Introduction

Liquidware created an option to layer applications without the ProfileUnity agent installed. After the packaging process, a PowerShell script is run to create an executable that will mount the virtual hard disk and start the application. The whole process to create a package and the executable is covered in this article.

Preparation

If you do not already have done so, download the FlexApp One packaging software. Extract the ZIP file. The content will look like this:

FlexApp Packaging Software

Install the fpcsetup_<version>.exe from the FlexApp Packaging Console folder on a dedicated packaging machine. The installation is straightforward with Next - Next - Next - Finish.

Creating the package

In this example, NotepadPlusPlus_8.2_ENG_1.0.0 is created as a FlexApp One application. 

Created a package folder locally.

Before I started, I created a packaging structure locally. That will avoid all kinds of issues with filenames too long. 

Start the FlexApp Packaging Console.

Start the FlexApp Packaging Console. In the first line enter .\packages.xml. That is how we create a package offline. All the other lines remain empty. Click on the arrow to continue.

Click create to create the package.

Click [Create] to create the package.

Start the packaging process.

Fill in all the details. The Installer Location remains empty as the installation is triggered by me. Click [Create].

Click Start the start the packaging process.

Click the [Start] button to start the packaging process. After that start the install.cmd from the source folder to do the actual installation. 

"%~dp0npp.8.2.Installer.x64.exe" /S
copy "%~dp0config.model.xml" "%ProgramFiles%\Notepad++" /y
del "%ProgramFiles%\Notepad++\updater" /s /q
Click [Finish] when the packaging process has been completed.

Click Save.

Click [Save] when done.

Close the packaging console.

Close the FlexApp Packaging Console. 

Create the FlexApp One Executable

Folder content.

The next step is to create the FlexApp One executable. This is done with a PowerShell script. Copy the Bundler folder to C:\_Packaging.

Create the executable with a PowerShell script.

Create the executable with a PowerShell script.

Accept the License Agreement.

Accept the License Agreement.

The end result.

The end result.

All the files in the 5.FlexApp One folder.

All the files in the 5.FlexApp One folder.

Testing on the client

This test is done with a user with regular user rights on a workgroup computer. 

Start from a cmd

I copied all the FlexApp One files to the local folder C:\NotepadPlusPlus_8.2_ENG_1.0.0_20220106144700. Install NotepadPlusPlus_8.2_ENG_1.0.0.exe with the parameter --install. After that, the same executable with the parameter --addtostart.

Click [Yes] to continue.

Enter admin credentials.

Add the administrator credentials and click [Yes].

There is also a service wrapper available that can be installed automatically first with - for example - Intune. Then the users are not bothered with annoying questions. 

Click Ok.

Click [Ok]

Notepad++ is started automatically.

Notepad++ is started automatically.

And Notepad++ is visible in the Start Menu.

And Notepad++ is visible in the Start Menu.

Reboot the computer.

After reboot.

After reboot, Notepad++ is visible in the Start Menu. 

And Notepad++ works and automatic updates have been disabled.

And Notepad++ works and automatic updates have been disabled. 

If you have any questions please leave a comment.

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