About Transforms (.Mst); About Patches (.Msp); Importing Virtual Packages - Novell ADMINSTUDIO 9.5 User Manual

Chapter 6: Managing Application Catalog Databases
Importing Data

About Transforms (.mst)

Application Manager supports the import of Windows Installer packages (
A transform is a collection of changes applied to an installation. By applying a transform to a base installation
package, the installer can add or replace data in the installation database. The installer can only apply transforms
during an installation.
The installer registers a list of transforms required by the product during the installation. The installer must apply
these transforms to the product's installation package when configuring or installing the product.
A transform can modify information that is in any persistent table in the installer database. A transform can also add
or remove persistent tables in the installer database. Transforms cannot modify any part of an installation package
that is not in a database table, such as information in the summary information stream, information in substorages,
information in nested installations, or files in embedded cabinets.

About Patches (.msp)

AdminStudio supports the import of Windows Installer packages (
Installer patch (
contained package that contains all the information required to update an application.
A patch package contains the actual updates to the application and describes which versions of the application
can receive the patch. A patch package does not include a database like a regular installation package (
Patches contain at minimum two database transforms. One transform updates the information in the installation
database of the application. The other transform adds information that the installer uses for patching files.

Importing Virtual Packages

Edition • Support for importing Microsoft App-V applications, ThinApp applications, and Citrix profiles into the
Application Catalog is included in the AdminStudio Virtualization Pack.
You can import Microsoft App-V, VMware ThinApp, and Citrix virtual packages into the Application Catalog and
associate them with their source Windows Installer package.
Virtual packages are self-contained entities which ordinarily cannot be modified after they are created. By
associating a virtual package with the Windows Installer package which originated it, you have the convenience of
being able to easily locate the virtual package's originating Windows Installer package, modify the original
Windows Installer package, and then regenerate the virtual package.
You have several options in how to import a virtual package:
•
During the import of the Windows Installer
if the Import Wizard searches for and finds a virtual package created by AdminStudio, you are prompted to
also import that virtual package. See
Installer
236
file) is a file used to deliver updates to Windows Installer applications. A patch is a self-
.msp
Package.
.msi
package—During the import of a Windows Installer package,
Importing a Virtual Package During the Import of its Source Windows
) with associated transforms (
.msi
) with associated patches (
ADS-0950-UG00 AdminStudio 9.5 User Guide
).
.mst
). A Windows
.msp
file).
.msi