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Q193114: XCLN: How To Generate A User-Specific Profile w/ IExpress & ODK

Article: Q193114
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 5.5,98
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 18-JUL-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Outlook 98 Deployment Kit 
- Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.5 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how to create a self-extracting archive to generate a
user-specific profile for use with the Microsoft Outlook Deployment Kit (ODK)
and the IExpress Deployment Kit for Outlook 98.

For additional information on using IExpress and the ODK, users should download
the IExpress Deployment Kit for Outlook 98 available at the following
locations:

  ftp.microsoft.com/softlib/mslfiles/odkidk98.exe

and

  http://support.microsoft.com/support/downloads/dp3384.asp

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:

  Q190053 XCLN: Adding Custom Applications to Active Setup with the ODK.

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:

  Q172073 : OL97: Contents of the Outlook.prf File

  Q166778 : OL97: Contents of the Profile.doc Readme File

Additional query words: ODK profgen newprof iexpress rollout prfadmin prf admin odkidk98.exe

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbOutlookSearch kbExchangeSearch kbExchange550 kbZNotKeyword2 kbOutlookDeployKitSearch kbOutlook98DeployKit
Version           : :5.5,98
Issue type        : kbhowto

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