Automating Network Groups and Items via SETUP.INF (69967)

MORE INFORMATION

Use the following outline to create custom groups via the SETUP.INF file.

1. Edit SETUP.INF with a standard ASCII text editor and locate the line:

         [progman.groups]
   						

2. Add a blank line directly under Games, and, on this line, type the name of the new group you want to have built:

         [progman.groups]
         Main,1
         Accessories
         Games
         MyWork
   						

   The ",1" parameter indicates which group will be the default "open" group upon starting Windows.
3. Add a new section header after the listing of groups and a list of what program items you want to appear in this group:

         [MyWork]
         "Solitaire",   SOL.EXE
         "StyleSheet",  "NOTEPAD.EXE STYLESH.TXT"
         "GammaWrite",  GW.EXE
   						

The new group "MyWork" will have three program items in it. "Solitaire" is the word that appears under the icon and the executable file is SOL.EXE. "StyleSheet" is a text file on company style that will be represented as an icon for quick reference. The command line is in quotation marks because there is a space between the two filenames. "GammaWrite" is a third-party utility program item. Because it does not come with Windows, it is necessary to add GW.EXE to the end of two other sections of the SETUP.INF, [dontfind] and [win.apps]. If this program is not located in the shared Windows directory, supply a full path description to the executable file.

The SETUP.INF file is a comma-delineated text file formatted for 160 columns that supplies customized directions to the SETUP.EXE.

Preferred Workstation Setup Method

Install Windows 3.0 on a network (see pages 543-556 of the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide"), and then run the SETUP /N command on each workstation. In some instances (for example, large workstation groups) it may not be efficient to do this and then customize each workstation individually. By editing the SETUP.INF file with a text editor, it is possible to enhance the SETUP /N command so that it customizes each workstation to a company standard.