Specify automatic installation options based on file name extension

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To specify automatic installation options based on file name extension

Open Group Policy Software Installation.
In the console tree, right-click Software installation.

Where?
- Group Policy object/Computer Configuration (or User Configuration)/Software Settings/Software installation
Click Properties, and then click the File Extensions tab.
On the File Extensions tab, specify the following options:
- Select file extension--Displays a list of all available file name extensions for the managed software. When an extension is selected, all applications in Active Directory that are associated with the selected file name extension are displayed in the Application precedence list box. For example, for an .htm extension, many applications can be associated, such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Communicator, and so on.
- Application precedence--Lists all the applications that are associated with the selected file name extension. By default, the application with the highest precedence is at the top of the list.
- Up--Moves the selected application higher in the precedence list. The application at the top of the list is automatically installed if a document with the selected file name extension is invoked before the application has been installed. The Up button is unavailable when the selected application is at the top of the list.
- Down--Moves the selected application lower in the priority list. The Down button is unavailable when the selected application is at the bottom of the list.

Notes

To complete this procedure, you must be logged on as a member of the Domain Administrators security group, the Enterprise Administrators security group, or the Group Policy Creator Owners security group.
To open Group Policy Software Installation, see Related Topics.
When you upgrade an application, turn off the autoinstall option for the older version.

Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.