How To Create Custom MMC Snap-in Tools Using Microsoft Management Console (230263)

SUMMARY

Administrators can use Microsoft Management Console (Mmc.exe) to create special tools to delegate specific administrative tasks to users or groups. Saved as MMC console (.msc) files, these custom tools can be sent by e-mail, shared in a network folder, or posted on the Web. They can also be assigned to users, groups, or computers with system policy settings. A tool can be scaled up or down, integrated seamlessly into the operating system, repackaged, and customized. This article describes how to accomplish these tasks.

back to the top

Creating a Console File

1. Click Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK. Microsoft Management Console starts with an empty console (or administrative tool). The empty console has no management functionality until you add a snap-ins.
2. On the Console menu, click Add/Remove Snap-in.
3. The Snap-ins added to box lists only Console Root at this point. Click Add.
4. Click the appropriate Snap-ins in the list of available stand-alone snap-ins, and then click Add.
5. When you are done adding snap-ins, click Close.
   
   You can nest the snap-ins in a tiered structure by adding a snap-in under another snap-in in the "Snap-ins added to" box. In some cases it may be necessary to click the Extensions tab. This tab contains a check box named "Add all extensions." When this check box is selected (the default behavior), all extensions that are locally installed on the computer on which the console file is opened are be used. If this check box is cleared, any extension snap-ins in the list that are selected are explicitly loaded when the console file is opened on a different computer.
6. Click OK to close the "Add/Remove Snap-in" dialog box. The Console Root window is now populated with the selected snap-ins, located in the Console Root folder.

NOTE: It is important to plan the structure of your custom snap-in tool so that it is functional and easy to use. The next section discusses this in more detail.

back to the top

Customizing the Layout of Snap-ins in the Console

1. In the left pane, right-click a snap-in icon, and then click New Window from Here. This opens a new window rooted at the snap-in you selected.
2. On the Window menu, click either Tile Horizontally or Cascade to customize the windows.
3. To save your new MMC console, click Save as on the Console menu and type a name for your console. The console is saved as a file that you can distribute to anyone who needs to configure a computer with the tool.

back to the top

Setting Console File Options

When you are creating a console file for another user, it is useful to be able to prevent that user from further customizing the console file. You can do this in he Options dialog box:

1. On the Console menu, click Options, and then click the Console tab.
2. If you want to select a different icon, click Change Icon, the appropriate icon, and then click OK.
3. Choose one of four Console Modes. These modes are:
   
   
   • Author Mode: You have access to all MMC functionality, including the ability to add or remove snap-ins, create new windows, and navigate the entire console tree.
   • User Mode-full access: Users have access to all window management functionality of the MMC and full access to the context tree. Users cannot add or remove snap-ins or change console file options. Save commands are not available because changes that do not affect snap-in relationships are saved automatically.
   • User Mode-limited access, multiple window: Users cannot open new windows, and users do not have access to areas of the console tree that were not visible when the console file was not saved. All restrictions in place on full-access user mode also apply. Multiple child windows are allowed, but the user cannot close them.
   • User Mode-limited access, single window: All restrictions in place for multiple window limited-access user mode apply, except that there is only a single window, so the controls for working with multiple windows are not present.
   In the Console mode box, click the mode that fits your specific administrative and security needs.
4. To restrict users from making changes to the custom console, click to select the Do not save changes to this console check box.
5. Click OK.
6. To save your new MMC console, click Save as on the Console menu and type a name for your console. The console is saved as a file that you can distribute to anyone who needs to configure a computer with the tool.

back to the top

Placing a Custom MSC Icon in the Programs Folder

1. Right-click Start, and then click Open All Users.
2. Double-click the Programs icon.
3. Right-click an empty area in the Programs folder, point to New, and then click Folder.
4. Type Console Tools, and then press ENTER.
5. Double-click the Console Tools folder to open it.
6. Right-click an empty area in the Console Tools folder, point to New, and then click Shortcut.
7. Click Browse.
8. Browse to the folder containing the custom console tool, and then click OK. Click Next.
9. Type a name for the shortcut, and then click Finish.

back to the top