How to Create Applications in Configuration Manager

The following table provides the steps, details, and more information about how create an application.

Step	Details	More Information
Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard.	The Create Application Wizard is used to configure general information about an application.	See Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard in this topic.
Step 2: Specify whether you want to automatically detect application information or manually define the information.	There are two methods you can use to configure general information about the application: Automatically detect application information: With this method, Configuration Manager attempts to read information about the application from the application installation files, and then it automatically populates fields in the wizard with discovered information. Use this method when you want to create an application with a single deployment type that uses the default settings. Manually define application information: With this method, information about the application is manually entered by the administrator. Use this method when you want to create a more complex application with multiple deployment types, detection methods, requirements. or dependencies. Also use this method when application information cannot be read from the installation files.	See To automatically detect application information and To manually define application information in this topic.
Step 3: Review the actions to be taken and then complete the Wizard.	After you review the information on the Summary page of the Wizard, you can go back and make changes if necessary.	No additional information.

Step

Details

More Information

Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard.

The Create Application Wizard is used to configure general information about an application.

See Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard in this topic.

Step 2: Specify whether you want to automatically detect application information or manually define the information.

There are two methods you can use to configure general information about the application:

Automatically detect application information: With this method, Configuration Manager attempts to read information about the application from the application installation files, and then it automatically populates fields in the wizard with discovered information. Use this method when you want to create an application with a single deployment type that uses the default settings.
Manually define application information: With this method, information about the application is manually entered by the administrator. Use this method when you want to create a more complex application with multiple deployment types, detection methods, requirements. or dependencies. Also use this method when application information cannot be read from the installation files.

See To automatically detect application information and To manually define application information in this topic.

Step 3: Review the actions to be taken and then complete the Wizard.

After you review the information on the Summary page of the Wizard, you can go back and make changes if necessary.

No additional information.

Use the following information when the steps in the preceding table require supplemental procedures.

Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard

Step 2: Specify whether you want to automatically detect application information or manually define the information

Use one of the following procedures to automatically detect, or manually define application information.

Use the procedure To automatically detect application information when you want to create a simple application with a single deployment type such as a Windows Installer file with no dependencies or requirements. After you have created an application using this procedure, you can edit it as needed in order to add or change deployment types and add detection methods, dependencies, or requirements.
Use the procedure To manually define application information to create more complex applications with multiple deployment types, dependencies, detection methods, or requirements.

To automatically detect application information

On the General page of the Create Application Wizard, select Automatically detect information about this application from installation files.

Note

If you want to define this application information manually, go to the procedure To manually define application information.

Note
If you want to define this application information manually, go to the procedure To manually define application information.

From the Type drop-down list, choose the application installation file type that you want to use to detect application information. You can choose from the following installation types:

Installation type

More information

Windows Installer (Native) (Configuration Manager with no service pack)

Windows Installer (*.msi file) (Configuration Manager SP1)

Detects application information and deployment types from a Windows Installer (.msi) file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

Windows app package (.appx file)

Detects application information and deployment types from a Windows app package (.appx) file.

Important
Because Windows XP does not support the libraries required to create an application of this type, you cannot create a Windows app package application from a Configuration Manager console running on a Windows XP computer.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

Windows app package (in the Windows Store)

Detects application information and deployment types by providing a link to the application on a computer where the application is already installed.

Note
To be able to connect to the Windows Store, users of client computers must have a valid account.

Microsoft Application Virtualization (Configuration Manager with no service pack)

Microsoft Application Virtualization 4 (Configuration Manager SP1)

Detects application information and deployment types from a Microsoft Application Virtualization 4 manifest (.xml) file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

Microsoft Application Virtualization 5

Detects application information and deployment types from a Microsoft Application Virtualization 5 (.appv) package file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

Windows Phone app package (*.xap file)

Detects application information and deployment types from a Windows Phone app package (.xap) file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

Windows Phone app package (in the Windows Phone Store)

Configures application and deployment type information by specifying a link to the app in the Windows Phone Store.

Windows Mobile Cabinet

Detects application information and deployment types from a Windows Mobile cabinet (.cab) file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

App package for iOS (*.ipa file)

Detects application information and deployment types from an app package for iOS (.ipa) file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

App package for iOS from App Store

Configures application and deployment type information by specifying a link to the app in the App Store.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

App package for Android (*.apk file)

Detects application information and deployment types from an app package for Android (.apk) file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

App package for Android on Google Play

Configures application and deployment type information by specifying a link to the app on Google Play.

Nokia SIS file

Detects application information and deployment types from a Nokia Symbian installation (.sis or .sisx) file.

For Configuration Manager SP1 only:

Mac OS X

Detects application information and deployment types from a Mac OS X Installer (.cmmac) file that was created by using the CMAppUtil tool.

In the Location field, specify the UNC path in the form \\<server>\<share>\<filename> or the App store link for the application installation file you want to use to detect application information. Alternatively, click Browse to browse to the installation file location.

Important
When you select Windows Installer (Native) (Configuration Manager with no service pack) or *Windows Installer (.msi file)** (Configuration Manager SP1) as an application type, all of the files in the folder that you specify will be imported with the application and will be sent to distribution points. Ensure that only the files that are necessary to install the application are in the folder that you specify.

Important

When you select Windows Installer (Native) (Configuration Manager with no service pack) or Windows Installer (*.msi file) (Configuration Manager SP1) as an application type, all of the files in the folder that you specify will be imported with the application and will be sent to distribution points. Ensure that only the files that are necessary to install the application are in the folder that you specify.

Note
You must have access to the UNC path containing the application and any subfolders containing application content.

Click Next.
On the Import Information page of the Create Application Wizard, review the information that was imported and then click Next. If needed, you can click Previous to go back and correct any errors.
On the General Information page of the Create Application Wizard, specify the following information:

Note

Some of this information might already be populated here if it was automatically obtained from the application installation files. .
- Provide general information about the application such as the application name, comments, version, and an optional reference to help you reference the application in the Configuration Manager console.
- Installation program: Specify the installation program and any required properties that are needed to install the applications deployment type.
  
  Note
  
  If the installation program is not shown, click Browse and browse to the installation program location.
- Install behavior: Specify whether the applications deployment type will be installed for the currently logged on user only or for all users. You can also specify that the deployment type will be installed for all users if it is deployed to a device or only to a specific user if it is deployed to a user.
Click Next, review the application information on the Summary page, and then complete the Create Application Wizard.
The new application is displayed in the Applications node of the Configuration Manager console.

Note
Some of this information might already be populated here if it was automatically obtained from the application installation files. .

Note
If the installation program is not shown, click Browse and browse to the installation program location.

To manually define application information

On the General page of the Create Application Wizard, select Manually specify the application information, and then click Next.

Note

If you want to automatically retrieve the application information, go to the procedure To automatically detect application information.
On the General page of the Create Application Wizard, specify general information about the application such as the application name, comments, version, and an optional reference to help you reference the application in the Configuration Manager console.
Click Next.
On the Application Catalog page of the Create Application Wizard, specify the following information:
- Selected language – From the drop-down list, select the language version of the application that you want to configure. Click Add/Remove to configure more languages for this application.
- Localized application name – Specify the application name in the language that was selected in the Selected language drop-down list.
  
  Important
  
  You must specify a localized application name for each language version that you configure.
- User categories – Click Edit to specify application categories in the language that was selected in the Selected Language drop-down list. Users of the Application Catalog can use these selected categories to help filter and sort the available applications.
- User documentation – Click Browse to select a file that users of the Application Catalog can read to find out more information about this application.
- Localized description – Enter a description for this application in the language that was selected in the Selected Language drop-down list.
- Keywords – Enter a list of keywords in the language that was selected in the Selected Language drop-down list. These keywords will help users of the Application Catalog search for the application.
- Icon – Click Browse to select an icon for this application from the available icons. If you do not specify an icon, a default icon will be used for this application.
Click Next.
On the Deployment Types page of the Create Application Wizard, click Add to create a new deployment type.

Note

For information on how to create a deployment type, see How to Create Deployment Types in Configuration Manager.
Click Next, review the application information on the Summary page, and then complete the Create Application Wizard.
The new application is displayed in the Applications node of the Configuration Manager console.

Note
If you want to automatically retrieve the application information, go to the procedure To automatically detect application information.

Important
You must specify a localized application name for each language version that you configure.

Note
For information on how to create a deployment type, see How to Create Deployment Types in Configuration Manager.

Use the following steps to import an application into Configuration Manager. For information about how to export an application, see How to Manage Applications and Deployment Types in Configuration Manager.

To import an application

In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.
In the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management, and then click Applications.
In the Home tab, in the Create group, click Import Application.
On the General page of the Import Application Wizard, click Browse and then specify a UNC path to the compressed file (.zip file) that contains the application to import. Alternatively, click Browse and browse to the file location.
On the File Content page of the wizard, select the action that will be taken if the application you are trying to import is a duplicate of an existing application. You can specify to create a new application or to ignore the duplicate and add a new revision to the existing application.
On the Summary page of the Wizard, review the actions to be taken, and then complete the wizard. The new application will be shown in the Applications node.

Tip
The Windows PowerShell cmdlet, Import-CMApplication, performs the same function as this procedure. For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=271396 in the Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Cmdlet Reference documentation.

Concepts

Operations and Maintenance for Application Management in Configuration Manager

Steps to Create an Application

Supplemental Procedures to Create an Application

Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard

Step 2: Specify whether you want to automatically detect application information or manually define the information

To automatically detect application information

To manually define application information

How to import an application

To import an application

See Also

Concepts