ThinApp a URL with native IE
Hi All,
I have been tasked with creating a link to a URL in our work environment, but it requires the use of a version of Java. The site works with the current version of Java, but our testers don't retest each site every month for every version of software that goes out.
So anyway, short question - I am trying to ThinApp a URL with Java in it. I have managed to create a thin package, but seems every time the user reboots and runs the thinapp, you are presented with a copy of IE that can't do anything. The settings menu only has File and Safety available, the page does not display, nothing in the URL field even attempting to go to favourite search engine does nothing, the URL sits in the field and won't go there. However, closing the broken browser and relaunching the same thinapp link works.
Anybody with a few tips to share on the subject, be much appreciated, as the only things I can find are thinapp'ing the browser themselves or using thindirect to redirect the links people put in their browsers to run alt thinapp'd browsers. Maybe I am not using the right search terms in my "Altavista"ering (doesn't sound the same).
Thanks
I have been tasked with creating a link to a URL in our work environment, but it requires the use of a version of Java. The site works with the current version of Java, but our testers don't retest each site every month for every version of software that goes out.
So anyway, short question - I am trying to ThinApp a URL with Java in it. I have managed to create a thin package, but seems every time the user reboots and runs the thinapp, you are presented with a copy of IE that can't do anything. The settings menu only has File and Safety available, the page does not display, nothing in the URL field even attempting to go to favourite search engine does nothing, the URL sits in the field and won't go there. However, closing the broken browser and relaunching the same thinapp link works.
Anybody with a few tips to share on the subject, be much appreciated, as the only things I can find are thinapp'ing the browser themselves or using thindirect to redirect the links people put in their browsers to run alt thinapp'd browsers. Maybe I am not using the right search terms in my "Altavista"ering (doesn't sound the same).
Thanks
0 Comments
[ + ] Show comments
Answers (2)
Answer Summary:
Please log in to answer
Posted by:
Pressanykey
9 years ago
Hi,
first off, you do not really describe what is in your thinApp package, so I'll make a few assumptions...
1. Your ThinApp contains both a specific java version AND a specific IE version
2. Usually, you can fully isolate the java resources (both registry and file system) unless you are using GPO's to control java, in which case you will have to set the specific registry entry(ies) to merged
3. IE is a real bitch to create a good ThinApp package. I also expect you would like to control the various settings per GPO, and this is where it can get messy, finding out both the HKLM and HKCU registry entries to control the behaviour of the IE and set the correct isolation settings...
As far as IE is concerned, either you supply all of your requirements in the package (HKLM and HKCU) and set these registry entries to full isolation. You may however have problems with any external plug-ins etc...
What version of Java and IE are you trying to package?
Cheers
Phil
first off, you do not really describe what is in your thinApp package, so I'll make a few assumptions...
1. Your ThinApp contains both a specific java version AND a specific IE version
2. Usually, you can fully isolate the java resources (both registry and file system) unless you are using GPO's to control java, in which case you will have to set the specific registry entry(ies) to merged
3. IE is a real bitch to create a good ThinApp package. I also expect you would like to control the various settings per GPO, and this is where it can get messy, finding out both the HKLM and HKCU registry entries to control the behaviour of the IE and set the correct isolation settings...
As far as IE is concerned, either you supply all of your requirements in the package (HKLM and HKCU) and set these registry entries to full isolation. You may however have problems with any external plug-ins etc...
What version of Java and IE are you trying to package?
Cheers
Phil
Posted by:
Tempril
9 years ago
Top Answer
Thanks Phil for getting back to my question. I had been going over this for about 6 hours trying to find a working solution, but not long after I asked the question, I managed to find the answer. To start with I will answer your questions.
My thinapp is very small (content size not package size), it is just the latest version of Java 1.8.45 and a URL. This URL is to use native IE, no matter the default browser. The URL is an internal link. No IE is harmed in the making of this package and the thinapp does not contain (nuts) IE.
The package is just an icon file, URL and Java. The reason for that is to make sure the site opens with that version of Java. the site could/might stay on that version for the next two years, that is why it is not native install of JRE.
So to answer the question regarding the IE not working, the answer lays with the HKLM keys. IE in our environment is quite locked down, so there had to be some reg keys added to HKEY_local_machine.txt
isolation_full HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies
isolation_full HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
Value=DisableFirstRunCustomize
REG_DWORD=#01#00#00#00
isolation_full HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
I also had to add the following in the package.ini before build
[Primavera P6 Web Team Member.exe]
Source=%ProgramFilesDir%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
CommandLine="%ProgramFilesDir%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" https://primaveraweb.domain.blah.:).au/p6tmweb
Icon=%ProgramFilesDir%\Oracle\Primavera\Primavera P6 Web.ico
Shortcut=Primavera P6 Web Team Member.dat
some of the info I picked up was from here
http://blogs.vmware.com/thinapp/2009/05/internet-explorer-plugins.html
and the rest came from a colleague - thanks Colin.
After sitting for 8.5 hours yesterday, I left the office before I could check the changes in the package.
The changes I mentioned above fixed it.
Cheers
Lee
Update: turns out there is an IE policy the Thinapp is reading. The isolation on the keys for policy stops the thinapp picking these up.
My thinapp is very small (content size not package size), it is just the latest version of Java 1.8.45 and a URL. This URL is to use native IE, no matter the default browser. The URL is an internal link. No IE is harmed in the making of this package and the thinapp does not contain (nuts) IE.
The package is just an icon file, URL and Java. The reason for that is to make sure the site opens with that version of Java. the site could/might stay on that version for the next two years, that is why it is not native install of JRE.
So to answer the question regarding the IE not working, the answer lays with the HKLM keys. IE in our environment is quite locked down, so there had to be some reg keys added to HKEY_local_machine.txt
isolation_full HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies
isolation_full HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
Value=DisableFirstRunCustomize
REG_DWORD=#01#00#00#00
isolation_full HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
I also had to add the following in the package.ini before build
[Primavera P6 Web Team Member.exe]
Source=%ProgramFilesDir%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
CommandLine="%ProgramFilesDir%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" https://primaveraweb.domain.blah.:).au/p6tmweb
Icon=%ProgramFilesDir%\Oracle\Primavera\Primavera P6 Web.ico
Shortcut=Primavera P6 Web Team Member.dat
some of the info I picked up was from here
http://blogs.vmware.com/thinapp/2009/05/internet-explorer-plugins.html
and the rest came from a colleague - thanks Colin.
After sitting for 8.5 hours yesterday, I left the office before I could check the changes in the package.
The changes I mentioned above fixed it.
Cheers
Lee
Update: turns out there is an IE policy the Thinapp is reading. The isolation on the keys for policy stops the thinapp picking these up.
Comments:
-
Hi Lee,
I misunderstood then, I thought you were packaging IE with Java. You needed to start a web app with a specific Java version then... Glad you got it all up and running. :-) - Pressanykey 9 years ago