Program Name Properties: Windows Installer Tab

Topic last updated—November 2007

Use the Windows Installer tab in the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Software Distribution <Program Name> Properties dialog box to specify the Windows Installer product information used to enable installation source management of a product. This selection dynamically updates Windows Installer source locations with a list of distribution points that have the package available for that Configuration Manager 2007 client. The list of distribution points adheres to protected site system boundaries.

This tab is applied on a per-product basis, and it updates only source network locations for those Windows Installer products that are currently installed on the computer. It supports both per-computer and per-user installations.

Consider the following points when importing product codes:

Each Windows Installer product code configured for source path management must be unique within a Configuration Manager 2007 package. Because each Windows Installer product code is associated with a Configuration Manager 2007 program and it is possible to have multiple Configuration Manager 2007 programs per Configuration Manager 2007 package, it is also possible to have more than one Windows Installer product code defined per Configuration Manager 2007 package. However, it is not possible to specify the same Windows Installer product code more than one time in one Configuration Manager 2007 package.
Although you might have the same Windows Installer application in multiple Configuration Manager 2007 packages, it is not necessary to enable source path management for all of them. This creates additional overhead for each client and for the management point that must service all the requests for distribution point locations.
The Windows Installer file location must be contained within the package source directory (defined in package properties). It might reside deeper in the folder structure than the root of the package source directory.
Ensure that all distribution points have successfully received the package before defining the Windows Installer information. Otherwise, clients will receive the update notification for the source paths before they are actually available. The client must then wait until the next trigger time to update the source path.

The Windows Installer tab contains the following elements.

Windows Installer product code: Specifies the Windows Installer product code (GUID) that is the principal identification of an application or product. This field is updated only by importing a Windows Installer file.

Windows Installer file: Specifies the name of the Windows Installer file contained among the package source files (if present). This field is updated only by importing a Windows Installer file.To import a Windows Installer file, click Import. This opens the standard Open dialog box, allowing you to browse within the package source location for a Windows Installer file.To clear the Windows Installer product code and the Windows Installer file fields and enable the Import button, click Clear.

OK: Saves the changes and exits the dialog box.

Cancel: Exits the dialog box without saving any changes.

Apply: Saves the changes and remains in the dialog box.

Help: Opens the help topic for this tab of the dialog box.

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