Using Resource-only DLLs in SMS Administration

To enable the Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) Administrator to use the graphics in a resource-only DLL, you must install the DLL and add keys to the Windows NT registry of the computer where the SMS Administrator is installed.

To install resource-only DLLs for the SMS Administrator, use the following general procedure.

1. Install the resource-only DLLs in a directory that is in the path of the computer where the SMS Administrator is installed. Optionally, you can place the DLLs in their own directory and specify a fully qualified path when you configure the Windows NT registry to complete the installation of the DLL.
2. After proper installation of the DLL, add keys that specify the DLLs to the Windows NT registry of the computer where the SMS Administrator is installed. The set of DLLs can be specified using the following registry keys:
   • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\SMS\ResDLLs. Specifies the resource-only DLLs to be used only by the current user. The SMS Administrator searches for a resource in the list of DLLs in this key first.
   • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\SMS\ResDLLs. Specifies the resource-only DLLs to be used by any user on that computer. If the resource is not found in the DLLs in HKEY_CURRENT_USER, the SMS Administrator searches for a resource in the list of DLLs in this key.
3. If the SMS Administrator is running, exit and then restart it.

Other important installation issues exist, such as determining the search order for the resource-only DLLs and the correct administration of directories that can be purged, and should be examined in detail as they relate to your system.