VMware THINAPP 4.6 - MIGRATING APPLICATIONS TECHNICAL... User manual

ThinApp User’s Guide
ThinApp 4.6
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-000400-00

VMware, Inc.
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www.vmware.com
2VMware, Inc.
ThinApp User’s Guide
You can find the most up-to-date technical documentation on the VMware Web site at:
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The VMware Web site also provides the latest product updates.
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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
AboutThisBook 9
1InstallingThinApp 11
ThinAppRequirements 11
OperatingSystems,Applications,andSystemsThatThinAppSupports 11
ApplicationsThatThinAppCannotVirtualize 12
RecommendationsforInstallingThinApp 12
UsingaCleanComputer 12
UsingtheEarliestOperatingSystemRequiredforUsers 13
InstallThinAppSoftware 13
CheckingThinAppInstallationFiles 13
2CapturingApplications 15
PhasesoftheCaptureProcess 15
PreparingtoCaptureApplications 15
CapturingApplicationswiththeSetupCaptureWizard 16
CreateaSystemImageBeforetheApplicationInstallation 16
RescantheSystemwiththeInstalledApplication 16
DefiningEntryPointsasShortcutsintotheVirtualEnvironment 17
SetEntryPoints 17
SetUserGroups 18
DefiningIsolationModesforthePhysicalFileSystem 18
SetFileSystemIsolationModes 20
StoringApplicationChangesintheSandbox 20
CustomizetheSandboxLocation 20
SendAnonymousStatisticstoVMware 20
CustomizeThinAppProjectSettings 21
DefiningPackageSettings 21
CustomizePackageSettings 22
OpeningProjectandParameterFiles 22
BuildVirtualApplications 23
AdvancedPackageConfiguration 23
ModifyingSettingsinthePackage.iniFile 23
ModifyingSettingsinthe##Attributes.iniFile 24
GuidelinesforPackagingMicrosoftOffice2007 24
RequirementsforPackagingMicrosoftOffice2007 25
CapturingMicrosoftOffice2007 25
ConfigureMicrosoftOffice2007 27
CapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP 28
RequirementsforCapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP 28
CaptureInternetExplorer6onWindowsXPbyUsingtheSetupCaptureWizard 28
ExtractingandRegisteringThinDirect 29
CapturingMultipleApplicationInstallerswithThinAppConverter 29
ThinAppConverterProcess 29
SystemRequirementsforRunningThinAppConverter 30
PreparingtheConfigurationFileforThinAppConverter 30
PredefinedEnvironmentVariables 37

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3DeployingApplications 39
ThinAppDeploymentOptions 39
DeployingThinAppwithDeploymentTools 39
DeployingThinAppintheVMwareViewEnvironment 39
DeployingThinApponNetworkShares 40
DeployingThinAppUsingExecutableFiles 40
EstablishingFileTypeAssociationswiththethinreg.exeUtility 40
ApplicationSyncEffectonthethinreg.exeUtility 40
Runthethinreg.exeUtility 41
Optionalthinreg.exeParameters 41
BuildinganMSIDatabase 43
CustomizingMSIFileswithPackage.iniParameters 43
ModifythePackage.iniFiletoCreateMSIFiles 43
ControllingApplicationAccesswithActiveDirectory 45
Package.iniEntriesforActiveDirectoryAccessControl 45
StartingandStoppingVirtualServices 46
AutomaticStartupforVirtualServices 46
UsingThinAppPackagesStreamedfromtheNetwork 47
HowThinAppApplicationStreamingWorks 47
RequirementsandRecommendationsforStreamingPackages 48
StreamThinAppPackagesfromtheNetwork 49
UsingCapturedApplicationswithOtherSystemComponents 49
PerformingPasteOperations 49
AccessingPrinters 49
AccessingDrivers 49
AccessingtheLocalDisk,theRemovableDisk,andNetworkShares 49
AccessingtheSystemRegistry 50
AccessingNetworkingandSockets 50
UsingSharedMemoryandNamedPipes 50
UsingCOM,DCOM,andOut‐of‐ProcessCOMComponents 50
StartingServices 50
UsingFileTypeAssociations 50
SampleIsolationModeConfigurationDependingonDeploymentContext 51
ViewofIsolationModeEffectontheWindowsRegistry 51
4UpdatingandLinkingApplications 53
ApplicationUpdatesThattheEndUserTriggers 53
ApplicationSyncUpdates 53
ApplicationLinkUpdates 56
ApplicationUpdatesThattheAdministratorTriggers 60
ForcinganApplicationSyncUpdateonClientMachines 61
UpdatingApplicationswithRuntimeChanges 61
AutomaticApplicationUpdates 62
DynamicUpdatesWithoutAdministratorRights 63
UpgradingRunningApplicationsonaNetworkShare 63
FileLocks 63
UpgradeaRunningApplication 63
SandboxConsiderationsforUpgradedApplications 64
UpdatingtheThinAppVersionofPackages 64
relinkExamples 64

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Contents
5ConfiguringPackageParameters 65
Package.iniFileStructure 66
ParametersThatApplytoPackage.inior##Attributes.iniFiles 66
ConfiguringtheThinAppRuntime 66
NetRelaunch 66
RuntimeEULA 67
VirtualComputerName 67
Wow64 68
QualityReportingEnabled 68
ConfiguringIsolation 68
DirectoryIsolationMode 68
RegistryIsolationMode 69
ConfiguringFileandProtocolAssociations 70
FileTypes 70
Protocols 70
ConfiguringBuildOutput 70
ExcludePattern 70
Icon 71
OutDir 71
RetainAllIcons 72
ConfiguringPermissions 72
AccessDeniedMsg 72
AddPageExecutePermission 72
PermittedGroups 73
UACRequestedPrivilegesLevel 73
UACRequestedPrivilegesUIAccess 74
ConfiguringObjectsandDLLFiles 74
ExternalCOMObjects 74
ExternalDLLs 75
ForcedVirtualLoadPaths 75
IsolatedMemoryObjects 75
IsolatedSynchronizationObjects 76
NotificationDLLs 77
NotificationDLLSignature 77
ObjectTypes 77
SandboxCOMObjects 77
VirtualizeExternalOutOfProcessCOM 78
ConfiguringFileStorage 78
CachePath 78
UpgradePath 79
VirtualDrives 79
ConfiguringProcessesandServices 81
AllowExternalKernelModeServices 81
AllowExternalProcessModifications 81
AllowUnsupportedExternalChildProcesses 82
AutoShutdownServices 82
AutoStartServices 82
ChildProcessEnvironmentDefault 82
ChildProcessEnvironmentExceptions 83
ConfiguringSizes 83
BlockSize 83
CompressionType 83
MSICompressionType 84
OptimizeFor 85

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ConfiguringLogging 85
DisableTracing 85
LogPath 86
ConfiguringVersions 86
CapturedUsingVersion 86
StripVersionInfo 86
Version.XXXX 87
ConfiguringLocales 87
AnsiCodePage 87
LocaleIdentifier 87
LocaleName 87
ConfiguringIndividualApplications 88
CommandLine 88
Disabled 88
ReadOnlyData 88
ReserveExtraAddressSpace 89
Shortcut 89
Shortcuts 90
Source 90
WorkingDirectory 90
ConfiguringDependentApplicationswithApplicationLink 91
ApplicationLinkPathnameFormats 91
RequiredAppLinks 92
OptionalAppLinks 93
ConfiguringApplicationUpdateswithApplicationSync 93
AppSyncClearSandboxOnUpdate 93
AppSyncExpireMessage 94
AppSyncExpirePeriod 94
AppSyncURL 94
AppSyncUpdateFrequency 94
AppSyncUpdatedMessage 95
AppSyncWarningFrequency 95
AppSyncWarningMessage 95
AppSyncWarningPeriod 95
ConfiguringMSIFiles 96
MSIArpProductIcon 96
MSIDefaultInstallAllUsers 96
MSIFilename 97
MSIInstallDirectory 97
MSIManufacturer 97
MSIProductCode 98
MSIProductVersion 98
MSIRequireElevatedPrivileges 99
MSIUpgradeCode 99
MSIStreaming 99
ConfiguringSandboxStorageandInventoryNames 100
InventoryName 100
RemoveSandboxOnExit 100
SandboxName 101
SandboxNetworkDrives 101
SandboxPath 101
SandboxRemovableDisk 102

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Contents
6LocatingtheThinAppSandbox 103
SearchOrderfortheSandbox 103
ControllingtheSandboxLocation 105
StoretheSandboxontheNetwork 105
StoretheSandboxonaPortableDevice 105
SandboxStructure 106
MakingChangestotheSandbox 106
ListingVirtualRegistryContentswithvregtool 106
7CreatingThinAppSnapshotsandProjectsfromtheCommandLine 107
MethodsofUsingthesnapshot.exeUtility 107
CreatingSnapshotsofMachineStates 107
CreatingtheTemplatePackage.inifilefromTwoSnapshotFiles 108
CreatingtheThinAppProjectfromtheTemplatePackage.iniFile 108
DisplayingtheContentsofaSnapshotFile 109
Samplesnapshot.exeCommands 109
CreateaProjectWithouttheSetupCaptureWizard 109
Customizingthesnapshot.iniFile 110
8ThinAppFileSystemFormatsandMacros 111
VirtualFileSystemFormats 111
ThinAppFolderMacros 111
ListofThinAppMacros 112
Processing%SystemRoot%inaTerminalServicesEnvironment 113
9CreatingThinAppScripts 115
CallbackFunctions 115
ImplementScriptsinaThinAppEnvironment 116
.batExample 116
TimeoutExample 116
ModifytheVirtualRegistry 117
.regExample 117
StoppingaServiceExample 117
CopyingaFileExample 117
AddaValuetotheSystemRegistry 118
APIFunctions 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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10 MonitoringandTroubleshootingThinApp 127
ProvidingInformationtoTechnicalSupport 127
LogMonitorOperations 127
TroubleshootActivitywithLogMonitor 128
PerformAdvancedLogMonitorOperations 128
LogFormat 130
TroubleshootingSpecificApplications 134
TroubleshootRegistrySetupforMicrosoftOutlook 134
ViewingAttachmentsinMicrosoftOutlook 134
StartingExplorer.exeintheVirtualEnvironment 135
TroubleshootingJavaRuntimeEnvironmentVersionConflict 135
Glossary 137
Index 141

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TheThinAppUser’sGuideprovidesinformationabouthowtoinstallThinApp™,captureapplications,deploy
applications,andupgradeapplications.You canrefertothisguidetocustomizeparametersandperform
scripting.
Intended Audience
ThisbookisintendedforanyonewhoinstallsThinAppanddeployscapturedapplications.Typicalusersare
systemadministratorsresponsibleforthedistributionandmaintenanceofcorporatesoftwarepackages.
VMware ThinApp Documentation
ThecompletedocumentationsetforVMwareThinAppconsistsofthefollowingdocuments.
ThinAppUser’sGuide.Conceptualandproceduralinformationtohelpyoucompleteatask.
ThinApp4.6ReleaseNotes.Late‐breakingnewsanddescriptionsofknownissuesandworkarounds.
MigratingApplicationswithThinAppDuringanUpgradefromMicrosoftWindowsXPtoWindows7.
ProceduralinformationforusingThinApptomigrateapplicationsfromWindowsXPtoWindows7.
Document Feedback
VMwarewelcomesyoursuggestionsforimprovingourdocumentation.Ifyouhavecomments,sendyour
feedbackto[e-mail].
Technical Support and Education Resources
Thefollowingsectionsdescribethetechnicalsupportresourcesavailabletoyou.To accessthecurrentversion
ofthisbookandotherbooks,gotohttp://www.vmware.com/support/pubs.
Online and Telephone Support
Touseonlinesupporttosubmittechnicalsupportrequests,viewyourproductandcontractinformation,and
registeryourproducts,gotohttp://www.vmware.com/support.
Customerswithappropriatesupportcontractsshouldusetelephonesupportforthefastestresponseon
priority1issues.Gotohttp://www.vmware.com/support/phone_support.
Support Offerings
TofindouthowVMwaresupportofferingscanhelpmeetyourbusinessneeds,goto
http://www.vmware.com/support/services.
About This Book

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VMware Professional Services
VMwareEducationServicescoursesofferextensivehands‐onlabs,casestudyexamples,andcoursematerials
designedtobeusedason‐the‐jobreferencetools.Coursesareavailableonsite,intheclassroom,andlive
online.Foronsitepilotprograms andimplementationbestpractices,VMwareConsultingServicesprovides
offeringsto helpyouassess,plan,build,andmanageyourvirtualenvironment.To accessinformationabout
educationclasses,certificationprograms,andconsultingservices,gotohttp://www.vmware.com/services.
Legal Notice
ThinAppusestheregularexpressionlibraryoriginallywrittenbyHenrySpencer.
Copyright(c)1986,1993,1995byUniversityofToronto.
WrittenbyHenrySpencer.Notderivedfromlicensedsoftware.
Permissionisgrantedtoanyonetousethissoftwareforanypurposeonanycomputersystem,andto
redistributeitinanyway,subjecttothefollowingrestrictions:
1Theauthorisnotresponsiblefortheconsequencesofuseofthissoftware,nomatterhowawful,evenif
theyarisefromdefectsinit.
2Theoriginofthissoftwaremustnotbemisrepresented,eitherbyexplicitclaimorbyomission.
3Alteredversionsmustbeplainlymarkedassuch,andmustnotbemisrepresented(byexplicitclaimor
omission)asbeingtheoriginalsoftware.
4Thisnoticemustnotberemovedoraltered.

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1
YoucaninstallThinApptoisolateapplications,simplifyapplicationcustomization,deployapplicationsto
differentoperatingsystems,andeliminateapplicationconflict.
Thisinformationincludesthefollowingtopics:
“ThinAppRequirements”onpage 11
“RecommendationsforInstallingThinApp”onpage 12
“InstallThinAppSoftware”onpage 13
“CheckingThinAppInstallationFiles”onpage 13
ThinApp Requirements
ReviewtherequirementsforoperatingsystemsandcapturedapplicationsbeforeinstallingThinApp.
Operating Systems, Applications, and Systems That ThinApp Supports
ThinAppsupportsvariousoperatingsystems,applications,andsystems.
32‐bitplatformsincludeWindowsNT,Windows2000,Windows XP,WindowsXPE,Windows2003
Server,WindowsVista,WindowsServer2008,Windows7
64‐bitplatformsincludeWindowsXP64bit,Windows200364bit,WindowsVista64 bit,
Windows Server 2008 64bit,Windows Server 2008 R2 64bit,Windows 7 64 bit
16‐bitapplicationsrunningon32‐bitWindowsoperatingsystems
32‐bitapplicationsrunningon32‐bitand64‐bitWindowsoperatingsystems
TerminalServerandCitrixXenapp
ThinAppsupportsJapaneseapplicationscapturedandrunonJapaneseoperatingsystems.
CertainoperatingsystemsandapplicationsarenotsupportedbyThinApp.
16‐bitornonx86platformssuchasWindowsCE
64‐bitapplicationsrunningon32‐bitor64‐bitWindowsoperatingsystems
16‐bitapplicationsrunningon64‐bitWindowsoperatingsystems
Installing ThinApp 1

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Applications That ThinApp Cannot Virtualize
ThinAppcannotconvertsomeapplicationsintovirtualapplicationsandmightblockcertainapplicationfunctions.
Youmustusetraditionalinstallationtechnologiestodeploysomeapplicationtypes.
Applicationsthatdonotnativelysupportthedeploymentoperatingsystem.
Ifanoperatingsystemdoesnotsupportthenativeinstallationofanapplication,thatoperatingsystemis
notasupportedThinAppdeploymentplatformforthatapplication.
Applicationsrequiringinstallationofkernel‐modedevicedrivers
ODBCdriversworkbecausetheyareusermodedrivers.
Antivirusandpersonalfirewalls
Scannerdriversandprinterdrivers
SomeVPNclients
Device Drivers
ApplicationsthatrequiredevicedriversdonotworkwhenpackagedwithThinApp.Youmustinstallthose
devicedriversintheiroriginalformatonthehostcomputer.BecauseThinAppdoesnotsupportvirtualized
devicedrivers,youcannotuseThinApptovirtualizeantivirus,VPNclients,personalfirewalls,anddiskand
volumemounting‐relatedutilities.
IfyoucaptureAdobeAcrobat,youcanmodifyandsavePDFfiles,butyoucannotusethePDFprinterdriver
thatenablesyoutosavedocumentstoPDFformat.
Shell Integration
SomeapplicationsthatprovideshellintegrationhavereducedfunctionswhentheyexistinaThinApp
package.Forexample,avirtualapplicationthatintegrateswithWindowsExplorercannotaddspecificentries
totheWindowsExplorercontextmenus.
DCOM Services that are Accessible on a Network
ThinAppisolatesCOMandDCOMservices.ApplicationsthatinstallDCOMservicesareaccessibleonthe
localcomputeronlybyothercapturedapplicationsrunninginthesameThinAppsandbox.ThinAppsupports
virtualDCOMandCOMonthesamecomputerbutdoesnotsupportnetworkDCOM.
Global Hook Dynamic Link Libraries
SomeapplicationsusetheSetWindowsHookExAPIfunctiontoaddaDLLfiletoallprocessesonthehost
computer.TheDLLinterceptsWindowsmessagestocapturekeyboardandmouseinputfromother
applications.ThinAppignoresrequestsfromapplicationsthatusetheSetWindowsHookExfunctiontotryto
installglobalhookDLLs.ThinAppmightreducetheapplicationfunctions.
Recommendations for Installing ThinApp
WhenyouinstallThinApp,considertherecommendationsandbestpracticesforthesoftware.
Using a Clean Computer
VMwarerecommendsusingacleancomputertoinstallThinAppbecausetheenvironmentaffectsthe
applicationcaptureprocess.AcleancomputerisaphysicalorvirtualmachinewithonlyaWindowsoperating
systeminstalled.Inacorporateenvironmentwhereyouhaveabasedesktopimage,thebasedesktopimage
isyourcleancomputer.Thedesktopcomputermightalreadyhavesomecomponentsandlibrariesinstalled.

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Chapter 1 Installing ThinApp
Applicationinstallersskipfilesthatalreadyexistonthecomputer.Iftheinstallerskipsfiles,theThinApp
packagedoesnotincludethemduringtheapplicationcaptureprocess.Theapplicationmightfailtorunon
othercomputerswherethefilesdonotexist.Acleancomputerenablesthecaptureprocesstoscanthe
computerfilesystemandregistryquickly.
IfyouinstallThinAppandcaptureanapplicationonacomputerthathasMicrosoft.NET2.0alreadyinstalled,
.NET2.0isnotincludedintheThinApppackage.Thecapturedapplicationrunsonlyoncomputersthathave
.NET2.0alreadyinstalled.
Using Virtual Machines for Clean Computers
Theeasiestwaytosetupacleancomputeristocreateavirtualmachine.YoucaninstallWindowsonthe
virtualmachineandtakeasnapshotoftheentirevirtualmachineinitscleanstate.Afteryoucapturean
application,youcanrestorethesnapshotandrevertittoacleanvirtualmachinestatethatisreadyforthenext
applicationcapture.
YoucanuseVMwareWorkstationorotherVMwareproductstocreatevirtualmachines.Forinformation
aboutVMwareproducts,seetheVMwareWebsite.
Using the Earliest Operating System Required for Users
InstallThinApponacleancomputerwiththeearliestversionoftheoperatingsystemyouplantosupport.
In mostcases,theearliestplatformisWindows 2000orWindows XP.MostpackagescapturedonWindowsXP
workonWindows2000.In somecases,WindowsXPincludessomeDLLsthatWindows2000lacks.ThinApp
excludestheseDLLSfromthecapturedapplicationpackageiftheapplicationtypicallyinstallstheseDLLs.
AfteryoucreateaThinAppapplicationpackage,youcanoverwritefilesinthepackagewithupdatedversions
andrebuildtheapplicationwithoutthecaptureprocess.
Install ThinApp Software
UsetheThinAppexecutablefiletoinstallThinApp.
Install ThinApp software
1 DownloadThinApptoacleanphysicalorvirtualWindowsmachine.
2Double‐clicktheThinAppexecutablefile.
3InthePatentListsdialogbox,clickNext.
4Acceptthelicense,typetheserialnumber,andtypealicensedisplaynamethatappearswhenyouopen
applicationsthatThinAppcaptures.
5ClickInstall.
ThinAppisinstalled.
Checking ThinApp Installation Files
TheThinAppinstallationgeneratestheVMwareThinAppdirectoryinC:\Program Files\VMware.Youmight
checkthefilesinthisdirectorytoperformoperationssuchasstartingtheLogMonitorutilitytoviewrecent
activity.
ThefollowingkeyfilesintheVMwareThinAppdirectoryaffectThinAppoperations:
AppSync.exe–Keepscapturedapplicationsuptodatewiththelatestavailableversion.
logging.dll–Generates.tracefiles.
dll_dump.exe–Listsallcapturedapplicationsthatarecurrentlyrunningonasystem.
log_monitor.exe–Displaystheexecutionhistoryanderrorsofanapplication.
relink.exe–UpdatesexistingpackagestothelatestThinAppversioninstalledonthesystem.

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sbmerge.exe–MergesruntimechangesrecordedintheapplicationsandboxwiththeThinAppproject
andupdatesthecapturedapplication.
SetupCapture.exe–Capturesandconfiguresapplicationsthroughawizard.
snapshot.exe–Comparesthepreinstallationenvironmentandpostinstallationenvironmentduringthe
applicationcaptureprocess.
ThinAppstartsthisutilityduringthesetupcaptureprocess.
snapshot.ini–StoresentriesforthevirtualregistryandvirtualfilesystemthatThinAppignoresduring
theprocessofcapturinganapplication.
Thesnapshot.exefilereferencesthesnapshot.inifile.Advancedusersmightmodifythe
snapshot.inifiletoensurethatThinAppdoesnotcapturecertainentrieswhencreatinganapplication
package.
template.msi–BuildstheMSIfiles.
Youcancustomizethistemplatetoensurethatthe.msifilesgeneratedbyThinAppadheretocompany
deploymentproceduresandstandards.Forexample,youcanaddregistrysettingsthatyouwant
ThinApptoaddtoclientcomputersaspartoftheinstallation.
thinreg.exe–Registerscapturedapplicationsonacomputer.
ThisregistrationincludessettingupshortcutsandtheStartmenuandsettingupfiletypeassociations
thatallowyoutoopenapplications.
tlink.exe–Linkskeymodulesduringthebuildprocessofthecapturedapplication.
vftool.exe–Compilesthevirtualfilesystemduringthebuildprocessofthecapturedapplication.
vregtool.exe–Compilesthevirtualregistryduringthebuildprocessofthecapturedapplication.

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2
Youcancaptureapplicationstopackageanapplicationintoavirtualenvironment.
TheSetupCapturewizardisthemainmethodtocaptureapplicationsandsetinitialapplicationparameters.
Advanceduserswhomustcaptureapplicationsfromthecommandlinecanusethesnapshot.exeutility
insteadoftheSetupCapturewizard.
Thissectionincludesthefollowingtopics:
“PhasesoftheCaptureProcess”onpage 15
“PreparingtoCaptureApplications”onpage 15
“CapturingApplicationswiththeSetupCaptureWizard”onpage 16
“A d v a n c e d PackageConfiguration”onpage 23
“GuidelinesforPackagingMicrosoftOffice2007”onpage 24
“CapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP”onpage 28
“CapturingMultipleApplicationInstallerswithThinAppConverter”onpage 29
Phases of the Capture Process
Capturinganapplicationinvolvessystemscans,applicationconfiguration,packageconfiguration,and
generationofthevirtualapplicationfordistribution.
TheSetupCapturewizardsetsinitialparametersfortheapplication.Youcancustomizethefullsetof
parametersoutsideofthewizard.
Preparing to Capture Applications
Preparingforthecaptureprocessinvolvesunderstandingtheneedsanddependenciesoftheapplication.
Fortargetapplicationsthathavedependenciesonotherapplications,libraries,orframeworks,youcancapture
thedependenciesorusetheApplicationLinkutilitytolinkseparatevirtualapplicationsatruntime.For
informationabouttheApplicationLinkutility,see“ApplicationLinkUpdates”onpage 56.
Fortargetapplicationsthatrequirelocaleformats,suchasaspecificdateformat,youcancapturetheminan
environmentwiththerequiredlocalesetting.ThinApprunsvirtualapplicationsaccordingtotheregionaland
languagesettingsonthecapturesystemratherthanthesettingsonthesystemthatrunstheapplication.
AlthoughyoucanmodifythedefaultlocalesettingbycommentingouttheLocaleIdentifierparameterin
thePackage.inifileandrebuildingtheapplication,youcanavoidcomplicationsinthecaptureenvironment.
ForinformationabouttheLocaleIdentifierparameter,see“LocaleIdentifier”onpage 87.
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Capturing Applications with the Setup Capture Wizard
Thecaptureprocesspackagesanapplicationandsetsinitialapplicationparameters.Ifyouuseavirtual
machine,considertakingasnapshotbeforeyourunthewizard.Asnapshotoftheoriginalcleanstateenables
youtoreverttothesnapshotwhenyouwanttocaptureanotherapplication.
ThisinformationusesMozillaFirefoxasakeyexampleforapplicationcapture.Forinformationabout
MicrosoftOffice2007thatextendsbeyondthebasiccaptureprocess,see“GuidelinesforPackagingMicrosoft
Office2007”onpage 24.
Create a System Image Before the Application Installation
TheSetupCapturewizardstartsthecaptureprocessbyscanningthesystemtoassesstheenvironmentand
createabaselinesystemimage.
Create a system image before the application installation
1 Downloadtheapplicationstocapture.
Forexample,downloadFirefoxSetup2.0.0.3.exeandcopyittothecleancomputeryouareworking
with.
2Closeanyapplications,suchasvirusscans,thatmightchangethefilesystemduringthecaptureprocess.
3Fromthedesktop,selectStart>Programs>VMware>ThinAppSetupCapture.
4 (Optional)IntheReadytoPrescandialogbox,clickAdvancedScanLocationstoselectthedrivesand
registryhivestoscan.
YoumightwanttoscanaparticularlocationotherthantheC:\driveifyouinstallapplicationstoa
differentdrive.Inrarecases,youmightwanttoavoidscanningaregistryhiveifyouknowthatthe
applicationinstallerdoesnotmodifytheregistry.
5ClickPrescantoestablishabaselinesystemimageoftheharddriveandregistryfiles.
Thescanningprocesstakesabout10secondsforWindowsXP.
Rescan the System with the Installed Application
YoucaninstalltheapplicationtovirtualizebeforetheSetupCapturewizardrescansthesystemandassess
changesfromtheinitialsystemimage.
Install the application and rescan the system
1WhentheInstallApplicationpageappears,minimizetheSetupCapturewizardandinstallthe
applicationstocapture.
Forexample,double‐clickFirefoxSetup2.0.0.3.exe to installFirefox.Iftheapplicationneedsto
restartaftertheinstallation,restartthesystem.TheprocessrestartstheSetupCapturewizard.
2 (Optional)IfyouarecapturingInternetExplorer,intheInstallApplicationpage,clickInternetExplorer,
tocompleteadditionalstepsbeforeinstallingthebrowser.
IfyouarecapturingInternetExplorer6onWindowsXP,see“CapturingInternetExplorer6onWindows
XP”onpage 28.
Formoreinformationaboutentrypoints,see“DefiningEntryPointsasShortcutsintotheVirtual
Environment”onpage 17.
3 (Optional)Makeanynecessaryconfigurationchangestocomplywithyourcompanypolicies,suchas
usingspecificsecuritysettingsoraparticularhomepage.
Ifyoudonotmakeconfigurationchangesatthistime,eachusermustmakechanges.

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Chapter 2 Capturing Applications
4 (Optional)Starttheapplicationandrespondtoanymessagesforinformationbeforeyoucontinuewith
theSetupCapturewizard.
Ifyoudonotrespondtoanymessagesatthistime,eachuserwhousestheapplicationmustdosoduring
theinitialstart.
5Closetheapplication.
6 MaximizetheSetupCapturewizard,clickPostscantoproceedwithanotherscanofthecomputer,and
clickOKtoconfirmthepostscanoperation.
ThinAppstoresthedifferencesbetweenthefirstbaselineimageandthisimageinavirtualfilesystemand
virtualregistry.
Defining Entry Points as Shortcuts into the Virtual Environment
Entrypointsaretheexecutablefilesthatactasshortcutsintothevirtualenvironmentandstartthevirtual
application.Theentrypointsyoucanchoosefromdependontheexecutablefilesthatyourcaptured
applicationcreatesduringinstallation.
Forexample,ifyouinstallMicrosoftOffice,youcanselectentrypointsforMicrosoftWord,MicrosoftExcel,
andotherapplicationsthatareinstalledduringaMicrosoftOfficeinstallation.IfyouinstallFirefox,youmight
selectMozilla Firefox.exeandMozilla Firefox (SafeMode).exeifusersrequiresafemodeaccess.
DuringthebuildprocessthatoccursattheendoftheSetupCapturewizard,ThinAppgeneratesone
executablefileforeachselectedentrypoint.IfyoudeploytheapplicationasanMSIfileorusethe
thinreg.exeutility,thedesktopandStartmenushortcutscreatedonuserdesktopspointtotheseentry
points.
Entry Points for Troubleshooting
ThinAppprovidesentrypointstotroubleshootyourenvironment.
Debugginganapplicationmightinvolvethefollowingentrypoints:
cmd.exe–Startsacommandpromptinavirtualcontextthatenablesyoutoviewthevirtualfilesystem.
regedit.exe–Startstheregistryeditorinavirtualcontextthatenablesyoutoviewthevirtualregistry.
iexplore.exe–Startsiexplore.exeinavirtualcontextthatenablesyoutotestvirtualized
ActiveX controls.
Entrypointsstartnativeexecutablefilesinavirtualcontext.Entrypointsdonotcreatevirtualpackagesof
cmd.exe,regedit.exe,oriexplore.exe.
Ifyoucannotpredicttheneedfordebuggingortroubleshootingtheenvironment,youcanusetheDisabled
parameterinthePackage.inifileatalatertimetoactivatetheseentrypoints.
Set Entry Points
Youcandesignatetheexecutablefilesthatmakeupthelistofentrypoints.ThinAppinstallstheexecutable
filesduringthecaptureprocess.
Set entry points in the Setup Capture wizard
1OntheEntryPointspage,selectthecheckboxesforuser‐accessibleentrypoints.
ThewizarddisplaystheexecutablefilesthatweredirectlyaccessiblethroughthedesktoporStartmenu
shortcuts.
2 (Optional)Todebugyourenvironment,selecttheShowentrypointsusedfordebuggingcheckboxto
displaytheiexplore.exe,regedit.exe,andcmd.exetroubleshootingoptions.

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Set User Groups
ThinAppcanuseActiveDirectorygroupstoauthorizeaccesstothevirtualapplication.Youcanrestrictaccess
toanapplicationtoensurethatusersdonotpassittounauthorizedusers.
ActiveDirectoryDomainServicesdefinesecuritygroupsanddistributiongroups.ThinAppcanonlysupport
nestedsecuritygroups.
Set user groups in the Setup Capture wizard
1OntheGroupspage,limittheuseraccesstotheapplication.
a SelectOnlythefollowingActiveDirectorygroups.
bClickAddtospecifyActiveDirectoryobjectandlocationinformation.
2 (Optional)ChangethemessagethatappearsforusersthatThinAppcannotauthorize.
Defining Isolation Modes for the Physical File System
Isolationmodesdeterminethelevelofreadandwriteaccesstothenativefilesystemoutsideofthevirtual
environment.Youmightadjustisolationmodesettingsdependingontheapplicationandtherequirementsto
protectthephysicalsystemfromchanges.
TheselectionofisolationmodesinthecaptureprocessdeterminesthevalueoftheDirectoryIsolationMode
parameterinthePackage.inifile.Thisparametercontrolsthedefaultisolationmodeforthefilescreatedby
thevirtualapplicationexceptwhenyouspecifyadifferentisolationmodeinthe##Attributes.inifilefor
anindividualdirectory.
Theselectionofadirectoryisolationmodedoesnotaffectthefollowingareas:
ThinApptreatswriteoperationstonetworkdrivesaccordingtotheSandboxNetworkDrivesparameter
inthePackage.inifile.Thisparameterhasadefaultvaluethatdirectswriteoperationstothephysical
drive.ThinApptreatswriteoperationstoremovabledisksaccordingtotheSandboxRemovableDisk
parameterinthePackage.inifile.Thisparameterhasadefaultvaluethatdirectswriteoperationstothe
physicaldrive.
IfyousavedocumentstothedesktoporMy Documentsfolder,ThinAppsavesthedocumentstothe
physicalsystem.ThinAppsetstheisolationmodeinthe##Attributes.inifilesin%Personal%and
%Desktop%toMergedevenwhenyouselectWriteCopyisolationmode.
Applying Merged Isolation Mode for Modifications Outside the Package
WithMergedisolationmode,applicationscanreadandmodifyelementsonthephysicalfilesystemoutside
ofthevirtualpackage.SomeapplicationsrelyonreadingDLLsandregistryinformationinthelocalsystem
image.
TheadvantageofusingMergedmodeisthatdocumentsthatuserssaveappearonthephysicalsysteminthe
locationthatusersexpect,insteadofinthesandbox.Thedisadvantageisthatthismodemightclutterthe
systemimage.Anexampleofthecluttermightbefirst‐executionmarkersbysharewareapplicationswritten
torandomcomputerlocationsaspartofthelicensingprocess.
Option Description
ObjectTypes Specifiesobjects.
Locations Specifiesalocationintheforest.
CheckNames Verifyobjectnames.
Advanced LocatesusernamesintheActiveDirectoryforest.
CommonQueries(underAdvanced)Searchesforgroupsaccordingtonames,descriptions,disabledaccounts,
passwords,anddayssincelastlogin.

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Chapter 2 Capturing Applications
WhenyouselectMergedisolation,ThinAppcompletesthefollowingoperations:
SetstheDirectoryIsolationModeparameterinthePackage.inifiletoMerged.
SetsupexceptionsthatapplyWriteCopyisolationtothefollowingdirectoriesandtheirsubdirectories:
%AppData%
%Common AppData%
%Local AppData%
%Program Files Common%
%ProgramFilesDir%
%SystemRoot%
%SystemSystem%
ThinAppretainsMergedisolationmodeforthe%SystemSytem%\spoolsubdirectorybycreatingan
exceptiontothe%SystemSystem%parentdirectoryisolationmode.
Betweentheprescanandpostscancaptureoperations,assignsFullisolationmodetoanydirectoriesthat
theapplicationcreatesduringtheinstallation.Thisprocessisunrelatedtotheisolationmodeofanynew
directoriesthattherunningvirtualapplicationcreates.
MergedisolationmodeintheSetupCapturewizardhasthesameeffectasMergedisolationmodeinthe
Package.inifile,includingthedirectoryexceptionsthatspecifyWriteCopyisolationmode.TheSetup
Capturewizardandmanualcaptureprocesswiththesnapshot.exe utilityconfigurethedirectory
exceptionsforyouwiththe##Attributes.inifileswithinthedirectories.
Applying WriteCopy Isolation Mode to Prevent Modifications Outside of the Package
WithWriteCopyisolationmode,ThinAppcaninterceptwriteoperationsandredirectthemtothesandbox.
YoucanuseWriteCopyisolationmodeforlegacyoruntrustedapplications.Althoughthismodemightmake
itdifficulttofinduserdatafilesthatresideinthesandboxinsteadofthephysicalsystem,thismodeisuseful
forlockeddowndesktopswhereyouwanttopreventusersfromaffectingthelocalfilesystem.
WhenyouselectWriteCopyisolationintheSetupCapturewizard,ThinAppcompletesanumberof
operations.
SetstheDirectoryIsolationModeparameterinthePackage.inifiletoWriteCopy.
SetsupexceptionsthatapplyMergedisolationtothesedirectories
%Personal%
%Desktop%
%SystemSystem%\spool
Betweentheprescanandpostscancaptureoperations,assignsFullisolationmodetoanydirectoriesthat
theapplicationcreatesduringtheinstallation.Thisprocessisunrelatedtotheisolationmodeofanynew
directoriesthattherunningvirtualapplicationcreates.
WriteCopyisolationmodeintheSetupCapturewizardhasthesameeffectasWriteCopyisolationmodeinthe
Package.inifile,includingthedirectoryexceptionsthatspecifyMergedisolationmode.TheSetupCapture
wizardandsnapshot.exeutilityconfigurethedirectoryexceptionsforyouwiththe##Attributes.inifiles
withinthedirectories.

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Set File System Isolation Modes
Thecaptureprocesssetsthelevelofreadandwriteaccesstothephysicalfilesystemtodeterminewhich
directoriesarevisibleandwritablebythevirtualapplication.
For informationaboutFullisolationandregistryisolationthatareavailableonlyoutsideoftheSetupCapture
wizard,see“DirectoryIsolationMode”onpage 68and“RegistryIsolationMode”onpage 69.
Set file system isolation modes in the Setup Capture wizard
OntheIsolationpage,selecttheisolationmodeforthephysicalfilesystem.
Storing Application Changes in the Sandbox
Thesandboxisthedirectorywhereallchangesthatthecapturedapplicationmakesarestored.Thesandbox
isruntimemodificationstorageandisnotacache.Thenexttimeyouopentheapplication,thosechangesare
incorporatedfromthesandbox.
Whenyoudeletethesandboxdirectory,theapplicationrevertstoitscapturedstate.Youmightdeletea
sandboxwhenanapplicationhasaproblemandyouwanttoreverttheapplicationbacktotheworking
originalstate.
Customize the Sandbox Location
Youcandeploythesandboxtoalocalusermachine,carryitonamobileUSBdevice,orstoreitinanetwork
location.
Ifyoudeploythesandboxtoalocalmachine,usetheuser’sprofileasthesandboxlocation.Thedefault
locationofthesandboxforFirefoxmightbe%AppData%\Thinstall\Mozilla Firefox 3.0.Thetypical
%AppData%locationisC:\Documents and Settings\<user_name>\Application Data.Theuser’sprofile
isthedefaultlocationbecauseofthewriteaccess.
Anetworklocationisusefulforbackingupthesandboxandforuserswhologintoanycomputerandkeep
theirapplicationsettings.Usetheabsolutepathtothelocation,suchas\\thinapp\sandbox\Firefox.You
canselectanetworklocationevenifanapplicationisinstalledonalocalmachine.
Aportabledevicelocationisusefultokeepthesandboxdataonthedevicewheretheapplicationresides.
Customize the sandbox location in the Setup Capture wizard
OntheSandboxpage,selecttheuser’sprofile,applicationdirectory,orcustomlocationforthesandbox.
Send Anonymous Statistics to VMware
ToimproveThinAppsupportforapplications,VMwareusesthecaptureprocesstoconfirmwhethertocollect
anonymousdataaboutdeployedThinApppackages.Thedataincludestheapplicationstarttime,total
runningtime,andnumberofrunsfortheapplication.
Send anonymous statistics to VMware
OntheUsageStatisticspage,clicktheYes‐SendanonymoususagestatisticstoVMwareoptionbuttonto
confirmthedatacollectionstatus.
Option Description
Fullwriteaccesstononsystemdirectories
(Mergedisolationmode)
Allowstheapplicationtoreadresourcesonandwritetothelocalmachine.
Restrictedwriteaccess(WriteCopy
isolationmode)
Allowstheapplicationtoreadresourcesonthelocalmachineandto
restrictmostmodificationstothesandbox.
ThinAppcopiesfilesystemchangestothesandboxtoensurethat
ThinApponlymodifiescopiesoffilesinsteadoftheactualphysicalfiles.