
sbmerge.exeMergesruntimechangesrecordedintheapplicationsandboxwiththeThinAppproject
andupdatesthecapturedapplication.
SetupCapture.exeCapturesandconfiguresapplicationsthroughawizard.
snapshot.exeComparesthepreinstallationenvironmentandpostinstallationenvironmentduringthe
applicationcaptureprocess.
ThinAppstartsthisutilityduringthesetupcaptureprocess.
snapshot.iniStoresentriesforthevirtualregistryandvirtualfilesystemthatThinAppignoresduring
theprocessofcapturinganapplication.
Thesnapshot.exefilereferencesthesnapshot.inifile.Advancedusersmightmodifythe
snapshot.inifiletoensurethatThinAppdoesnotcapturecertainentrieswhencreatinganapplication
package.
template.msiBuildstheMSIfiles.
Youcancustomizethistemplatetoensurethatthe.msifilesgeneratedbyThinAppadheretocompany
deploymentproceduresandstandards.Forexample,youcanaddregistrysettingsthatyouwant
ThinApptoaddtoclientcomputersaspartoftheinstallation.
thinreg.exeRegisterscapturedapplicationsonacomputer.
ThisregistrationincludessettingupshortcutsandtheStartmenuandsettingupfiletypeassociations
thatallowyoutoopenapplications.
tlink.exeLinkskeymodulesduringthebuildprocessofthecapturedapplication.
vftool.exeCompilesthevirtualfilesystemduringthebuildprocessofthecapturedapplication.
vregtool.exeCompilesthevirtualregistryduringthebuildprocessofthecapturedapplication.
VMware, Inc. 15
2
Youcancaptureapplicationstopackageanapplicationintoavirtualenvironment.
TheSetupCapturewizardisthemainmethodtocaptureapplicationsandsetinitialapplicationparameters.
Advanceduserswhomustcaptureapplicationsfromthecommandlinecanusethesnapshot.exeutility
insteadoftheSetupCapturewizard.
Thissectionincludesthefo
llowingtopics:
“PhasesoftheCaptureProcess”onpage 15
“PreparingtoCaptureApplications”onpage 15
“CapturingApplicationswiththeSetupCaptureWizard”onpage 16
“A d v a n c e d PackageConfiguration”onpage 23
“GuidelinesforPackagingMicrosoftOffice2007”onpage 24
“CapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP”onpage 28
“CapturingMultipleApplicationInstallerswithThinAppConverteronpage 30
Phases of the Capture Process
Capturinganapplicationinvolvessystemscans,applicationconfiguration,packageconfiguration,and
generationofthevirtualapplicationfordistribution.
TheSetupCapturewizardsetsinitialparametersfortheapplication.Youcancustomizethefullsetof
parametersoutsideofthewizard.
Preparing to Capture Applications
Preparingforthecaptureprocessinvolvesunderstandingtheneedsanddependenciesoftheapplication.
Fortargetapplicationsthathavedependenciesonotherapplications,libraries,orframeworks,youcancapture
thedependenciesorusetheApplicationLinkutilitytolinkseparatevirtualapplicationsatruntime.For
informationabouttheApplicationLinkutility,see
ApplicationLinkUpdates”onpage 56.
Fortargetapplicationsthatrequirelocaleformats,suchasaspecificdateformat,youcancapturetheminan
environmentwiththerequiredlocalesetting.ThinApprunsvirtualapplicationsaccordingtotheregionaland
languagesettingsonthecapturesystemratherthanthesettingsonthesy
stemthatrunstheapplication.
AlthoughyoucanmodifythedefaultlocalesettingbycommentingouttheLocaleIdentifierparameterin
thePackage.inifileandrebuildingtheapplication,youcanavoidcomplicationsinthecaptureenvironment.
ForinformationabouttheLocaleIdentifierparameter,see“LocaleIdentifieronpage 87.
Capturing Applications
2
ThinApp User’s Guide
16 VMware, Inc.
Capturing Applications with the Setup Capture Wizard
Thecaptureprocesspackagesanapplicationandsetsinitialapplicationparameters.Ifyouuseavirtual
machine,considertakingasnapshotbeforeyourunthewizard.Asnapshotoftheoriginalcleanstateenables
youtoreverttothesnapshotwhenyouwanttocaptureanotherapplication.
ThisinformationusesMozillaFirefoxasakeyexamp
leforapplicationcapture.Forinformationabout
MicrosoftOffice2007thatextendsbeyondthebasiccaptureprocess,see“GuidelinesforPackagingMicrosoft
Office2007”onpage 24.
Create a System Image Before the Application Installation
TheSetupCapturewizardstartsthecaptureprocessbyscanningthesystemtoassesstheenvironmentand
createabaselinesystemimage.
Create a system image before the application installation
1 Downloadtheapplicationstocapture.
Forexample,downloadFirefoxSetup2.0.0.3.exeandcopyittothecleancomputeryouareworking
with.
2Closeanyapplications,suchasvirusscans,thatmi
ghtchangethefilesystemduringthecaptureprocess.
3Fromthedesktop,selectStart>Programs>VMware>ThinAppSetupCapture.
4 (Optional)IntheReadytoPrescandialogbox,clickAdvancedScanLocationstoselectthedrivesand
registryhivestoscan.
YoumightwanttoscanaparticularlocationotherthantheC:\dri
veifyouinstallapplicationstoa
differentdriv e.Inrarecases,youmightwanttoavoidscanningaregistryhiveifyouknowthatthe
applicationinstallerdoesnotmodifytheregistry.
5ClickPrescantoestablishabaselinesystemimageoftheharddriveandregistryfiles.
Thescanningprocessta
kesabout10secondsforWindowsXP.
Rescan the System with the Installed Application
YoucaninstalltheapplicationtovirtualizebeforetheSetupCapturewizardrescansthesystemandassess
changesfromtheinitialsystemimage.
Install the application and rescan the system
1WhentheInstallApplicationpageappears,minimizetheSetupCapturewizardandinstallthe
applicationstocapture.
Forexample,doubleclickFirefoxSetup2.0.0.3.exe to installFirefox.Iftheapplicationneed
sto
restartaftertheinstallation,restartthesystem.TheprocessrestartstheSetupCapturewizard.
2 (Optional)IfyouarecapturingInternetExplorer,intheInstallApplicationpage,clickInternetExplorer,
tocompleteadditionalstepsbeforeinstallingthebrowser.
IfyouarecapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP,see“CapturingInternetExp
lorer6onWindows
XP”onpage 28.
Formoreinformationaboutentrypoints,see“DefiningEntryPointsasShortcutsintotheVirtual
Environment”onpage 17.
3 (Optional)Makeanynecessaryconfigurationchangestocomplywithyourcompanypolicies,suchas
usingspecificsecuritysettingsoraparticularhomepage.
Ifyoudonotmakec
onfigurationchangesatthistime,eachusermustmakechanges.
VMware, Inc. 17
Chapter 2 Capturing Applications
4 (Optional)Starttheapplicationandrespondtoanymessagesforinformationbeforeyoucontinuewith
theSetupCapturewizard.
Ifyoudonotrespondtoanymessagesatthistime,eachuserwhousestheapplicationmustdosoduring
theinitialstart.
5Closetheapplication.
6 MaximizetheSetupCapturewizard,clickPostscantoproceedwit
hanotherscanofthecomputer,and
clickOKtoconfirmthepostscanoperation.
ThinAppstoresthedifferencesbetweenthefirstbaselineimageandthisimageinavirtualfilesystemand
virtualregistry.
Defining Entry Points as Shortcuts into the Virtual Environment
Entrypointsaretheexecutablefilesthatactasshortcutsintothevirtualenvironmentandstartthevirtual
application.Theentrypointsyoucanchoosefromdependontheexecutablefilesthatyourcaptured
applicationcreatesduringinstallation.
Forexample,ifyouinstallMicrosoftOffice,youcanselectentrypointsforMicrosoftWo
rd,MicrosoftExcel,
andotherapplicationsthatareinstalledduringaMicrosoftOfficeinstallation.IfyouinstallFirefox,youmight
selectMozilla Firefox.exeandMozilla Firefox (SafeMode).exeifusersrequiresafemodeaccess.
DuringthebuildprocessthatoccursattheendoftheSetupCapturewizard,ThinAppgeneratesone
executablefileforeachse
lectedentrypoint.IfyoudeploytheapplicationasanMSIfileorusethe
thinreg.exeutility,thedesktopandStartmenushortcutscreatedonuserdesktopspointtotheseentry
points.
Entry Points for Troubleshooting
ThinAppprovidesentrypointstotroubleshootyourenvironment.
Debugginganapplicationmightinvolvethefollowingentrypoints:
cmd.exeStartsacommandpromptinavirtualcontextthatenablesyoutoviewthevirtualfilesystem.
regedit.exeStartstheregistryeditorinavirtualcontextthatenablesyoutoviewthevirtualregistry.
iexplore.exeStartsiexplore.exeinavirtualcontextthatenablesyoutotestvirtualized
ActiveX controls.
Entrypointsstartnativeexecutablefilesinavirtualcontext.Entrypointsdonotcreatevirtualpackagesof
cmd.exe,regedit.exe,oriexplore.exe.
Ifyoucannotpredicttheneedfordebuggingortroubleshootingtheenvironment,youcanus
etheDisabled
parameterinthePackage.inifileatalatertimetoactivatetheseentrypoints.
Set Entry Points
Youcandesignatetheexecutablefilesthatmakeupthelistofentrypoints.ThinAppinstallstheexecutable
filesduringthecaptureprocess.
Set entry points in the Setup Capture wizard
1OntheEntryPointspage,selectthecheckboxesforuseraccessibleentrypoints.
ThewizarddisplaystheexecutablefilesthatweredirectlyaccessiblethroughthedesktoporStartmenu
sh
ortcuts.
2 (Optional)Todebugyourenvironment,selecttheShowentrypointsusedfordebuggingcheckboxto
displaytheiexplore.exe,regedit.exe,andcmd.exetroubleshootingoptions.
ThinApp User’s Guide
18 VMware, Inc.
Set User Groups
ThinAppcanuseActiveDirectorygroupstoauthorizeaccesstothevirtualapplication.Youcanrestrictaccess
toanapplicationtoensurethatusersdonotpassittounauthorizedusers.
ActiveDirectoryDomainServicesdefinesecuritygroupsanddistributiongroups.ThinAppcanonlysupport
nestedsecuritygroups.
Set user groups in the Setup Capture wizard
1OntheGroupspage,li
mittheuseraccesstotheapplication.
a SelectOnlythefollowingActiveDirectorygroups.
bClickAddtospecifyActiveDirectoryobjectandlocationinformation.
2 (Optional)ChangethemessagethatappearsforusersthatThinAppcannotauthorize.
Defining Isolation Modes for the Physical File System
Isolationmodesdeterminethelevelofreadandwriteaccesstothenativefilesystemoutsideofthevirtual
environment.Youmightadjustisolationmodesettingsdependingontheapplicationandtherequirementsto
protectthephysicalsystemfromchanges.
TheselectionofisolationmodesinthecaptureprocessdeterminesthevalueoftheD
irectoryIsolationMode
parameterinthePackage.inifile.Thisparametercontrolsthedefaultisolationmodeforthefilescreatedby
thevirtualapplicationexceptwhenyouspecifyadifferentisolationmodeinthe##Attributes.inifilefor
anindividualdirectory.
Theselectionofadirectoryisolationmodedoesnotaffectthefollowingareas:
ThinApptreatswriteoperationstonetworkdrivesaccordingtotheSandboxNetworkDrivesparameter
inthePackage.inifile.Thisparameterhasadefaultvaluethatdirectswriteoperationstothephysical
drive.ThinApptreatswriteoperationstoremovabledisksaccordingtotheSandboxRemovableDisk
parameterinthePackage.inifile.Thisparameterhasadefaultva
luethatdirectswriteoperationstothe
physicaldrive.
IfyousavedocumentstothedesktoporMy Documentsfolder,ThinAppsavesthedocumentstothe
physicalsystem.ThinAppsetstheisolationmodeinthe##Attributes.inifilesin%Personal%and
%Desktop%toMergedevenwhenyouselectWriteCopyisolationmode.
Applying Merged Isolation Mode for Modifications Outside the Package
WithMergedisolationmode,applicationscanreadandmodifyelementsonthephysicalfilesystemoutside
ofthevirtualpackage.SomeapplicationsrelyonreadingDLLsandregistryinformationinthelocalsystem
image.
TheadvantageofusingMergedmodeisthatdocumentsthatuserssaveappearonthephysicalsysteminthe
lo
cationthatusersexpect,insteadofinthesandbox.Thedisadvantageisthatthismodemightclutterthe
systemimage.Anexampleofthecluttermightbefirstexecutionmarkersbysharewareapplicationswritten
torandomcomputerlocationsaspartofthelicensingprocess.
Option Description
ObjectTypes Specifiesobjects.
Locations Specifiesalocationintheforest.
CheckNames Verifyobjectnames.
Advanced LocatesusernamesintheActiveDirectoryforest.
CommonQueries(underAdvanced)Searchesforgroupsaccordingtonames,descriptions,disabledaccounts,
passwords,anddayssincelastlogin.
VMware, Inc. 19
Chapter 2 Capturing Applications
WhenyouselectMergedisolation,ThinAppcompletesthefollowingoperations:
SetstheDirectoryIsolationModeparameterinthePackage.inifiletoMerged.
SetsupexceptionsthatapplyWriteCopyisolationtothefollowingdirectoriesandtheirsubdirectories:
%AppData%
%Common AppData%
%Local AppData%
%Program Files Common%
%ProgramFilesDir%
%SystemRoot%
%SystemSystem%
ThinAppretainsMergedisolationmodeforthe%SystemSytem%\spoolsubdirectorybycreatingan
exceptiontothe%SystemSystem%parentdirectoryisolationmode.
Betweentheprescanandpostscancaptureoperations,assignsFullisolationmodetoanydirectoriesthat
theapplicationcreatesduringtheinstallation.Thisprocessisunrelatedtotheisolationmodeofanynew
directoriesthattherunningvirtualapplicationcreates.
MergedisolationmodeintheSetupCapturewizardhasthesameeffectasMergedisolatio
nmodeinthe
Package.inifile,includingthedirectoryexceptionsthatspecifyWriteCopyisolationmode.TheSetup
Capturewizardandmanualcaptureprocesswiththesnapshot.exe utilityconfigurethedirectory
exceptionsforyouwiththe##Attributes.inifileswithinthedirectories.
Applying WriteCopy Isolation Mode to Prevent Modifications Outside of the Package
WithWriteCopyisolationmode,ThinAppcaninterceptwriteoperationsandredirectthemtothesandbox.
YoucanuseWriteCopyisolationmodeforlegacyoruntrustedapplications.Althoughthismodemightmake
itdifficulttofinduserdatafilesthatresideinthesandboxinsteadofthephysicalsystem,thismodeisuseful
forlockeddowndesktopswhereyouwanttopreventusersfromaffectingthelocalfilesystem.
WhenyouselectWriteCopyisolationintheSetupCapturewizard,ThinAppcompletesanumberof
operations.
SetstheDirectoryIsolationModeparameterinthePackage.inifiletoWriteCopy.
SetsupexceptionsthatapplyMergedisolationtothesedirectories
%Personal%
%Desktop%
%SystemSystem%\spool
Betweentheprescanandpostscancaptureoperations,assignsFullisolationmodetoanydirectoriesthat
theapplicationcreatesduringtheinstallation.Thisprocessisunrelatedtotheisolationmodeofanynew
directoriesthattherunningvirtualapplicationcreates.
WriteCopyisolationmodeintheSetupCapturewizardhasthesameeffectasWr
iteCopyisolationmodeinthe
Package.inifile,includingthedirectoryexceptionsthatspecifyMergedisolationmode.TheSetupCapture
wizardandsnapshot.exeutilityconfigurethedirectoryexceptionsforyouwiththe##Attributes.inifiles
withinthedirectories.
ThinApp User’s Guide
20 VMware, Inc.
Set File System Isolation Modes
Thecaptureprocesssetsthelevelofreadandwriteaccesstothephysicalfilesystemtodeterminewhich
directoriesarevisibleandwritablebythevirtualapplication.
For informationaboutFullisolationandregistryisolationthatareavailableonlyoutsideoftheSetupCapture
wizard,see“DirectoryIsolationMode”onpage 68and“RegistryIsolationMode”onpage
69.
Set file system isolation modes in the Setup Capture wizard
OntheIsolationpage,selecttheisolationmodeforthephysicalfilesystem.
Storing Application Changes in the Sandbox
Thesandboxisthedirectorywhereallchangesthatthecapturedapplicationmakesarestored.Thesandbox
isruntimemodificationstorageandisnotacache.Thenexttimeyouopentheapplication,thosechangesare
incorporatedfromthesandbox.
Whenyoudeletethesandboxdirectory,theapplicationrevertstoitscapturedsta
te.Youmightdeletea
sandboxwhenanapplicationhasaproblemandyouwanttoreverttheapplicationbacktotheworking
originalstate.
Customize the Sandbox Location
Youcandeploythesandboxtoalocalusermachine,carryitonamobileUSBdevice,orstoreitinanetwork
location.
Ifyoudeploythesandboxtoalocalmachine,usetheusersprofileasthesandboxlocation.Thedefault
locationofthesandboxforFirefoxmightbe%AppData%\Thinstall\Mozilla Firefox 3.0.Thetypical
%AppD
ata%locationisC:\Documents and Settings\<user_name>\Application Data.Theusersprofile
isthedefaultlocationbecauseofthewriteaccess.
Anetworklocationisusefulforbackingupthesandboxandforuserswhologintoanycomputerandkeep
theirapplicationsettings.Usetheabsolutepathtothelocation,suchas\\thina
pp\sandbox\Firefox.You
canselectanetworklocationevenifanapplicationisinstalledonalocalmachine.
Aportabledevicelocationisusefultokeepthesandboxdataonthedevicewheretheapplicationresides.
Customize the sandbox location in the Setup Capture wizard
OntheSandboxpage,selecttheusersprofile,applicationdirectory,orcustomlocationforthesand
box.
Send Anonymous Statistics to VMware
ToimproveThinAppsupportforapplications,VMwareusesthecaptureprocesstoconfirmwhethertocollect
anonymousdataaboutdeployedThinApppackages.Thedataincludestheapplicationstarttime,total
runningtime,andnumberofrunsfortheapplication.
Send anonymous statistics to VMware
OntheUsageStatisticspage,clicktheYes‐SendanonymoususagestatisticstoVMw
areoptionbuttonto
confirmthedatacollectionstatus.
Option Description
Fullwriteaccesstononsystemdirectories
(Mergedisolationmode)
Allowstheapplicationtoreadresourcesonandwritetothelocalmachine.
Restrictedwriteaccess(WriteCopy
isolationmode)
Allowstheapplicationtoreadresourcesonthelocalmachineandto
restrictmostmodificationstothesandbox.
ThinAppcopiesfilesystemchangestoth
esandboxtoensurethat
ThinApponlymodifiescopiesoffilesinsteadoftheactualphysicalfiles.
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VMware ThinApp 4.6.1 User guide

Category
Antivirus security software
Type
User guide
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