Topic last updated—November 2007

Package definition files are scripts that you can use to help automate package creation with Configuration Manager 2007. They provide the essential information that Configuration Manager 2007 needs to distribute a particular type of file, except for the location of package source files. Each package definition file is an ASCII text file following a standard .ini file format and containing the following sections:

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This section identifies the file as a package definition file and contains the following information:

  • Version: Specifies the version of the package definition file format used by the file, corresponding to the version of System Management Server (SMS) or Configuration Manager for which they were written. This entry is required.

[Package Definition]

This section of the package definition file specifies the overall properties of the package and provides the following information:

  • Name: The name of the package, up to 50 characters. This entry is required.

  • Version: The version of the package, up to 32 characters. This entry is optional.

  • Icon: Specifies the file containing the icon to use for this package. If used, this icon will replace the default package icon in the Configuration Manager console. This entry is optional.

  • Publisher: The publisher of the package, up to 32 characters. This entry is required.

  • Language: The language version of the package, up to 32 characters. This entry is required.

  • Comment: An optional comment about the package, up to 127 characters.

  • ContainsNoFiles: This entry indicates whether or not a source is associated with the package.

  • Programs: Specifies the programs defined for this package. Each program name corresponds to a [Program] section in this package definition file. This entry is required.

    Example:

    Programs=Typical, Custom, Uninstall

  • MIFFileName: The name of the Management Information Format (MIF) file that contains the package status, up to 50 characters.

  • MIFName: The name of the package (for MIF matching), up to 50 characters.

  • MIFVersion: The version number of the package (for MIF matching), up to 32 characters.

  • MIFPublisher: The software publisher of the package (for MIF matching), up to 32 characters.

[Program]

For each program specified in the Programs entry in the [Package Definition] section, the package definition file must include a section that defines that program. The file must contain a [Program] section for all programs contained within that package. This section provides the following information:

  • Name: The name of the program, up to 50 characters. This entry must be unique within a package and is used when defining advertisements. On client computers, the name of the program is shown in Run Advertised Programs in Control Panel. This entry is required.

  • Icon: Specifies the file containing the icon to use for this program. If used, this icon will replace the default program icon in the Configuration Manager console and will be displayed on client computers when the program is advertised. This entry is optional.

  • Comment: An optional comment about the program, up to 127 characters.

  • CommandLine: Specifies the command line for the program, up to 127 characters. The command is relative to the package source folder. This entry is required.

  • StartIn: The working folder for the program, up to 127 characters. This entry can be an absolute path on the client computer or a path relative to the package source folder. This entry is required.

  • Run: Specifies the program mode in which the program will run. You can specify Minimized, Maximized, or Hidden. If this entry is not included, the program will run in normal mode.

  • AfterRunning: Specifies any special action that occurs after the program is completed successfully. Options available are SMSRestart, ProgramRestart, or SMSLogoff. If this entry is not included, the program will not run a special action.

  • EstimatedDiskSpace: Specifies the amount of disk space that the software program requires 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.

    Example:

    EstimatedDiskSpace=38MB

  • EstimatedRunTime: Specifies the estimated time (in minutes) 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.

    Example:

    EstimatedRunTime=25

  • SupportedClients: Specifies the processors and operating systems on which this program will run. Each platform must be separated by a comma. If this entry is not included with the package definition file, supported platform checking will be disabled for this program.

  • SupportedClientMinVersionX, SupportedClientMaxVersionX: Specifies the beginning and ending range for version numbers for the operating systems specified in the SupportedClients entry.

    Example:

      Copy Code 
    SupportedClients=Win NT (I386),Win NT (IA64),Win NT (x64)
Win NT (I386) MinVersion1=5.00.2195.4
Win NT (I386) MaxVersion1=5.00.2195.4
Win NT (I386) MinVersion2=5.10.2600.2
Win NT (I386) MaxVersion2=5.10.2600.2
Win NT (I386) MinVersion3=5.20.0000.0
Win NT (I386) MaxVersion3=5.20.9999.9999
Win NT (I386) MinVersion4=5.20.3790.0
Win NT (I386) MaxVersion4=5.20.3790.2
Win NT (I386) MinVersion5=6.00.0000.0
Win NT (I386) MaxVersion5=6.00.9999.9999
Win NT (IA64) MinVersion1=5.20.0000.0
Win NT (IA64) MaxVersion1=5.20.9999.9999
Win NT (x64) MinVersion1=5.20.0000.0
Win NT (x64) MaxVersion1=5.20.9999.9999
Win NT (x64) MinVersion2=5.20.3790.0
Win NT (x64) MaxVersion2=5.20.9999.9999
Win NT (x64) MinVersion3=5.20.3790.0
Win NT (x64) MaxVersion3=5.20.3790.2
Win NT (x64) MinVersion4=6.00.0000.0
Win NT (x64) MaxVersion4=6.00.9999.9999
  • AdditionalProgramRequirements: Optional text that can include any other information or requirements for client computers, up to 127 characters.

  • CanRunWhen: Specifies the user status that the program requires to run on the client computer. Available values are UserLoggedOn, NoUserLoggedOn, or AnyUserStatus. The default value is UserLoggedOn.

  • UserInputRequired: Specifies whether the program requires interaction with the user to complete running. Available values are True or False. The default value is True. This entry is set to False if CanRunWhen is not set to UserLoggedOn.

  • AdminRightsRequired: Specifies whether the program requires administrative credentials on the computer to run. Available values are True or False. The default value is False. This entry is set to True if CanRunWhen is not set to UserLoggedOn.

  • UseInstallAccount: Specifies whether the program uses the Client Software Installation Account when running on client computers. By default, this value is False. This value is also False if CanRunWhen is set to UserLoggedOn.

  • DriveLetterConnection: Specifies whether the program requires a drive letter connection to the package files on the distribution point. You can specify True or False. The default value is False, which allows the program to use a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) connection. When this value is set to True, the next available drive letter will be used (starting with Z: and proceeding backward).

  • SpecifyDrive: Specifies a drive letter that the program requires to connect to the package files on the distribution point. Using this entry forces the use of the specified drive letter for client connections to distribution points. This entry is optional.

  • ReconnectDriveAtLogon: Specifies whether the computer reconnects to the distribution point when the user logs on. Available values are True or False. The default value is False.

  • DependentProgram: Specifies a program (in this package) that must run before the current program. This entry uses the format DependentProgram=<ProgramName>, where <ProgramName> is the Name entry for that program in the package definition file. If there are no dependent programs, leave this entry empty.

    Example:

    DependentProgram=Admin
    DependentProgram=

  • Assignment: How the program is assigned to users. This value can be FirstUser (only the first user who logs on runs the program) or EveryUser (every user who logs on to the client runs the program). When CanRunWhen is not set to UserLoggedOn, this entry is set to FirstUser.

  • Disabled: Specifies whether this program can be advertised to clients. Available values are True or False. The default value is False.

See Also