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Image: Automating the Application Readiness Process with PowerShell

AdminStudio Enterprise Edition includes a robust set of PowerShell cmdlets that allow for extensive control of the solution which enables powerful automation possibilities that can significantly speed up the process of application packaging and deployment. Saving time and money is great, but of course a solid process also helps with quality—all of which you can realize with the help of the resources outlined in this article.

The Application Readiness process includes the basic areas of effort required for a successful application deployment. It often varies from company to company, but a complete process that mitigates the most risk typically includes the tasks pictured below. The presentation and script found here is intended to help you automate the bulk of the activities necessary in execution of this process.

Application Readiness icon

Application Readiness

The task of application readiness never ends. There are always new apps and updates. Flexera’s AdminStudio greatly reduces the burden and saves time.

 

The AdminStudio documentation includes a reference to the cmdlets as well as a PowerShell example, but until recently we did not have a good real-world implementation of how to leverage this valuable feature to automate the Application Readiness Process.

Below you’ll find two pieces of content to help you unlock the potential of AdminStudio’s PowerShell support: A video of a presentation delivered at the 2018 App Management Event that details a script which can automate the process of importing an application, running tests, automatically fixing detected issues, converting it for virtualization and even publishing to a systems management solution for distribution. The presentation starts by explaining the process, covering some of the key cmdlets that make it possible, and finally a demonstration of the script itself. The script discussed is the second valuable piece of content shared below. To avoid some of the security implications that come with posting a PowerShell script file for download, the script can be found below for copy/paste into your editor of choice (just be sure to paste it as plain text to avoid the HTML that might otherwise come along with it depending on your editor).

(Full credit for the script below goes to Flexera Technical Product Manager, Kiran Mantagi who presented such in the video above)

###############################################################
# Environment Settings/Values
###############################################################
$DefaultExt = # Eg: @('*.msi','*.appv','*.exe')
$folder = # Eg:"C:\Users\admin_kiran\Desktop\Sample Packages"
$global:CatalogName = # Eg:'MyCatalog'
$ConnectionString = # Eg: PROVIDER=SQLOLEDB.1;Data Source=; Initial Catalog=' + $global:CatalogName + ';user ID=;password='
$SCCMServer = # Eg:'10.10.10.10(or FQDN)'
$SCCMServerSiteCode = # Eg:'ABC'
$SCCMRepositoryPath = # Eg: '\\10.10.10.10\Content'
$SCCMTargetGroup = # Eg: 'Applications\Sales'
$SCCMUser = # Eg: 'testdomain\admin'
$SCCMPass = # Eg:'Hello'
$sAACProjectFile = # Eg:"C:\AppVConversions\Convert.aacx"
$VirtualApps = # Eg: "C:\Virtualized Apps\"
$DistributionName = # Eg: 'ConfigMgr 2016'
$PluginID = 13
$ShareUser = # Eg:'testdomain\admin'
$SharePwd = # Eg:'Hello'
$IntervalinMins = #