Integrating Setup Solutions with Other Programs

You may want to integrate Setup into your custom program or solution.

If you are integrating Internet Explorer functionality into your custom program - for example, by using the WebBrowser control - you can suppress user feedback and prompts by using a batch file or command-line switches. For more information about developing programs and custom solutions with Internet Explorer, see the MSDN Online Web site and "How to Create Intranet Applications for Your Corporation," located on the CD-ROM included with the Resource Kit.

You can also deploy Internet Explorer by using Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). SMS can help you gather information before installing and produce a report after installation. For more information about SMS, see Chapter 5, "Understanding Related Tools and Programs."

If you are installing Internet Explorer with Office 2000, you can use the Custom Installation wizard (CIW) for Office, which enables you to customize how you install Office programs. To simplify the installation process, the IEAK is designed to work with the CIW.

You can work with the CIW in two ways:

• If you do not plan to customize Internet Explorer, you can install Internet Explorer components by using the CIW; you do not need to use the IEAK.
• If you plan to customize Internet Explorer, and you are deploying Office, specify in the CIW that you want to customize Internet Explorer. The Custom Installation wizard starts the IEAK.

When used with CIW, the Customization wizard runs in corporate administrator mode with the following settings:

• The distribution media is CD-ROM.
• Two installation options are available. You cannot change the names of these options, but you can specify which components will be installed with each installation option.

Note The CIW installs Microsoft NetMeeting and Microsoft Outlook Express with all installation options.

• All of the .cab files and custom components that are created by the IEAK are placed in the same directory.

For more information about working with Office 2000, see Chapter 5, "Understanding Related Tools and Programs."