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Configuration Manager Console RootNodes Element

  • Article

RootNodes elements are the topmost nodes for a feature. For example, software distribution.

The RootNodes element is responsible for rendering a node. It defines the queries and layout that are used to display the results pane and any dynamic nodes that are added to the Configuration Manager console tree node. The NodeDescription node defines these user interface elements.

A root node has one type of child node, <ChildNodes>.

Child Nodes

ChildNode elements are static nodes that appear under the root node for a feature. For example, Packages is a child node of the software distribution node. Child nodes appear under the ChildNodes node and each child node is described by a RootNodeDescription node. Each child node may have further child nodes described in a child RootNode element.

Describing the Tree View Pane and Results Pane

As a child of RootNodes, NodeDescription provides a description of the tree view pane and results pane used in the Configuration Manager console. NodeDescription includes the following three child elements:

  • QueryDescription

  • DetailsPaneDescription

QueryDescription

The QueryDescription element can be used to query the SMS Provider for objects to be displayed in the node. The QueryDescription element includes the following attributes:

Attribute Description
NamespaceGuid The node that the query applies to.
Type The type of the query. Typically this is a WQL query.
DisplayName Description Displays text strings for the name and description in the Configuration Manager console. Typically, though you will use the results of the query. The code examples in the next section display the name property of the collection.

The following elements are some of the child elements of QueryDescription:

Element Description
Query The WQL query that is used to populate the node.
ReturnedClassType The type of the Configuration Manager or custom object returned.

DetailPaneDescription

The DetailsPaneDescription element is used to define the details panel associated with a particular node. The DetailsPaneDescription element includes the following attributes:

Attribute Description
ObjectClass The object type that the details pane applies to.

The following elements are some of the child elements of DetailsPaneDescription:

Element Description
PanePageDescription Defines the details page that should load in the details pane. Includes the assembly where the page is located, the page title, and query that should be run in order to retrieve any data for display.

Below is an XML example of a DetailsPaneDescription element definition. The details pane is targeted at a SMS_Package type and returns all SMS_Package objects that are included in the selected SMS_Package object. The returned collection is then displayed in a grid view. The properties for display are defined in the PropertyList element.

<DetailsPaneDescription ObjectClass="SMS_Package">    <PanePageDescription ObjectClass="SMS_Package" PageGuid="ce027fe6-ffd8-4825-ad7b-029c39e97327" Description="ProgramsTabDescription">   <ResourceAssembly>      <Assembly>AdminUI.Program.dll</Assembly>       <Type>Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.AdminConsole.Program.Properties.Resources.resources</Type>   </ResourceAssembly>   <PageTitle>ProgramsTabName</PageTitle>   <QuerySettingsDescription QueryClass="SMS_Program">    <Queries>       <QueryDescription NamespaceGuid="d13e9848-2c76-418c-ab96-9a2940aaf0de" Type="WQL" DisplayName="##SUB:ProgramName##" Description="##SUB:ProgramName##">         <Query>SELECT * FROM SMS_Program WHERE PackageId='##SUB:PackageId##'</Query>          <ReturnedClassType>SMS_Program</ReturnedClassType>        <Actions>      </Actions>      </QueryDescription>  </Queries>   <PropertyList>       <PropertyDescription Name="ProgramName" />       <PropertyDescription Name="CommandLine" />       <PropertyDescription Name="Run" />       <PropertyDescription Name="DiskSpaceReq" />      <PropertyDescription Name="Comment" />    </PropertyList>   </QuerySettingsDescription> </PanePageDescription></DetailsPaneDescription>

See Also

How to Create a Configuration Manager Administrator Console Node
About Configuration Manager Administrator Console Nodes
How to Find a Configuration Manager Node GUID