Overview of the Citrix Assistant

AdminStudio 2025 | 29.0 | Citrix Assistant

You can use the Citrix Assistant to help you author a Citrix profile for an application. The Citrix profile can then be deployed on a Citrix XenApp. These deployed applications run within isolation environments that prevent them from interfering with other software running on the same machine. Using the Citrix Assistant, you can configure an application’s operating system and language requirements, files, folders, shortcuts, registry settings, script execution, isolation options, and build options.

The process for authoring a Citrix profile using the Citrix Assistant is as follows:

Steps to Convert a Windows Installer Package to a Citrix Profile

Step

Go To:

Actions

Getting Started

InstallShield Start Page

Create or open one of the following project types:

• Basic MSI
• MSI Database (Direct Edit Mode)
• Transform (Direct MST Mode)

Citrix Assistant Home Page

Click on the Citrix XenApp tab to open the Citrix Assistant Home page

Specifying Package Information and Deployment Options

Profile Information Page

Specify the name and version of the Citrix profile, whether this package can run executables that are not included with the Citrix profile, and whether to include diagnostic tools with the Citrix profile.

Specifying Operating System and Language Requirements

Profile Requirements Page

Specify the operating systems and language requirements that client workstations must meet in order for this application to operate properly. You can also specify pre-launch and post-exit scripts to execute.

Managing Files in an App-V Package

Profile Files Page

View existing files and folders, add and delete files.

Setting Isolation Options

Profile Files Page

Override the Citrix default isolation options for selected folders and files. Isolation options specify how the virtual environment will provide access to files and folders requested by the Citrix profile.

Modifying Shortcuts to the App-V Package’s Executable Files

Profile Shortcuts Page

Create, delete, include, exclude, or rename a Citrix profile’s executables, which are derived from the shortcuts in its Windows Installer package.

Modifying App-V Package Registry Settings

Profile Registry Page

Add, delete, or modify the registry settings in your Citrix profile, and override the Citrix default isolation options for selected registry keys. Isolation options specify how the virtual environment will provide access to registry keys requested by the Citrix profile.

Modifying Build Options

Build Settings Page

Choose whether to digitally sign the Citrix profile and select the releases that you want to build.

Also, when you have a Windows Installer package open in Direct Edit mode, you can enable the Build Release option on the Build menu by making a selection on this page.

Building an App-V Package

Build on the Toolbar

OR

Build Citrix Profile (F7) on the Build Menu

Click Build to build the active Release and create a Citrix profile.

Also, when you have a Windows Installer package open in Direct Edit mode, you can enable the Build Release option on the Build menu by selecting the Build Citrix Profile option on this page.

Information about the Citrix XenApp and Citrix profiles is presented in the following topics:

• About Citrix XenApp
• Components of an App-V Package
• Benefits of Deploying Citrix Profiles
• Supported InstallShield Project Types
• How Transforms are Included in an App-V Package

See Also

Using the Microsoft App-V Assistant to Create an App-V Package