Deploying Office with Systems Management Server

Using Systems Management Server to Deploy Multiple Applications

By using Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), you can install Microsoft Office 2000 features individually or in sets. For example, you can distribute Office 2000 to all clients, but deploy Microsoft Outlook and Microsoft Publisher on only a subset of those clients. Both Systems Management Server version 1.2 and Systems Management Server version 2.0 provide the flexibility to let you choose which Office features are installed.

Deploying multiple applications by using SMS 1.2

Although Systems Management Server 1.2 does not natively support consecutive installation of multiple applications, you can use a batch file to control Systems Management Server application distribution. By enclosing the Setup command between START and /w on the command line, you can control the chronological installation of applications. This method halts the batch file until Setup is complete. When Setup is done, the batch file continues processing. Alternatively, you can use simple logic in the batch file to check for files prior to starting Office Setup.

Note   When Package Command Manager (PCM) runs an installation program, it maps an available drive to the Systems Management Server Distribution server package share. Because this drive letter is dynamic, batch files created to install applications through Systems Management Server cannot depend on specific drive letters. The batch file created to perform the customized installation must be placed in the source directory of the Systems Management Server package.

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See also

You can customize many aspects of your Office installation, include specifying which Office programs or features are installed on users’ computers. For more information, see Customizing How Office Features Are Installed.

When you install Office and Office-related applications and tools on users’ computers, you can stagger the deployment and install software programs when and where you need them. For more information, see Managing a Successive Deployment of Office Premium and Related Products.