SCCM Create an Application
Introduction
A System Center 2012 Configuration Manager application contains the files and information that are required to deploy software to a device. An application contains one or more deployment types that comprise the installation files and information that are required to install software. A deployment type also contains rules that specify when and how the software is deployed.
Note
To deploy software to Android, iOS, Windows Phone, and enrolled Windows 8.1 devices, these devices must be enrolled into Microsoft Intune. For information about how to get your devices enrolled, see Manage mobile devices with Microsoft Intune.
You can create applications by using the following methods:
Automatically create the application and deployment types by reading the application installation files.
Manually create the application and then add deployment types later.
Use the following steps to create applications and deployment types by using Configuration Manager. For information about how to import an application, see How to import an application in this topic.
If you are looking for information about how to supersede an application, see How to Use Application Supersedence in Configuration Manager.
Steps to Create an Application
The following table provides the steps, details, and more information about how create an application.
Step |
Details |
More Information |
|---|---|---|
Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard |
The Create Application Wizard is used to configure general information about an application. |
See Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard in this topic. |
Step 2: Specify whether you want to automatically detect application information or manually define the information |
You can use the following methods to configure general information about the application:
|
See Step 2: Specify whether you want to automatically detect application information or manually define the information in this topic. |
Supplemental Procedures to Create an Application
Use the following information when the steps in the preceding table require supplemental procedures.
Step 1: Start the Create Application Wizard
Use this procedure to start the Create Application Wizard.
To start the Create Application Wizard
In the Configuration Manager console, click Software Library.
In the Software Library workspace, expand Application Management, and then click Applications.
On the Home tab, in the Create group, click Create Application.
Step 2: Specify whether you want to automatically detect application information or manually define the information
Use one of the following procedures to automatically detect or manually define application information:
Use the procedure To automatically detect application information when you want to create a simple application that has a single deployment type, such as a Windows Installer file that has no dependencies or requirements. After you create an application by using this procedure, you can edit it as needed to add or change deployment types and add detection methods, dependencies, or requirements.
Use the procedure To manually define application information to create more complex applications that have multiple deployment types, dependencies, detection methods, or requirements.
To automatically detect application information
On the General page of the Create Application Wizard, select the Automatically detect information about this application from installation files check box.
In the Type drop-down list, select the application installation file type that you want to use to detect application information. For information about the available installation types, see Deployment Types Supported by Configuration Manager in this topic.
In the Location field, specify the UNC path in the form \<server>\<share>\<filename> or the store link for the application installation file that you want to use to detect application information. Alternatively, click Browse to browse to the installation file.
Note
When you select **Windows Installer (Native)** (Configuration Manager with no service pack) or **Windows Installer (\*.msi file)** (Configuration Manager Service Pack 1 \[SP1\]) as an application type, all of the files in the folder that you specify will be imported with the application and will be sent to distribution points. Ensure that only the files that are necessary to install the application are in the folder that you specify. Configuration Manager is tested to support up to 20,000 application files in the application package. If your application contains more files, consider creating multiple applications that have a smaller number of files.
> [!NOTE]
You must have access to the UNC path that contains the application and any subfolders that contain application content.
Click Next.
On the Import Information page of the Create Application Wizard, review the information that was imported, and then click Next. If necessary, you can click Previous to go back and correct any errors.
On the General Information page of the Create Application Wizard, specify the following information:
Note
Some of this information might already be populated if it was automatically obtained from the application installation files. Additionally, the displayed options might be different depending on the application type that you create.
- Provide general information about the application, such as the application name, comments, version, and an optional reference to help you reference the application in the Configuration Manager console.
- **Installation program**: Specify the installation program and any required properties that are needed to install the application deployment type.
> [!NOTE]
If the installation program does not appear, click **Browse** and browse to the installation program location.
- **Install behavior**: Specify whether the application deployment type will be installed for the currently logged-on user only or for all users. You can also specify that the deployment type will be installed for all users if it is deployed to a device or only to a specific user if it is deployed to a user.
- For System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager and later: **Use an automatic VPN connection (if configured)**: If a VPN profile has been deployed to the device on which the app is launched, launch the VPN connection when the app starts (Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 only).
On Windows Phone 8.1 devices, automatic VPN connections are not supported if more than one VPN profile has been deployed to the device.
For more information about VPN profiles, see [VPN Profiles in Configuration Manager](https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn261217.aspx).
Click Next, review the application information on the Summary page, and then complete the Create Application Wizard.
The new application appears in the Applications node of the Configuration Manager console, and you have completed the process of creating an application. If you want to add more deployment types to the application, see Steps to Create a Deployment Type in this topic.