Microsoft Active Directory Deployment

Microsoft Active Directory is an application for managing the clients and servers in network environments. It simplifies management, migration, and deployment. Clients do not need administrative privileges.

To install the SolidWorks software using Microsoft Active Directory:

1. Create an administrative image from the command prompt.

2. Create a transform file to customize the SolidWorks software:

1. Open the Command Prompt window.

2. In the folder that contains the administrative image, drag SWCreateMST.exe into the Command Prompt window. The command should be in the format:

<path_to_administrative_image>SWCreateMST.exe <path_to_MSI_file_of_an_administrative_image> <list_of_properties>

The properties can be feature properties or global properties. For example:

C:\admin\SWCreateMST.exe "c:\admin\english_i386_SolidWorks.msi" INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\<your_folder>" SOLIDWORKSSERIALNUMBER="xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx" ADDLOCAL=SolidWorks,English,Manuals OFFICEOPTION=0

The transform file, English_i386_SolidWorks.mst, is created in the folder that contains the administrative image.

3. In the Active Directory, edit the Published Apps policy for the group or groups to deploy the SolidWorks software.

4. In the Group Policy dialog box, expand Computer Configuration and Software Settings.

5. Right-click Software installation and select New, Package.

6. Browse to the administrative image and click Open.

7. In the Deploy Software dialog box, select Advanced published or assigned, then click OK.

8. In the SolidWorks Properties dialog box, on the Modifications tab:

1. Click Add.

2. Browse to the .mst file.

3. Click Open.

9. Click OK.