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About Package Definition Files

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Applies To: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1, System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager

Package definition files are predefined scripts that you can use to help automate package creation with System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager. These are files that contain the package and program information that is needed to distribute a package to clients, with the exception of the source file location.

Package definition files often come with an application's source files or are available from the application's developer. Configuration Manager also has a selection of package definition files that are automatically imported and available in the Create Package from Definition Wizard. .

For more information about the format of these files, see the Package Definition File Format section later in this topic.

Package Definition File Format

Each package definition file is an ASCII text file following a standard .ini file format and containing the following sections:

[PDF]

This section identifies the file as a package definition file and contains the following information:

  • Version
    Specifies the version of the package definition file format that is used by the file, corresponding to the version of System Management Server (SMS) or Configuration Manager for which they were written. This entry is required.

[Package Definition]

This section of the package definition file specifies the overall properties of the package and provides the following information:

  • Name
    The name of the package, up to 50 characters. This entry is required.

  • Version
    The version of the package, up to 32 characters. This entry is optional.

  • Icon
    Specifies the file that contains the icon to use for this package. If it is used, this icon replaces the default package icon in the Configuration Manager console. This entry is optional.

  • Publisher
    The publisher of the package, up to 32 characters. This entry is required.

  • Language
    The language version of the package, up to 32 characters. This entry is required.

  • Comment
    An optional comment about the package, up to 127 characters.

  • ContainsNoFiles
    This entry indicates whether or not a source is associated with the package.

  • Programs
    Specifies the programs that are defined for this package. Each program name corresponds to a [Program] section in this package definition file. This entry is required.

    For example:

    Programs=Typical, Custom, Uninstall

  • MIFFileName
    The name of the Management Information Format (MIF) file that contains the package status, up to 50 characters.

  • MIFName
    The name of the package (for MIF matching), up to 50 characters.

  • MIFVersion
    The version number of the package (for MIF matching), up to 32 characters.

  • MIFPublisher
    The software publisher of the package (for MIF matching), up to 32 characters.

[Program]

For each program specified in the Programs entry in the [Package Definition] section, the package definition file must include a section that defines that program. The file must contain a [Program] section for all programs that are contained within that package.

  • Name
    The name of the program, up to 50 characters. This entry must be unique within a package and is used when defining advertisements. On client computers, the name of the program is shown in Run Advertised Programs in Control Panel. This entry is required.

  • Icon
    Specifies the file that contains the icon to use for this program. If it is used, this icon replaces the default program icon in the Configuration Manager console and is displayed on client computers when the program is advertised. This entry is optional.

  • Comment
    An optional comment about the program, up to 127 characters.

  • CommandLine
    Specifies the command line for the program, up to 127 characters. The command is relative to the package source folder, if there is package source. This entry is required.

  • StartIn
    The working folder for the program, up to 127 characters. This entry can be an absolute path on the client computer or a path relative to the package source folder. This entry is required.

  • Run
    Specifies the program mode in which the program runs. You can specify Minimized, Maximized, or Hidden. If this entry is not included, the program runs in normal mode.

  • AfterRunning
    Specifies any special action that occurs after the program is completed successfully. Available options are SMSRestart, ProgramRestart, or SMSLogoff. If this entry is not included, the program does not run a special action.

  • EstimatedDiskSpace
    Specifies the amount of disk space that the software program requires to run on the computer. This can be specified as Unknown (the default setting) or as a whole number that is greater than or equal to zero. If a value is specified, units for the value must also be specified.

    For example:

    EstimatedDiskSpace=38MB

  • EstimatedRunTime
    Specifies the estimated time (in minutes) that the program is expected to run on the client computer. This can be specified as Unknown (the default setting) or as a whole number greater than zero.

    For example:

    EstimatedRunTime=25

  • SupportedClients
    Specifies the processors and operating systems on which this program runs. Each platform must be separated by a comma. If this entry is not included with the package definition file, supported platform checking is disabled for this program.

  • SupportedClientMinVersionX, SupportedClientMaxVersionX
    Specifies the beginning and ending range for version numbers for the operating systems specified in the SupportedClients entry.

    For example:

    SupportedClients=Win NT (I386),Win NT (IA64),Win NT (x64)

    Win NT (I386) MinVersion1=5.00.2195.4

    Win NT (I386) MaxVersion1=5.00.2195.4

    Win NT (I386) MinVersion2=5.10.2600.2

    Win NT (I386) MaxVersion2=5.10.2600.2

    Win NT (I386) MinVersion3=5.20.0000.0

    Win NT (I386) MaxVersion3=5.20.9999.9999

    Win NT (I386) MinVersion4=5.20.3790.0

    Win NT (I386) MaxVersion4=5.20.3790.2

    Win NT (I386) MinVersion5=6.00.0000.0

    Win NT (I386) MaxVersion5=6.00.9999.9999

    Win NT (IA64) MinVersion1=5.20.0000.0

    Win NT (IA64) MaxVersion1=5.20.9999.9999

    Win NT (x64) MinVersion1=5.20.0000.0

    Win NT (x64) MaxVersion1=5.20.9999.9999

    Win NT (x64) MinVersion2=5.20.3790.0

    Win NT (x64) MaxVersion2=5.20.9999.9999

    Win NT (x64) MinVersion3=5.20.3790.0

    Win NT (x64) MaxVersion3=5.20.3790.2

    Win NT (x64) MinVersion4=6.00.0000.0

  • AdditionalProgramRequirements
    Optional text that can include any other information or requirements for client computers, up to 127 characters.

  • CanRunWhen
    Specifies the user status that the program requires to run on the client computer. Available values are UserLoggedOn, NoUserLoggedOn, or AnyUserStatus. The default value is UserLoggedOn.

  • UserInputRequired
    Specifies whether the program requires interaction with the user to complete running. Available values are True or False. The default value is True. This entry is set to False if CanRunWhen is not set to UserLoggedOn.

  • AdminRightsRequired
    Specifies whether the program requires administrative credentials on the computer to run. Available values are True or False. The default value is False. This entry is set to True if CanRunWhen is not set to UserLoggedOn.

  • DriveLetterConnection
    Specifies whether the program requires a drive letter connection to the package files on the distribution point. You can specify True or False. The default value is False, which allows the program to use a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) connection. When this value is set to True, the next available drive letter is used (starting with Z and proceeding backward).

  • SpecifyDrive
    Specifies a specific drive letter that the program requires to connect to the package files on the distribution point. Using this entry forces the use of the specified drive letter for client connections to distribution points. This entry is optional.

  • ReconnectDriveAtLogon
    Specifies whether the computer reconnects to the distribution point when the user logs on. Available values are True or False. The default value is False.

  • DependentProgram
    Specifies a program (in this package) that must run before the current program. This entry uses the following format:

    DependentProgram=<ProgramName>

    where <ProgramName> is the Name entry for that program in the package definition file. If there are no dependent programs, leave this entry empty.

    For example:

    DependentProgram=Admin

    DependentProgram=

  • Assignment
    How the program is assigned to users. This value can be FirstUser (only the first user who logs on runs the program) or EveryUser (every user who logs on to the client runs the program). When CanRunWhen is not set to UserLoggedOn, this entry is set to FirstUser.

  • Disabled
    Specifies whether this program can be advertised to clients. Available values are True or False. The default value is False.

See Also

Configuration Manager Software Distribution
Configuration Manager Collections
Software Distribution Packages
Software Distribution Programs
Software Distribution Advertisements