[gptalk] Re: [gptalk]Office 2007 and Group Policy
- From: "Salandra, Justin A." <jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 16:31:43 -0400
Does anyone know if Microsoft has made on progress on being able to push
out Office 2007 via group policy? I know you can do it, but you have to
use an XML file to customize the install, what tools exist to create
this file? If you don't know the XML language how can you make these
customizations? Also, the MSP files do not get installed when you push
out through group policy, even though MS says they are supposed to.
They only get applied if you manually install Office. If you push out
through GPO only the XML file will make changes, nothing else.
Has Microsoft done this to force people to have to invest in SMS? Why
take away the ability to use MST files so that you can 1) have outlook
pre-configured for when people login and 2) have the ability to make the
install place icons on the desktop to make the end user use the product
with more ease?
Does MS really think that end users will be able to setup an outlook
profile? Did they take away the ability to put icons in the desktop
automatically during an install because they want everyone to have a
clean desktop? Who are they to tell me how I want my end users
experience to be like.
As you can probably tell I am really irritated with this, but I have no
ear to talk into at Mircosoft and I am sure some of you do. As of now I
will not be installing Office 2007 in my environment until they can fix
this.
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 5:45 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: [SPAM] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Justin-
Further to this, I was reading some docs. Did you put your MSP files in
the Updates folder when you deployed them? They need to be in the folder
called "Updates" in order to get picked up.
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 1:25 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: [SPAM] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Well it works great via Interactive installations, just the Group Policy
piece doesn't work great.
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 12:29 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: [SPAM] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
All very good questions Justin and I don't yet have any good answers. My
understanding of how MSPs are supposed to work in the context of Office
2007 GP is that you first install what you want using the Office 2007
bits with a custom config.xml, then you apply MSPs to further customize
the install. However, I know that you're not the only one who hasn't
been able to make this work. I have told the Group Policy product team
about this issue and they agreed to talk with the Office product team.
Hopefully we will all get some better guidance on this in the future
because as it stands right now, the Office team really screwed this up.
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 9:18 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: [SPAM] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
I don't want to have to make programming changes to config.xml to do
everything, I should be able to use the Office Customization Tool. How
will you pre-configure Outlook to use your exchange server and the
currently logged in user when they double click on it?
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of tools@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 11:17 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [SPAM] [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Importance: Low
Justin-
What are you trying to customize exactly? I did manage to install Office
2007 via GP using a config.xml file that excluded all apps except
Powerpoint, Excel, Word and Outlook. I've attached the file below so you
can see what it looks like:
- <Configuration Product="Ultimater">
- <!--
<Display Level="full" CompletionNotice="yes" SuppressModal="no"
AcceptEula="no" />
-->
- <!--
<Logging Type="standard" Path="%temp%" Template="Microsoft Office
Ultimate Setup(*).txt" />
-->
<PIDKEY Value="####-####-#####-#####-#####" />
<USERNAME Value="User" />
<COMPANYNAME Value="SDM Softwware" />
- <!--
<INSTALLLOCATION Value="%programfiles%\Microsoft Office" />
-->
- <!--
<LIS CACHEACTION="CacheOnly" />
-->
- <!--
<SOURCELIST Value="\\server1\share\Office12;\\server2\share\Office12"
/>
-->
- <!--
<DistributionPoint Location="\\server\share\Office12" />
-->
<OptionState Id="AccessFiles" State="absent" Children="force" />
<OptionState Id="GrooveFiles" State="absent" Children="force" />
<OptionState Id="PubPrimary" State="absent" Children="force" />
<OptionState Id="OneNoteFiles" State="absent" Children="force" />
<OptionState Id="XDOCSFiles" State="absent" Children="force" />
- <!--
<Setting Id="Reboot" Value="IfNeeded" />
-->
- <!--
<Command Path="msiexec.exe" Args="/i \\server\share\my.msi"
QuietArg="/q" ChainPosition="after" Execute="install" />
-->
</Configuration>
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 7:21 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
I will try that when the restore finishes.
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 10:05 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Since you didn't do an admin install in the first place, how about just
using the msiexec <package location> /p <patch location) form of the
command?
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 6:58 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
I tried the msiexec /a /p command and was unable to re-deploy the
application. Got a MsiDatabaseCall failure.
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Sunday, January 28, 2007 8:00 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
I agree that is how it worked. I have done it many times. I cannpt
figure out how to apply the .msp to the network installation point, (the
area where we copied the install files to)
Would it be done using the msiexec command?
If so, would you still use the /a command?
Msiexec /a \\server\share\visio\visiopro.ww\visioww.msi
<file:///\\server\share\visio\visiopro.ww\visioww.msi> /p
\\server\share\visio\updates\file.msp
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 3:05 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Normally, the way it works prior to Office 2007 is this. Let's say you
want to deploy Office 2003 via GP. You create an admin install point,
create any MSTs and then deploy the package. Then, along comes a path.
You patch the install point using msiexec /p with the .msp file and then
you issue a re-deploy. That is what I was told is the proper order for
these Office 2007 msps, but again, I haven't tried it.
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 11:54 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Since you can't add an .msp to a GPO, how do you get it to run
automatically?
I am not sure I understand this "needs to get applied after the initial
install and then you do a re-deploy on the package in GP to get your
previously installed clients to pick it up." The initial install is via
GPO, so you are saying apply the policy, then run the .msp and then
re-deploy the policy? That sounds wired.
There has got to be a better way.
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 1:49 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
What I just learned is that the MSP needs to get applied after the
initial install and then you do a re-deploy on the package in GP to get
your previously installed clients to pick it up. I know it sounds hokey.
I was just on a call with the MS GP team and they are going to try and
get the Office team to document this better. I will post something here
when I find it out. Also, just in case, because I don't know if you
mentioned it, but Office 2007 does not support per-user Software
Installation at all. Just so you know.
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 10:12 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
When modifying the config.xml I was able to enter in the license info,
however the .msp that I created and placed in the Updates folder did
nothing. When I ran the .msp manually it appeared to do what I wanted,
like placing the icon on the desktop.
Is there a way to run the msiexec command to update the VisProWW.msi
file with the updates from the .msp. Apparently, all the statements
from Microsoft that anything in this folder will be installed and
applied during initial install is false. Unless this statement is if
installing it manually and not via Group Policy.
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 10:36 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Right. If you go to the archive for this list, Michael Pietrzak had
posted some items about this. I don't believe the .msp buys you anything
in terms of customization. I hope to test some of this today, however.
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 7:31 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
What about using the setup.exe /admin switch to create the .msp file? I
read that if you leave the .msp file in the Updates folder of the folder
structure on the network share that it will apply it during
installation. I am not sure I believe this works, because an
installation of Visio 2007 pushed out but once I opened the product it
asked me for the CD Key which I had already put in the .msp file that I
created.
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
________________________________
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Darren Mar-Elia
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 4:50 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Good question Justin. Actually it is possible to deploy Office 2007
through GP but it has completely changed. You no longer create an admin
install point. You just copy the CD bits to the share. And, it no
longer supports transforms. You have a file called config.xml that
support minimal customization that you put in the install directory
along with the bits. Really a step back actually. MS used to have a
technet article describing this but the pulled it recently. However,
thanks to the wonders of Google, you can still find it cached at
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:kLaHkfhp8PoJ:technet2.microsoft.com
/Office/en-us/library/efd0ee45-9605-42d3-9798-3b698fff3e081033.mspx+conf
ig.xml+office+2007+"Group+Policy"&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1
<http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:kLaHkfhp8PoJ:technet2.microsoft.co
m/Office/en-us/library/efd0ee45-9605-42d3-9798-3b698fff3e081033.mspx+con
fig.xml+office+2007+%22Group+Policy%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1>
Darren
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Salandra, Justin A.
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 11:26 AM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Push out Visio 2007 via Group Policy
Does anyone know who the Office 2007 products can be pushed out via
group policy? How do you create an administrative installation point?
How to you include customizations?
Justin A. Salandra
MCSE Windows 2000 & 2003
Network and Technology Services Manager
Catholic Healthcare System
646.505.3681 - office
917.455.0110 - cell
jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jasalandra@xxxxxxxxxxx>
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