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Creating a Native Windows App
 

You can create a native app for workstations running Windows using a Windows .msi or an .exe Installer.

To create a native Windows App:

  1. Using your preferred web browser, navigate to the URL for your Apporto system (e.g. mycollege.apporto.com) and log in to the system using your Admin credentials to access the App Publishing screen

  2. Click the Apps  icon in the Navigation panel.
  • The Apps screen displays.

                    

  • The screen shows a listing of all apps currently configured for your Apporto system.
     

      3. Click the New button.

  • The Select the Type of App dialog displays.

                   

      4. Select the Native radio button.

  • The Create App screen displays.

                     

      5. Enter the appropriate values for the app:

NOTE: “Mandatory” fields are identified by a red asterisk (*).

  • Enter the name of the app in the App name text box.

  • Enter the name of the app publisher in the Publisher text box.

  • If desired, upload a logo for the app:

NOTE: Adding a logo for the app helps making the app visually appealing to the user.

NOTE: Logo files must be less than 5 MB. Allowed file type are png, gif, jpg, or jpeg. Images must be smaller than 100×100 pixels. Images larger than 100×100 pixels are scaled to the allowed size limit.

  • Click the App logo – Browse button. A standard File Upload dialog displays.

  • Locate and select the desired file, then click the Open button. The File Upload dialog closes automatically, and the name of the selected file is shown next to the Browse button.

  • Click the App logo – Upload button to upload the logo file. A “thumbnail” of the logo shows, and the name of the uploaded document displays as a link when the upload is complete.

    NOTE: If you wish to remove the logo file, click the Remove button.
     

  • Enter one or more keywords that describe the app in the Tags text box. When entering multiple keywords, separate entries with commas.

NOTE: Keywords allows users to easily search for the application they require.

  • The Tags text box uses “predictive” functionality that suggests previously used keywords as you enter text. Keywords that are new are automatically added to the database for future use.

  • If appropriate, add a provisioning script for the app:

NOTE: To use the App Store credentials instead of an uploaded provisioning script, select the Use App Store credentials checkbox.

  • Select the Add Provisioning script checkbox. The screen refreshes to display the Add provisioning script upload tools.

  • Click the Add Provisioning script – Browse button. A standard File Upload dialog displays.

  • Locate and select the desired file, then click the Open button. The File Upload dialog closes automatically, and the name of the selected file is shown next to the Browse button.

  • Click the Add Provisioning script – Upload button to upload the provisioning script. The name of the uploaded document displays when the upload is complete.

NOTE: If you wish to remove the provisioning script, click the Remove button.

  • If desired, enter a brief App description, any special Install instructions, and/or a Link to vendor website.

  • If the app does not install “silently” (if user interaction is required during installation), select the Interactive App checkbox.

NOTE: Interactive apps cannot be pushed out by Admins.

  • If desired, add an installation warning for the app:

NOTE: The installation warning is shown when a user attempts to install the app.

  • Select the Add installation warning checkbox. The screen refreshes to display the Installation warning message text box.

  • Enter the desired installation warning in the Installation warning message text box.

  • If desired, add an uninstallation warning for the app:

NOTE: The uninstallation warning is shown when a user attempts to uninstall the app.

  • Select the Add uninstallation warning checkbox. The screen refreshes to display the Uninstallation warning message text box.

  • Enter the desired uninstallation warning in the Uninstallation warning message text box.

  • Upload the installer for the app using the appropriate procedures below:
     

To upload an MSI installer:
 

  • Click the App package – Browse button. A standard File Upload dialog displays.

  • Locate and select the desired MSI file, then click the Open button. The File Upload dialog closes automatically, and the name of the selected file is shown next to the Browse button.

  • Click the App package – Upload button to upload the installer.

  • After the file is uploaded, a dialog displays the default silent installation command for an MSI displays. If desired, you can modify the command (for example, by adding or removing switches). If you make changes to the command, click the Save button to save your changes. Otherwise, click the X icon to close the dialog box.
     

To upload an exe installer:
 

  • Click the App package – Browse button. A standard File Upload dialog displays.

  • Locate and select the desired exe file, then click the Open button. The File Upload dialog closes automatically, and the name of the selected file is shown next to the Browse button.

  • Click the App package – Upload button to upload the installer.

  • After the file is uploaded, you are prompted to enter the exe installer’s properties. Apporto provides a tool called SearchRegistry (located in the “C:\Program Files\BizAppCenter” directory) that adds in locating the installer’s properties. To use SearchRegistry:

  • Install the app on your local workstation using the exe file.

  • Start SearchRegistry.

  • In the SearchRegistry window, enter the first few letters of the name of the app you installed in the query box.

  • Select, copy and paste the values from SearchRegistry into the light box, then click Submit.

  • Lastly, you are prompted to provide the silent install command (and in some cases, the silent uninstall command). The Apporto provides a default command line. In most cases, this command line will need to be modified. If you make changes to the command(s), click the Save button to save your changes. Otherwise, click the X icon to close the dialog box.

  • Use the Environment checkboxes to specify the environments to which you wish to publish the app; DEV, TEST and/or PROD.
  • The DEV checkbox is selected by default, and cannot be deselected.
     

      6. When all necessary information has been entered, click the Submit button to create the app.

  • The App Detail screen for the newly created app displays.

  • The app can now be published to the desired target groups or users.