[gptalk] Re: [gptalk]Office 2007 and Group Policy

A couple of us GP MVPs (specifically myself and Jeremy Moskowitz) brought this 
up with the Group Policy product team a couple of times now and we revisited it 
at the MVP Summit last week. The bottom line is that this was not the GP 
product team that did this, but rather the Office Product Team. And, what they 
really did, I think, was not consciously try to break GPSI-based deployments of 
Office, but rather they simply were ignorant to that particular method of 
deployment that many customers use. That’s not really an excuse in my book, 
but I think that was what happened. Bottom line is that we have brought this 
issue up, it has been taken up by the GP team and they are working with the 
Office team to try and get something to happen. What that something is  I 
can’t say but I am hopeful.

 

In the meantime, editing XML files is not necessarily any harder than editing 
an HTML file. I personally use Visual Studio but there are a ton of XML editors 
out there. Frankly, its probably worth while to get up to speed on XML since 
more and more MS config. stuff is going to rely on it going forward.

 

Also, with respect to Outlook profiles, one possible solution down the line, is 
that it is very likely that the old DesktopStandard PolicyMaker extensions will 
make their way into Windows in the not too distant future, and when that 
happens, the ability to drive down very detailed Outlook profiles (and other 
Office customizations) will be in GP out of the box.

 

Darren

 

 

From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of John Cook
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2007 3:12 PM
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [gptalk] Re: [gptalk]Office 2007 and Group Policy

 

Have you looked into BDD?
Sent to you from the home of the NCAA National Champion Florida Gators.  

-----Original Message-----
From: gptalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: gptalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thu Mar 22 16:31:43 2007
Subject: [gptalk] Re: [gptalk]Office 2007 and Group Policy

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+config.xml+office+2007+"Group+Policy"&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1
 
<http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:kLaHkfhp8PoJ:technet2.microsoft.com/Office/en-us/library/efd0ee45-9605-42d3-9798-3b698fff3e081033.mspx+config.xml+office+2007+%22Group+Policy%22
 
<http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:kLaHkfhp8PoJ:technet2.microsoft.com/Office/en-us/library/efd0ee45-9605-42d3-9798-3b698fff3e081033.mspx+config.xml+office+2007+%22Group+Policy%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1>
 &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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