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7 Replies Last post: Nov 5, 2009 5:02 PM by IanRand  

Can AWD View/ViewStation clients be encapsulated as ThinApp posted: Sep 24, 2008 12:31 PM

Click to view VM_nascent's profile Lurker 2 posts since
Sep 24, 2008

We are having problems virtualizing AWD Imaging application (from DST).

1. As a standard install (not as a ThinApp), AWD creates what's "AWD Logon" as a shortcut on the desktop.

2. Once you launch AWD Logon shortcut and authenticate through it, this generates additional shortcuts, based on the user's security access level at the imaging system.

-New shortcuts will by default target for files that are supposed to be located in the C:\

The amounts of shortcuts differ from user to user. So, one user may get 3 shortcuts, while other user gets 10 shortcuts depending on what work, roles, have been assigned by the imaging security administration.

The problem we encounter when virtualizing this app, is that encapsulated executable works as expected, and accomplishes the ability to use the AWD Logon, but, the shortcuts generated by the AWD system, will have a target pointing to C:\, and not to a virtualized path. Because target path is not found, causes the shortcuts to fail.

Once again, these additional shortcuts can't be encapsulated as part of the ThinApp package, as these shortcuts are generated at the time the user logs on to application.

Please advise,

Click to view j.speetjens's profile Enthusiast 84 posts since
May 27, 2008
did you try to add the files from c:\ into your capture, then rebuild and run?

something like:
%drive_C%
the files or directorys u want to add..

Yours Sincerely,

Jeroen

Click to view j.speetjens's profile Enthusiast 84 posts since
May 27, 2008

hmm... i'm going to think this one over with a nice glass of beer :)

If i think of something i'll let u know!

Jeroen Speetjens
CIS-Group.nl - Thinstall Partner

Click to view PaulGray's profile Novice 5 posts since
Sep 3, 2006
Hi

Did you ever successfully ThinApp AWD ? We are experiencing similar problems.

Regards, Paul

Click to view rdusseault's profile Lurker 1 posts since
Aug 13, 2006

If memory serves this was a very tricky application to package. AWD at launch creates the shortcuts associated to the user on a new folder on the desktop. I witnessed this working under SoftGrid by scripting the creation of a separate explorer window right before the shortucts are created. Essentially you are tricking the application into thinking it is creating the shortcuts on the desktop rather than a folder someplace.

the same would apply for thinApp. if you could create a pre launch script to create or emulate the folder where the icons are created by MAIN, this should work. I am trying to find the old package info for AWD now...

Click to view PaulGray's profile Novice 5 posts since
Sep 3, 2006

Any assistance you can offer will be appreciated. We are currently at a point where the Thinapp developers are getting involved. DST have washed their hands of the problem and will not support us.

Regards Paul

Click to view IanRand's profile Lurker 2 posts since
Nov 23, 2008

Yes. However it depends on the version. I've successfully ThinApped AWD 2.3 and 2.4. The trick is to use what they call "use Citrix style container". Basically their terminal server version. The desktop version does not work in a terminal server environment however their terminal server version works in both terminal server and desktop environments. You'll need the terminal server ptfs, awdts.dll and one registry change. Don't bother trying to get the desktop version working virtualy as it relies upon explorer to display it's applications. It's doable but it's a hassle to get working correctly.

  1. Start capture
  2. Install AWD and surround products. During the viewstation install select "use Citrix style container". Install the terminal servers ptfs. I don't have them off the top of my head. You can probally get a list from their site
  3. Make any changes, settings etc
  4. End capture
  5. In the package make sure the following folders are set to merged : %Local AppData%\DST\AWD\Data, %SystemSystem%\spool
  6. In the package make sure the following keys are set to merged : HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\DST (Othwerwise the users will lose their settings if the sandbox gets cleared)

Use Citrix style container simply does the following if you want to do that by hand

  1. Copies AWDTS.dll to the viewstation bin folder
  2. Creates key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\DST\AWD\Settings, Name of NewLogon, DWORD value of 1

If you're using KE get a copy of the defaults.dat that comes down from the AS/400 and put that in the viewstation data folder. Not the user data folder. KE isn't TS aware. This normaly doesn't change so it really isn't an issue.


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