Watch Application Wizard
The Watch Application Wizard is most useful when you want to create an SMS Installer-generated executable file for an application that has no existing setup program. This wizard runs an existing application and notes the files that are used. The wizard adds these files to an installation script for the application. You can modify the installation script and compile it into an SMS Installer-generated executable file that you can deploy throughout your organization.
You can also use the Watch Application Wizard to verify that the Repackage Installation Wizard has captured all the files that are necessary for an application. For example, suppose that a developer that is using Visual Basic creates an application. The developer includes all the new files in the setup process but is not aware of support files that are called automatically by Visual Basic and its run-time components and that are necessary to the setup program. In the Repackage Installation Wizard, the repackaging process is completed successfully on a computer that has Visual Basic, but the installation files list is incomplete for a target computer without Visual Basic. The Watch Application Wizard allows you to discover these additional files so you can add them to the installation script manually.
The Watch Application Wizard does the following tasks in order:
Runs an existing application on the reference computer, noting the files used by the application
Uses the list of files to create an installation script for the application
Running the Watch Application Wizard
You run the Watch Application Wizard on a reference computer on which the existing application is already installed. This computer can have any configuration. The Watch Application Wizard runs the application and notes the DLLs, OLE custom controls (.ocx), and Visual Basic Custom Controls (VBXs) that are used. When complete, these files are added to an installation script for the application. You can then modify the script and compile it into an SMS Installer-generated executable file.
As you start the Watch Application Wizard, be sure to specify the Visual Basic configuration options that you want on the Visual Basic tab in the Runtime Support dialog box. For information, see the "Runtime Support Attribute" section earlier in this chapter. If there are DLL files that you want excluded from the Watch function report, you must use the Options tab in the Advanced Configuration dialog box to exclude them. For more information, see the "Advanced Configuration Attribute" section earlier in this chapter.
To run the Watch Application Wizard
On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SMS Installer, and then click Microsoft SMS Installer 32.
If SMS Installer opens in Script Editor, click Installation Expert on the View menu.
In the Installation Expert dialog box, click Watch.
In the Watch Application dialog box, specify the path to the application.
Run the application and use all of the program features of the application.
When you have run all the possible commands for the application, click Finish.
The files that were accessed are listed in the installation script in Script Editor. They are also listed in the Application Files installation attribute on the Files tab in the Installation Expert dialog box.
For More Information
Did you find this information useful? Please send your suggestions and comments about the documentation to smsdocs@microsoft.com.