ZAP File
Encyclopedia
A .ZAP File is a text file, which allows the publishing of an application to a user on a Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 system (Windows 2000
Windows 2000
Windows 2000 is a line of operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, business desktops, laptops, and servers. Windows 2000 was released to manufacturing on 15 December 1999 and launched to retail on 17 February 2000. It is the successor to Windows NT 4.0, and is the...

, XP Professional
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...

 or Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...

), for applications for which a .MSI
Windows Installer
The Windows Installer is a software component used for the installation, maintenance, and removal of software on modern Microsoft Windows systems...

 file does not exist. It is used in Active Directory
Active Directory
Active Directory is a directory service created by Microsoft for Windows domain networks. It is included in most Windows Server operating systems. Server computers on which Active Directory is running are called domain controllers....

 Domains
Windows Server domain
A Windows domain is a collection of security principals that share a central directory database. This central database contains the user accounts and security information for...

 and is installed using a Group Policy
Group Policy
Group Policy is a feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems. Group Policy is a set of rules that control the working environment of user accounts and computer accounts. Group Policy provides the centralized management and configuration of operating systems, applications, and...

.

A Basic .ZAP File

A .ZAP file can be as simple or as complicated as the System Administrator wishes to make it. There are only two required fields in a .ZAP file, an Application Name (called a Friendly Name) and a Setup Command line. Other information is optional.

The .ZAP File begins with a title line consisting of the word Application inside single Square Brackets ([ ]). Underneath this come the entry fields, the two Required fields being FriendlyName = "Name" and SetupCommand = "\\Server\share\setupfile". You can also add Optional entries, such as DisplayVersion = and Publisher =. Note that DisplayVersion and Publisher do not require Quotation Marks
Quotation mark
Quotation marks or inverted commas are punctuation marks at the beginning and end of a quotation, direct speech, literal title or name. Quotation marks can also be used to indicate a different meaning of a word or phrase than the one typically associated with it and are often used to express irony...

 around the variables.

Below is a very simple example of a .ZAP file.

[Application]
FriendlyName = "Program"
SetupCommand = "\\FileServer\Share\setup.exe" /q

Restrictions to a .ZAP File

The .ZAP file is more restricted than a .MSI file in that it cannot be rolled back if the application fails to install correctly, cannot use elevated privileges to install itself (i.e. the User needs to have the rights to install the software - usually given by Group Policy) and cannot install on first use, or install a separate feature on first use.

Many .ZAP Files require user intervention. This can be overcome if the Systems Administrator creates a Batch file
Batch file
In DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows, batch file is the name given to a type of script file, a text file containing a series of commands to be executed by the command interpreter....

 and runs a quiet or silent install from a Batch File command. However, running an Executable file
Executable
In computing, an executable file causes a computer "to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions," as opposed to a data file that must be parsed by a program to be meaningful. These instructions are traditionally machine code instructions for a physical CPU...

 (such as setup.exe) often bypasses quiet, passive or silent installation switches, even if specified in the SetupCommand.

In addition, .ZAP files are not run automatically prior to, or during a User Logon. Instead, the User must access Add/Remove Programs from within the Windows Control Panel
Control Panel (Windows)
The Control Panel is a part of the Microsoft Windows graphical user interface which allows users to view and manipulate basic system settings and controls via applets, such as adding hardware, adding and removing software, controlling user accounts, and changing accessibility options...

, Select Add New Programs and select the Installation from here. The User must have access to the location where the .ZAP file is located and have access to the location of the Setup files (if these locations are different), otherwise they will not be able to install the Application.

.ZAP Files cannot be Assigned to Computers and must be published to Users. Therefore when a User moves to another computer (even only temporarily) they can install this application on that machine whether the program should be there or not.

Finally, .ZAP Files do not automatically uninstall when a User no longer requires the software. Instead, the software remains installed on the machine permanently, unlike a .MSI installation which can be set to uninstall when the Computer is removed from the relevant OU.

Publishing a .ZAP File

After creating a .ZAP file and placing it in an accessible share - usually creating an Active Directory Group with access to this location - the Systems Administrator needs to create a Group Policy Object, open the editing screen, select User Configuration, Software Settings and Software Installation and create a New Package to the location of the .ZAP file. Since GPOs default to .MSI, the System Admin needs to ensure that they search for .ZAP files, instead of .MSI files.

Accepting the new package and assigning the GPO to the relevant Organizational Unit
Organizational Unit
In computing, an Organizational Unit provides a way of classifying objects located in directories, or names in a digital certificate hierarchy, typically used either to differentiate between objects with the same name , or to parcel out authority to create and manage objects In computing, an...

 (OU
Organizational Unit
In computing, an Organizational Unit provides a way of classifying objects located in directories, or names in a digital certificate hierarchy, typically used either to differentiate between objects with the same name , or to parcel out authority to create and manage objects In computing, an...

) will publish the application. The User(s) will then need to log off and back on again to get access to the .ZAP file and run it.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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