The following table describes the common file types that are used as part of the Windows Update Setup. For a complete list of files that are downloaded to your computer during the setup process, see the Microsoft Internet Explorer Support Web site and the Internet Explorer Knowledge Base.
| File type | Description |
|---|---|
|
.adm |
An administration (.adm) file defines the system policies and restrictions for the desktop, shell, and security. You can customize and restrict the settings in an .adm file by using the Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) or the Windows System Policy Editor. For a list of system policies and restrictions that you can set in the .adm file, see Appendix E, "Setting System Policies and Restrictions." |
| You can maintain .adm files on the users' desktops or from a central location. After Internet Explorer is installed, you can use the IEAK Profile Manager to update the .adm file settings on your users' desktops. For more information about using the IEAK Profile Manager, see Chapter 22, "Keeping Programs Updated." | |
|
.asp |
If you distribute Internet Explorer from a Web server, you can include Active Server Page (.asp) files in your custom browser package. By using .asp files, you can embed script within your HTML pages to create dynamic, interactive Web content. For example, you can create sign-up pages that enable users to download the browser and register for Internet services. You can point to .asp files in the Internet Explorer Customization wizard or the IEAK Profile Manager. The Resource Kit CD-ROM includes sample .asp files. |
|
.bmp, .gif, .jpeg, .jpg |
Internet Explorer can include static and animated graphics that use .bmp, .gif, .jpeg, or .jpg file formats. In addition to using graphics files supplied with the IEAK, you can create your own and include them with your custom browser package. For example, you can replace the Internet Explorer logo or AutoRun splash screen with your own static or animated graphic files. The IEAK includes two tools to help you create customized animated graphics. For more information about the requirements for graphics that you customize, see Appendix D, "Checklists for Preparing to Use the IEAK." |
|
.cab |
Cabinet (.cab) files organize and store compressed installation files that are copied to the user's computer. Windows Update Setup (IE5Setup.exe) downloads the .cab files necessary for Internet Explorer installation to the user's computer. These .cab files can contain both browser and custom components. After the files are downloaded successfully, Windows Update Setup is complete. The IEAK contains a set of tools that can help you build .cab files for custom components. |
|
.cdf |
A channel definition format (.cdf) file enables you to use channels to distribute Web content or software updates to your users. The .cdf file provides an index of resources available in a channel and a recommended schedule for updating the channel on users' computers. A subscription to a channel updates the local cache on the user's computer with new information according to what the publisher specifies in the .cdf file. |
|
.cif |
A component information (.cif) file named IESetup.cif identifies the components that you can install with Internet Explorer, including any new components or component updates. In the .cif file, each component has an associated ComponentID. Windows Update Setup reads the .cif file to determine whether a component with a specific ComponentID has already been installed and whether a newer version is available for installation. |
|
.exe |
An executable (.exe) file named IE5Setup.exe is the installation program that controls the setup process. This .exe file downloads the .cab files that install your custom browser package on users' computers. Those .cab files can, in turn, include additional self-extracting .exe files for browser and custom components. |
|
.htt |
The HTML template (.htt) files provide customizable templates for My Computer (Mycomp.htt), Control Panel (Controlp.htt), Printers (Printers.htt), and the default Web view for folders (Folder.htt). Using a text or HTML editor, you can customize these files with special instructions, logos, or links to Web sites. You can include Mycomp.htt and Controlp.htt in your custom browser package. You need to customize the Printers.htt and Folder.htt templates directly on your users' computers. |
|
.inf |
Typically, each Internet Explorer .cab file contains an associated information (.inf) file, which provides further installation information. The .inf file can reference files in the .cab file, as well as files at other URLs. |
|
.ins |
Windows Update Setup contains an Internet settings (.ins) file, which configures the browser and its components. You can create multiple versions of your browser package by customizing copies of this .ins file. For more information about this process, see Chapter 17, "Time-Saving Strategies That Address Diverse User Needs." The IEAK Profile Manager also enables you to create, save, and load .ins files for updating Internet Explorer configuration settings. |
|
.isp |
If you are implementing a sign-up process with your custom browser package, an Internet sign-up (.isp) file named Signup.isp provides dial-up information for your Internet services. Using the Internet Explorer Customization wizard, you can edit the parameters contained in the Internet sign-up file. For a server-based sign-up method, this sign-up file also contains a link to the URL of the server script that generates your .ins configuration file. |
|
.js, .jvs, .pac |
You can use a text editor to create an auto-proxy script file for your custom browser package. An auto-proxy script file can be a JScript (.js), JavaScript (.jvs), or proxy auto-configuration (.pac) file. When an auto-proxy script file is specified, Internet Explorer uses the script to determine dynamically whether it should connect directly to a host or use a proxy server. In Stage 4 of the Internet Explorer Customization wizard, you can specify an auto-proxy URL for configuring and maintaining advanced proxy settings. |
|
|
If you use Microsoft Systems Management Server to distribute Internet Explorer, your custom browser package consists of a folder of installation files and a package definition file (.pdf) file. This file, named IE5.pdf, contains a setup program, installation options, and command-line syntax for automatically installing Internet Explorer on your server or users' computers. This .pdf file enables the installation to occur without administrative or user intervention. |
