1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management, and then click Packages.

3. In the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Package.

4. On the Package page of the Create Package and Program Wizard, specify the following information:

   • Name: Specify a name for the package with a maximum of 50 characters.
     
     
   • Description: Optionally specify a description for this package with a maximum of 128 characters.
     
     
   • Manufacturer: Optionally specify a manufacturer name to help you identify the package in the Configuration Manager console. This name can be a maximum of 32 characters.
     
     
   • Language: Optionally specify the language version of the package with a maximum of 32 characters.
     
     
   • Version: Optionally specify a version number for the package with a maximum of 32 characters.
     
     
   • This package contains source files - This setting indicates whether the package requires source files to be present on client devices. By default, this check box is cleared and Configuration Manager does not use distribution points for the package. When this check box is selected, distribution points are used.
     
     
   • Source folder: If the package contains source files, click Browse to open the Set Source Folder dialog box and specify the location of the source files for the package.
     
     

     Note
     The computer account of the site server must have read access permissions to the source folder that you specify.

5. On the Program Type page of the Create Package and Program Wizard, select the type of program to create, and then click Next. You can create a program for a computer or device, or you can skip this step and create a program later.

   Important
   You can only create packages and programs for devices running Windows CE.

   Note
   To create a new program for an existing package, select the package, and then, in the Home tab, in the Package group, click Create Program to open the Create Program Wizard.

6. Use one of the following procedures to create a standard program or a device program.

1. On the Program Type page of the Create Package and Program Wizard, select Standard Program, and then click Next.

2. On the Standard Program page of the Wizard, specify the following information:

   • Name: Specify a name for the program with a maximum of 50 characters.
     
     

     Note
     The program name must be unique within a package. After you create a program, you cannot modify its name.

   • Command Line: Enter the command line to be used to start this program, or click Browse to browse to the file location.
     
     If a specified file name does not have an extension specified, Configuration Manager attempts to use .com, .exe, and .bat as possible extensions.
     
     When the program is run on a client, Configuration Manager first searches for the command-line file name within the package, searches next in the local Windows folder, and then searches in local %path%. If the file cannot be found, the program fails.
     
     
   • Startup folder: Optionally use this field to specify the folder from which the program runs, up to 127 characters. This folder can be an absolute path on the client or a path relative to the distribution point folder that contains the package.
     
     
   • Run: Specifies the mode in which the program will run on client computers. Select one of the following:
     
     
     • Normal - The program runs in the normal mode based on system and program defaults. This is the default mode.
       
       
     • Minimized – The program runs minimized on client devices. Users might see installation activity in the notification area or taskbar.
       
       
     • Maximized – The program runs maximized on client devices. Users will see all installation activity.
       
       
     • Hidden – The program runs hidden on client devices. Users will not see any installation activity.
       
       
   • Program can run: Specify whether the program can run only when a user is logged on, run only when no user is logged on, or run regardless of whether a user is logged on to the client computer.
     
     
   • Run mode: Specify whether the program will run with administrative permissions or with the permissions of the currently logged on user.
     
     
   • Allow users to view and interact with the program installation - Use this setting, if available, to specify whether to allow users to interact with the program installation. This check box is available only when Only when no user is logged on or Whether or not a user is logged on is selected for Program can run and Run with administrative rights is selected for Run mode.
     
     
   • Drive mode: Specify information about how this program will runs on the network. Choose one of the following:
     
     
     • Runs with UNC name - Indicates that the program runs with a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) name. This is the default setting.
       
       
     • Requires drive letter - Indicates that the program requires a drive letter to fully qualify its location. For this setting, Configuration Manager can use any available drive letter on the client.
       
       
     • Requires specific drive letter (example: Z:) - Indicates that the program requires a specific drive letter that you specify to fully qualify its location. If the specified drive letter is already used on a client, the program does not run.
       
       
   • Reconnect to distribution point at log on - Use this check box to indicate whether the client computer reconnects to the distribution point when the user logs on. By default, this check box is cleared.
     
     

3. On the Requirements page of the Create Package and Program Wizard, specify the following information:

   • Run another program first – You can use this setting to identify a package and program that will be run before this package and program will be run.
     
     
   • Platform requirements – Select This program can run on any platform or select This program can run only on specified platforms and then choose the operating systems that clients must be running to be able to install the package and program.
     
     
   • Estimated disk space: Specify the amount of disk space that the software program requires to be able to run on the computer. This can be specified as Unknown (the default setting) or as a whole number greater than or equal to zero. If a value is specified, units for the value must also be specified.
     
     
   • Maximum allowed run time (minutes): Specify the maximum time that the program is expected to run on the client computer. This can be specified as Unknown (the default setting) or as a whole number greater than zero.
     
     By default, this value is set to 120 minutes.
     
     

     Important

     If you are using maintenance windows for the collection on which this program is run, a conflict may occur if the Maximum allowed run time is longer than the scheduled maintenance window. However, if the maximum run time is set to Unknown, the program will start to run during the maintenance window and will continue to run as needed after the maintenance window is closed. If the user sets the maximum run time to a specific period that exceeds the length of any available maintenance window, then the program will not be run.

     If the value is set as Unknown, Configuration Manager sets the maximum allowed run time as 12 hours (720 minutes).
     
     

     Note
     If the maximum run time (whether set by the user or as the default value) is exceeded, Configuration Manager will stop the program if run with administrative rights is selected and Allow users to view and interact with the program installation is not selected.

4. Click Next and continue to To complete the Create Package and Program Wizard.

1. On the Program Type page of the Create Package and Program Wizard, select Program for device, and then click Next.

2. On the Program for Device page of the Wizard, specify the following information:

   • Name: Specify a name for the program with a maximum of 50 characters.
     
     

     Note
     The program name must be unique within a package. After you create a program, you cannot modify its name.

   • Comment: Optionally, specify a comment for this device program with a maximum of 127 characters.
     
     
   • Download folder: Specify the name of the folder on the Windows CE device in which the package source files will be stored. The default value is \Temp\.
     
     
   • Command Line: Enter the command line to use to start this program, or click Browse to browse to the file location.
     
     
   • Run command line in download folder – Select this option to run the program from the previously specified download folder.
     
     
   • Run command line from this folder – Select this option to specify a different folder from which to run the program.
     
     

3. On the Requirements page of the Wizard, specify the following information:

   • Estimated disk space: Specify the amount of disk space required for the software. This will be displayed to users of mobile devices before they install the program.
     
     
   • Download program: Specify information regarding when this program can be downloaded to mobile devices. You can specify As soon as possible, Only over a fast network, or Only when the device is docked.
     
     
   • Additional requirements: Specify any additional requirements for this program. These will be displayed to users before they install the software. For example, you could notify users that they need to close all other applications before running the program.
     
     

4. Click Next.

1. On the Summary page of the Wizard, review the actions that will be taken, then complete the Wizard.

2. Optionally, verify that the new package and program is displayed in the Packages node of the Software Library workspace.

1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management, and then click Packages.

3. In the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Package from Definition.

4. On the Package Definition page of the Create Package from Definition Wizard, choose an existing package definition file, or click Browse to open a new package definition file. After you have specified a new package definition file, select it from the Package definition list, and then click Next.

5. On the Source Files page of the Wizard, specify information about any required source files for the package and program, and then click Next.

6. If the package requires source files, on the Source Folder page of the Wizard, specify the location from which the source files are to be obtained, and then click Next.

7. On the Summary page of the Wizard, review the actions that will be taken and then complete the Wizard. The new package and program is displayed in the Packages node of the Software Library workspace.

Package definition files are scripts that you can use to help automate package and program creation with Configuration Manager. They provide all of the information that Configuration Manager needs in order to create a package and program, except for the location of package source files. Each package definition file is an ASCII or UTF-8 text file following the .ini file format and containing the following described sections:

• [PDF]
  
  
• [Package Definition]
  
  
• [Program]
  
  

[PDF]

[Package Definition]

[Program]

1. In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.

2. In the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management, and then click Packages.

3. In the Home tab, in the Create group, Click Import.

4. On the General page of the Import Package Wizard, specify or browse to the compressed (.zip) file that contains the package and program to import, and then click Next.

5. On the File Content page of the Wizard, review the items that will be imported, and then click Next. You can click View Failure to examine the details of items that cannot be imported. If the package you are trying to import already exists, you can choose to either ignore the duplicate package or overwrite the original package.

6. On the Summary page of the Wizard, review the actions that will be taken and then complete the Wizard. The new package and program is displayed in the Packages node of the Software Library workspace.