Getting Started With Application Virtualization

AdminStudio 2023 | 25.0 | Automated Application Converter

AdminStudio provides support for the conversion of Windows Installer packages to the following virtual application formats:

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Microsoft App-V virtual packages (versions 4.x and 5.0)

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VMware ThinApp virtual packages

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Citrix XenApp virtual packages

You have several options when deciding how you want to create a virtual application, depending upon your source files, whether you are an enterprise user or an independent software vendor, and the degree of customization you want to perform:

Application Virtualization Support in AdminStudio

If you have ...	And want to ...	Use ...	Description
Windows Installer package(s) Legacy application(s)	Convert it to a virtual package with ... • Customized App‑V options • Default ThinApp, XenApp, Symantec options • Default isolation options	Automated Application Converter	Use Automated Application Converter to convert a single or group of Windows Installer (.msi) and legacy (.exe) packages to virtual applications. For detailed information, see Using the Application Conversion Project Wizard to Perform an End-to-End Conversion. Note:For more information, see Using Automated Application Converter vs. the InstallShield Virtual Assistants.
Windows Installer package or InstallShield project	Convert it to a virtual package with ... • Modified package contents, registry settings, and shortcuts • Custom isolation options on folders and registry entries • Operating system and/or language requirements	InstallShield Editor Microsoft App-V Assistant or InstallShield Editor Citrix Assistant or InstallShield Editor ThinApp Assistant	Use the InstallShield Editor Microsoft App-V Assistant, ThinApp Assistant or Citrix Assistant to create a virtual application from an InstallShield project or a Windows Installer package. Customization options include: • Modifying package contents, registry settings, and shortcuts • Setting custom isolation options on folders and registry entries • Setting operating system and/or language requirements • Specifying deployment server Note:For more information, see Using Automated Application Converter vs. the InstallShield Virtual Assistants. For detailed information on how to use the Microsoft App-V Assistant, ThinApp Assistant, and Citrix Assistant, see Creating Customized Virtual Applications in the InstallShield Help Library.
Repackager Project	Convert it to a virtual package with ... • No modifications • Default isolation options	Repackager	By selecting an option on the Repackaged Output view, you can simultaneously build an InstallShield Editor project, a Windows Installer package, and any of the following virtual package types: • Microsoft App-V 4.x or 5.0 • VMware ThinApp • Citrix XenApp For information on this feature, see Automatically Generating a Virtual Application During Repackager Project Build.

Using Automated Application Converter vs. the InstallShield Virtual Assistants

Whether you should choose to use Automated Application Converter or an InstallShield Virtual Assistant to perform virtualization could depend upon whether you are a system administrator for an enterprise or an independent software vendor (ISV):

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Enterprises: Automated Application Converter—Automated Application Converter is the tool of choice when doing a mass conversion of a variety of setups to virtual packages because it can operate on multiple packages in one project and handle repackaging when it is necessary. This scenario most often applies to enterprises.

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ISVs: InstallShield Virtual Assistants—InstallShield Virtual Assistants could be used when focusing on one particular Windows Installer package that does not need to be repackaged. This scenario most often applies to ISVs.

Important:InstallShield Editor does not support conversion to Symantec Workspace virtual package format. Also, the Microsoft App-V Assistant does not offer the option to perform conversion to App-V 5.0 format using the Microsoft App-V 5.0 Sequencer (which is offered by the Automated Application Converter). The App-V Assistant uses AdminStudio’s native technology to perform the conversion.

The InstallShield Virtual Assistants allow for customizing the various virtualization-related options for converting a Windows Installer package to a virtual package. In addition, it is possible to make modifications to the source Windows Installer .msi file.

Most of the package-level virtualization options—such as whether to compress the package or not—are also available in Automated Application Converter, but file and registry-specific isolation options are only available in the InstallShield Virtual Assistants.

Also, while Automated Application Converter enables you to customize the majority of App-V virtualization options, it does not enable you to set VMware ThinApp or Citrix XenApp conversion options. If the user needs to set some ThinApp or XenApp conversion options, then it would be necessary to use the InstallShield Virtual Assistant for VMware ThinApp or Citrix XenApp.