Leveraging cmd.exe to Create Complex Virtual Software Packages

I often receive e-mails from Juice readers asking me questions about how to package a specific application or group of applications. With each inquiry, I notice that they seem to only know of two ways to package in SVS: Single Program Capture and Global Capture.

There are other (sometimes better) options. Here's some info and advice.

General Practice

For a lot of applications a single program capture is not the way to go, so the packager goes with plan B, starts a Global Capture, and then spends hours cleaning out the package and working to keep the application running and functional.

The Road Less Traveled

Even though it's mentioned a couple of times on the Juice, application packagers forget the third (and very effective) way to create Virtual Software Packages.

So here's the right solution for packaging a single layer with more installs.

1. Create a new layer, and do a Single Program Capture.
2. Type the following application name to capture: cmd.exe.
3. Start capturing.
4. A nice black screen appears, and everything you start from within this screen will be captured, including all tasks that are started by a application that is started from within the dos box.
5. So now you are probably thinking about typing all the command lines to the application in the DOS box, but that can be done very easy also.
6. Just drag and drop the executable that you wish to package to the cmd box and press enter.
7. When you finish, type "Exit" in the box.

Now you have a multiprogram (but clean) layer that does all it should for you.

Regards
ErikW

Editor's Note: Get more info and comprehensive coverage of this technique in Wm Jesse Foster's great article that covers this method in detail.