About App-V 5.0 SP2
App-V 5.0 SP2 provides an improved integrated platform, more flexible virtualization, and powerful management for virtualized applications. For more information see, App-V 5.0 Overview (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=325265).
Changes in Standard App-V 5.0 SP2 Functionality
The following sections contain information about the changes in standard functionality for App-V 5.0 SP2.
Support for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1
App-V 5.0 includes support for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1
App-V 5.0 SP2 now supports folder redirection for the user’s roaming AppData directory
App-V 5.0 SP2 supports roaming AppData (%AppData%) folder redirection. For more information, see the Planning to Use Folder Redirection with App-V.
Package upgrade improvements and pending tasks
In App-V 5.0 SP2, you are no longer prompted to close a running virtual application when a newer version of the package or connection group is published. If a package or connection group is in use when you try to perform a related task, a message displays to indicate that the object is in use, and that the operation will be attempted at a later time.
Tasks that have been placed in a pending state will be performed according to the following rules:
| Task type | Applicable rule |
|---|---|
User-based task, e.g., publishing a package to a user |
The pending task will be performed after the user logs off and then logs back on. |
Globally based task, e.g., enabling a connection group globally |
The pending task will be performed when the computer is shut down and then restarted. |
When a task is placed in a pending state, the App-V client also generates a registry key for the pending task, as follows:
| User-based or globally based task | Where the registry key is generated |
|---|---|
User-based tasks |
KEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Client\PendingTasks |
Globally based tasks |
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\AppV\Client\PendingTasks |
Virtualizing Microsoft Office 2013 and Microsoft Office 2010 using App-V 5.0
Use the following link for more information about App-V 5.0 supported Microsoft Office scenarios.
Virtualizing Microsoft Office 2013 for Application Virtualization (App-V) 5.0
Note
This document focuses on creating a Microsoft Office 2013 App-V 5.0 Package. However, it also provides information about scenarios for Microsoft Office 2010 with App-V 5.0.
App-V 5.0 Client Management User Interface Application
In previous versions of App-V 5.0 the Client Management User Interface (UI) was provided with the App-V 5.0 Client installation. With App-V 5.0 SP2 this is no longer the case. Administrators now have the option to deploy the App-V 5.0 Client UI as a Virtual Application (using all supported App-V deployment configurations) or as an installed application.
For more information see Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.0 Client UI Application (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=386345).
Side-by-Side (SxS) Assembly Automatic Packaging and Deployment
App-V 5.0 SP2 now automatically detects side-by-side (SxS) assemblies, and deployment on the computer running the App-V 5.0 SP2 client. A SxS assembly primarily consists of VC++ run-time dependencies or MSXML. In previous versions of App-V, virtual applications that had dependencies on VC run-times required these dependencies to be locally on the computer running the App-V 5.0 SP2 client.
The following functionality is now supported:
The App-V 5.0 sequencer automatically captures the SxS assembly in the package regardless of whether the VC run-time has already been installed on the computer running the sequencer.
The App-V 5.0 client automatically installs the required SxS assembly to the computer running the client as required at publishing time.
The App-V 5.0 sequencer reports the VC run-time dependency using the sequencer reporting mechanism.
The App-V 5.0 sequencer now allows you to exclude the VC run-time dependency in the event that the dependency is already available on the computer running the sequencer.
Publishing Refresh Improvements
App-V 5.0 supports several features were added to improve the overall experience of refreshing a set of applications for a specific user.
The following list displays the publishing refresh enhancements:
The following list contains more information about how to enable the new publishing refresh improvements.
EnablePublishingRefreshUI - Enables the publishing refresh progress bar for the computer running the App-V 5.0 Client.
HideUI - Hides the publishing refresh progress bar during a manual sync.
New Client Configuration Setting
The following new client configuration setting is available with App-V 5.0 SP2:
EnableDynamicVirtualization - Enables supported Shell Extensions, Browser Helper Objects, and Active X controls to be virtualized and run with virtual applications.
For more information, see About Client Configuration Settings.
App-V 5.0 Shell extensions
App-V 5.0 SP2 now supports shell extensions.
For more information see the App-V 5.0 SP2 shell extension support section of Creating and Managing App-V 5.0 Virtualized Applications.
App-V 5.0 documentation updates
App-V 5.0 SP2 provides updated documentation for the following scenarios:
About App-V 5.0 Reporting (frequently asked questions section)
How to Get MDOP Technologies
App-V 5.0 is a part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). MDOP is part of Microsoft Software Assurance. For more information about Microsoft Software Assurance and acquiring MDOP, see How Do I Get MDOP (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=322049).