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Automatic Configuration

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On this page of the Windows® Internet Explorer® Customization Wizard 8, you can specify URLs to files that will automatically configure Internet Explorer 8 for a group of users or computers. This page is available only in the Corporate version of the Internet Explorer Customization Wizard 8. You configure options by using Internet settings (.ins) files to set standard proxy settings. You can also specify script files in JScript (.js), JavaScript (.jvs), or proxy auto-configuration (.pac) format that enable you to configure and maintain advanced proxy settings. When an automatic proxy (auto-proxy) script file is specified, Internet Explorer uses the script to determine dynamically whether to connect directly to a host or to use a proxy server.

If you installed the Corporate version of Internet Explorer Administration Kit 8 (IEAK 8), after you deploy the custom package, you can update these settings using IEAK Profile Manager. To use automatic configuration, you must create a profile consisting of an .ins file and any cabinet (.cab) files generated by IEAK Profile Manager. After creating the profile, you store it on a server.

You can configure network servers using Domain Name System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) to detect and configure a browser's settings automatically when the user first starts the browser on a network. For more information, see the product documentation for your DNS and DHCP software packages. Also see Enable Automatic Detection and Configuration of Browser Settings.

Item Details

Automatically detect configuration settings

Select this option to detect browser settings automatically.

Enable Automatic Configuration

If you want to change Internet Explorer settings regularly after the browser is deployed to your users, and you want to do this automatically by providing configuration files, select the Enable Automatic Configuration check box to set the interval for updates. Then specify the location for configuration files.

Note
If you specify URLs for both automatic configuration (auto-config) and auto-proxy, the auto-proxy URL will be incorporated into the .ins file. The correct form for the URL is http://share/test.ins.
  • Automatically configure every <time interval> minutes
  • Specify the interval in minutes for settings to be applied in your organization. If you enter zero (0), or do not enter a value, automatic configuration happens only when the user's computer is restarted.
  • Automatic Configuration URL (.INS file)
  • Type the location for the .ins file you want to use for automatic configuration. If you need to change settings later, edit the .ins file directly. The next time your users start the browser, or on a schedule that you specify, the changes take effect on each user's computer.
  • Automatic proxy URL (.JS, .JVS, or .PAC file)
  • Type the location for the automatic proxy script.

Note

Branding changes distributed to people using automatic configuration are not applied if the Disable external branding of Internet Explorer policy is enabled in Group Policy. This policy prevents branding of Internet programs by a third party such as an Internet service provider or Internet content provider.

Before you begin, you may also want to check the automatic configuration settings on your users' computers. To do this, do the following:

To check the automatic configuration settings on your users' computers

  1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.

  2. Click the Connections tab, and then click LAN Settings.

  3. Verify that the Use automatic configuration script check box is selected, and confirm the path and name of the file in the Address box.

Additional references

  • For more information about this stage of the Internet Explorer Customization Wizard 8, see Customizing the Browser.