XCLN: How To Generate A User-Specific Profile using IExpress and ODK

MORE INFORMATION

When using the ODK to create a build of Outlook 98, if you choose the option to install your ODK build in silent mode, you can only add one custom package. By using the IExpress program that comes with the ODK, it is possible to bundle multiple files together into one self-extracting executable that can be run at the end of Setup. This is necessary if you wish to deploy multiple patches, or generate profiles once Outlook is installed.

Generating the package successfully requires two phases, which are explained in detail in the following sections:

1. Create an .inf file that lists the files to copy, and commands to execute.
2. Bundle the files together into a single executable, using the IExpress Wizard.

Creating the .inf for Use with the IExpress Wizard

The .inf file contains the list of files to be copied to the users' hard drives and programs to be executed.

Listed below is a sample .inf file that will run the programs necessary to generate a dynamic profile. Profgen.exe, Newprof.exe, and Outlook.prf will be copied to the hard drive, and then executed at the end of Setup.

The [install.files] section is a list of files to copy to the users' computers.

The [RunPostSetupCommandsSection] section lists the names of the programs to execute, and the launch order. You should also include any command-line arguments in this section.

NOTE: The .inf file is named Odk.inf, and must be listed in the [install.files] section.

; This is a sample .inf file to use with the IExpress Wizard.
; Copy this file and save it with the name Odk.inf.

[Version]
Signature="$Chicago$"
AdvancedINF=2.0

[DefaultInstall]
CopyFiles=install.files
RunPostSetupCommands=RunPostSetupCommandsSection

[DestinationDirs]
install.files=30,IDKTemp

[install.files]
; List the files that need to be copied to the local hard drive.
; This should be the same list of files that are added in the
; "Packaged Files" section of the IExpress Wizard as described in
; step 4 below.

Profgen.exe     ;used in generating profiles
Newprof.exe     ;used in generating profiles
Outlook.prf     ;configuration file used in generating profiles
Odk.inf

[RunPostSetupCommandsSection]
; List the programs you wish to run, and the order in which
; you wish them to be executed.
; Include any command line switches or parameters that are necessary.

profgen.exe newprof.exe -P outlook.prf -x -l -u -n -j -r -t

; The above command line generates a profile based on current logon ID
; and setting listed in the Outlook.prf file. Additional information
; on command-line switches is listed at the end of this article.

[SourceDisksNames]
1="default",,1
				

Combining Multiple Files Using the IExpress Wizard

To bundle several programs together using the IExpress utility, follow these steps:

1. Start the IExpress 2.0 wizard. The default location and filename is:

   C:\Program Files\ODK\Tools\Iexpress.exe.

   In the Welcome To IExpress 2.0 dialog box, click "Create new self extraction directive file," and then click Next.
2. In the "Package purpose" dialog box, click the option "Extract files and run an installation command," and click Next. In "Package title," enter a name such as "Example Installation," and then click Next.
3. In "Confirmation prompt," click "No prompt," and click Next. In "License agreement," click "Do not display a license," and click Next. These options, although not necessary, may be used.
4. In "Packaged files," click Add to choose the components you wish to be bundled into the self-extracting executable. For our example, you would locate the files:

   Profgen.exe
   Newprof.exe
   Outlook.prf
   Odk.inf

   Click Open, and then click Next.
5. For "Installation Program to Launch," specify the name of your .inf file. For our example, this is Odk.inf.
   
   Specify None as the Post Install command, and then click Next.
6. In "Show window," click Default, and click Next. In "Finish Message," click No Message, and then click Next.
7. In "Package Name and Options," type the name of your package, specify the directory location, and click Next. In Configure Reboot, click the No Reboot option, and then click Next.
   
   NOTE: If you are deploying your package using the ODK, you must select No Reboot.
8. In the "Save Self Extraction Directive" dialog box, specify the location to save the SED file, and then click Next. This file allows you to change your IExpress configuration and the files you have selected.
9. When the Create Package confirmation dialog is displayed, click Next and the package will be built. This is the self-extracting executable with the name you specified. This can be included in the Outlook Deployment Kit as your single custom package.

The final screen confirms the creation of your package. It will display information, such as how much compression the files received, how many bytes the package is, and how long it took to create the package. Click Finish to exit the wizard.

The bundled self-extracting executable is now ready to be included in the ODK.

For additional information on adding custom components to the ODK, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: The command-line switches for Profgen and Newprof are listed here for reference.

PROFGEN.EXE  <path>\NEWPROF.EXE -P <path>\DEFAULT.PRF [-S] [-X] [-L] [-U]

<path>\NEWPROF.EXE        - This is the name of the file NEWPROF.EXE, with
                            complete path.
-P <path>\DEFAULT.PRF     - This specifies the name of the .prf file to be
                            used.
-I <Logon ID>             - Use the logon ID specified.
-J                        - Modifies the PathtoPersonalFolders and the
                            PathToPersonalAddressBook, by substituting the
                            current logon ID, in place of $USERNAME$.
                            Hence, if the .prf file has the entry
                            PathtoPersonalFolders =
                            H:\$USERNAME$\mailbox.pst, the program will
                            change it to PathtoPersonalFolders =
                            H:\LogonID\mailbox.pst, LogonID is the current
                            login ID.
                            The PathToPersonalAddressBook will be similarly
                            modified.
                            For the PathtoPersonalFolders to be modified,
                            the "Personal Folders" service must be
                            included in the .prf file.
                            For the PathToPersonalAddressBook to be
                            modified, the "Personal Address Book"
                            service must be included in the .prf file.
-L                        - Create a log file, C:\PROFGEN.LOG.
-N                        - Use the current logon ID as the name of the
                            profile.
-R                        - Do not rename the .prf file after the program
                            has run.
-S                        - Run NEWPROF.EXE with the -S option.
-T <path>                 - Specifies the directory where the profgen.tmp
                            file should be created. The default location is
                            c:\.
-U                        - Use the current logon ID in the profile being
                            created. Update the MailboxName= entry
                            in the .prf file specified with the -P option,
                            even if it already contains a value.
-X                        - Run NEWPROF.EXE with the -X option
				

Newprof.exe accepts the following command line options:

   NEWPROF [-P <Path to .prf file>] [-S] [-X] [-Z]
				

Where:

-P  <Path to .prf file> is the .prf file with the complete path.
-S  Causes the Newprof.exe to program to bring up a window, allows
    the user to choose a .prf file, and displays status and error
    messages in this window.
-X  Causes Newprof.exe to start execution automatically when the -S
    option is used, without waiting for a .prf file to be selected.
    Requires the -P option to be used or the Default.prf file to be
    present in the windows directory.
-Z  Causes Newprof.exe to display MAPI error codes in case any errors
    are encountered. This option requires the -S option.
				

For additional information on Outlook.prf, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: