Overview: Time-Saving Strategies

Addressing multiple user needs in an organization can be a challenge. By utilizing some Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) and Internet Explorer features, however, you can address the needs of different groups of users without repeating all of your customization steps. Consider the following scenarios and determine if one or more of these situations describes your needs:

• Corporate administrators can use automatic configuration to address specific needs for different sets of users. You do not need to create additional packages for those users.
• ISPs can create multiple Internet sign-up (.isp) files without rebuilding custom packages. The .isp files contain connection, gateway, server, and other information. You can use the Internet Explorer Customization wizard to produce multiple .isp files. However, if you prefer to enter the information yourself, you can also edit them manually.
• For multiple platforms, there are strategies that you can use to avoid repeating all your customization steps. For example, you can use an Internet settings (.ins) file from one platform to create an .ins file for another platform.
• When building multiple custom packages (also commonly known as IEAK packages), you can use certain strategies to avoid having to build a new package each time. Some key strategies are to use the Feature Information and Automatic Version Synchronization (AVS) features, and to import pre-existing .ins files.
• To change setup options without rebuilding a custom package, you can use a batch file. For example, use a batch file if you want to customize the setup program and you aren't building a custom package, or if you need to change some settings, but don't want to rebuild the custom package.
• If you need to customize the way Internet Explorer runs, without customizing the Internet Explorer program, you can start Internet Explorer with command-line parameters. For example, you can start Internet Explorer in Kiosk "full-screen" mode by using the -k command-line parameter.