Deploying workbook using group policy application deployment

Workbook can be deployed using the MSI installer. An MSI transform can be used to set the customer key.  When combined with using the group policy setting allowing silent activation, no user intervention is required.

Creating a transform

You can create a transform (.mst) using a program such as Microsoft Orca. One property called KEY needs to be created and its value set to your customer key in the format 1234-1234-1234-1234 .

1. Open the Workbook installer with Orca (tested using Workbook 2.1.0.44)
2. In the Transform menu, select New Transform
3. In the Property table, add a new row:
4. Property: KEY
   Value: 1234-1234-1234-1234 (example)
5. In the Transform menu, select Generate Transform... to save the transform file.

To test this outside of the deployment you can use a command similar to the following (must be from a command prompt launched as an administrator):

msiexec /i Workbook-2.1.0.44.msi TRANSFORMS=MyTransformFile.mst /qn /L* log.txt

Deploying Workbook in an image

Workbook can be installed on a machine image used in your deployments. Install workbook, making sure to use your customer key during the install. Do not run workbook on the image as this will start the 30 day activation period. Because of this it is best to test the install on a deployed test image. Each computer to which the image is applied will need to activate Workbook within 30 days. This can be automated using the group policy setting.

Group Policy Settings

The group policies are available for either Windows Sever 2008 (.admx) or Windows Server 2003 and earlier (.adm). The templates can be applied to either computers and/or users. The templates can be downloaded from http://update.xorro.com

Checking for updates

You can enforce how Workbook checks for updates. The options are:

•          Disable checking for updates.
•          Manual checking only (Tools -> Check for updates).
•          Check for updates at start-up.

Allow silent activation

This allows workbook to attempt to activate without user intervention. Workbook will only notify the user if activation failed with an error during activation or a connection to the activation server had not yet been achieved within the first 20 days of the trial. The default behaviour is to prompt the user to initiate activation.

Prohibit saving of proxy credentials

This prevents a user from saving their proxy server credentials when Workbook encounters a proxy server requiring authentication. Workbook uses the system proxy settings.  

Allow silent activation

This allows workbook to attempt to activate without user intervention. Workbook will only notify the user if activation failed with an error during activation or a connection to the activation server had not yet been achieved within the first 20 days of the trial. The default behaviour is to prompt the user to initiate activation.

Prohibit saving of proxy credentials

This prevents a user from saving their proxy server credentials when Workbook encounters a proxy server requiring authentication. Workbook uses the system proxy settings.   

Related: 
Ensuring Workbook Connectivity across your network
Applying customised Workbook settings to all users

Categories: Workbook / AlphaTeach, Admin / IT.
Tags: Deployment.