How to view .aas file inside a GPO?

[Mark Heitbrink [MVP]]

Hi,

Perhaps one of you know about my little problem,
it愀 not really MSI related but it愀 about deploying
msi packages via active directory software deployment.

I just want to know if there ist a possibility to take
a clear view inside an .aas file, which is generated by
the GPO if you are using the software deployment feature
of the AD.

I don愒 want to change anything inside the file(now, perhaps
later ;-), but I惴 just curios and would like to take a look
inside. By using the editor it愀 like open an .exe with edit.

THIA,
Mark
--
Mark Heitbrink - MVP Windows Server
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[Sawin@discussions.microsoft.com Curtis Sawin]

One can open an ".aas" file in a text editor, but this won't give a
completely "clear" view.

Meaning, I've been able to view aas files using Notepad, and see advertising
information such as the working directory of a shortcut, the installation
source, and items like the ProductCode and PackageCode.

Perhaps instead of editing the file, you could use the function
"MsiAdvertiseProduct" to generate a new ".aas" file. I've created a VB
program to help automatically create a new software package object in a GPO,
and have used this function successfully to create the "aas" file.

Hope this helps!

Curtis Sawin

"Mark Heitbrink [MVP]" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Perhaps one of you know about my little problem,

> it´s not really MSI related but it´s about deploying

> msi packages via active directory software deployment.
>
> I just want to know if there ist a possibility to take
> a clear view inside an .aas file, which is generated by
> the GPO if you are using the software deployment feature
> of the AD.
>

> I don´t want to change anything inside the file(now, perhaps
> later ;-), but I´m just curios and would like to take a look
> inside. By using the editor it´s like open an .exe with edit.

[Kenneth MacDonald]

On Mon, 16 Aug 2004 14:47:03 -0700, Curtis Sawin wrote:

> One can open an ".aas" file in a text editor, but this won't give a
> completely "clear" view.
>
> Meaning, I've been able to view aas files using Notepad, and see advertising
> information such as the working directory of a shortcut, the installation
> source, and items like the ProductCode and PackageCode.
>
> Perhaps instead of editing the file, you could use the function
> "MsiAdvertiseProduct" to generate a new ".aas" file. I've created a VB
> program to help automatically create a new software package object in a GPO,
> and have used this function successfully to create the "aas" file.
>
> Hope this helps!

This script would be really interesting to see! Are you able to share it?

Cheers,

Kenny.