Streamline Outlook 2000 installs

Note that the shortcut doesn't have a target. The Change Icon and Find Target buttons are disabled, and the Target path is grayed out and includes only the name of the application. This shortcut is managed by the Windows Installer service and shouldn't be altered. For Windows Installer shortcuts to work, you must have the Windows Desktop Update installed. This feature is automatically installed with Windows 2000 and Windows 98/Me. If you're using Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, you'll need to install the Active Desktop included with Internet Explorer 4.01 SP1 or the Windows Desktop Update included with Internet Explorer 5.0 and above. You must use these shortcuts to take advantage of the self-healing features of Windows Installer programs. When you launch an application from these shortcuts, the Windows Installer service will check for the presence of critical files. If one of the application's critical files is missing or corrupt, the Windows Installer service will reinstall these files. Noncritical files can be repaired or replaced using the Detect And Repair feature within the application. Windows Installer's Install On Demand features also use these shortcuts. Install On Demand allows the installer to put shortcuts on the desktop for user applications, but the applications themselves aren't installed until the user actually clicks on the shortcut. After a user clicks the shortcut, the Installation Wizard will automatically install the application. Management of installation states
The Windows Installer can do more than just install an application onto a target computer. It can install an application in different states. The primary installation states are:
  • Run From My Computer -- This installs an application onto a target computer in a manner similar to that of traditional non-Windows Installation applications. The entire application is installed on the computer. If you need to install other features, you must run the setup routine again.
  • Run From Network (Source) -- This allows the application or feature to run from the source location. That location can be a distribution server hard disk or CD-ROM. Note that when you select this option, some files will be installed onto the target computer. The main application files will remain on the network server.
  • Installed On First Use -- This places shortcuts to applications in the Start menu and in the Office toolbar. However, such an application won't be installed until the user clicks on a Windows Installer shortcut.
Management of self-healing applications
The Windows Installer service is responsible for the self-healing capabilities of the appropriate applications. However, you must use the shortcuts created by the installer to begin the program. For example, if you manually create a shortcut to the file Winword.exe, the application won't be able to fix itself in the event of missing or corrupt files. This type of shortcut, known as a hard-coded shortcut, is not Windows Installer service-aware. Creating a custom installation
To deploy Outlook 2000 as part of a custom installation of Office 2000, you must create what is known as a Transform file. A Transform file, which uses the file extension .mst, is a record of the differences between an application's Windows Installer file (the .msi file) and the customisations made to the application's .msi file. The .msi file contains all the instructions required to install a Windows Installer-aware application. The .mst file contains the installation customisations you applied to the .msi file. You'll use the Custom Installation Wizard to create a Transform file that will be applied to Office 2000's .msi file.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

  • Login

Will not be displayed with your comment

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Freebies202

Duplicate comments are not made intentionally. Its very good to know that now you are keeping check on this problem because sometimes a commenter...

5 hours ago by Freebies202 on Microsoft fixes blog comments, speeds up blogs with open source
kevinmchapman

"the very significant number of users" and "many (most) of us" - you have no evidence for these statements. It is a fact that most users are saying...

13 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Marg Menzies Harrison

Another grammar faux pas is the improper use of "you". When sitting down down in a restaurant, for example, I get cringe when the waitress...

14 hours ago by Marg Menzies Harrison via Facebook on 10 flagrant grammar mistakes that make you look stupid
zdnetukuser

And NOW, folks, for Canonical's next trick... Kubuntu is late. Here's a pencil. Draw your own conclusions. cf.:...

15 hours ago by zdnetukuser on Linux Minterface
Moley

@kevinmchapman. The discussion here reflects the very significant number of users who really do like the traditional menu system and who wish to...

17 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

Er, no... It is an efficient means of finding the application/file/setting you need in one place. The icons are a simply a fallback for when you...

18 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

Isn't the provision of a text based search an admission by the developers that the mass of icons approach does not work? I don't need to use a...

20 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
kevinmchapman

"Unity and GNOME 3 both abandon the old text-based cascading menus in favour of a graphical icon-driven system." Point truly missed. Both use a...

20 hours ago by kevinmchapman on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
TerryRK

whs001 - Thank you, I'm glad you liked the article. I absolutely agree with you on your first point. I should perhaps have made it clearer that...

20 hours ago by TerryRK on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Dennis Nilsson

If we allow corporate interest to dictate the way our government circumvents due process against foreign entities then we should accept the same...

21 hours ago by Dennis Nilsson via Facebook on ACTA stumbles in Germany
GHar123

I totally dislike pirating of works, I fear that artists will be deterred from creating works if they think that they are going to get ripped off....

23 hours ago by GHar123 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
JCB33

How dare film makers, artists or anybody that invests in creativity stop us pirating their works for free. I want to be able to walk into my local...

1 day ago by JCB33 on ACTA stumbles in Germany
Moley

@GrueMaster. I prefer horses for courses rather than one size fits all. I, and I suspect most other computer users, do not really wish to have...

1 day ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
greycynic

The product that scares me every time I have to use it is the Office 2007 version of Excel. The first bug that I found was applying the median...

1 day ago by greycynic on Ten flawed products that derail productivity
GrueMaster

Nice review and very informative. One thing I'd like to add (in reply to whs001's 1st question), the main reason to have the same interface from...

1 day ago by GrueMaster on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Frederick Wrigley

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

1 day ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
bdantas

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

1 day ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

1 day ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Alan Ralph

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

1 day ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material
Moley

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

1 day ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint