Deploy MDE's on servers
CURRENT SITUATION: Currently we have access Front ends with a combination of SQL/Access backends. When a employee needs access to an application we have a script we run that install it (Access MDE Front-end), a desktop shortcut and 2 TXT files (one with the app name and the other the app name with version number. The user can now access the application.
Weeks later and update is done. The new MDE is placed in a certain location on the server and when the user logs in it checks for the 2 TXT files and (1) if they have the app goes to step (2) checks the version number. If it's the same it does nothing; otherwise it copies the new MDE to their hard drive.
MOVING TO: We are going virtual thus users will not have a C drive. What I have come up with is s structure similar to a HOME drive. Where each user will have a folder and inside it contains the MDE. We are starting to use Citrix XenApp so I have published shortcut that will run the app where I tell it to for each user.
PROBLEM: now my problem is updating. Since we use WYSE Thin Clients the user does not actually login to the "system" till they launch an app. I can get the login script to run and replace files but if the APP is a database that needs replacement and is open it will not over write.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO: Is create a script that would parse through all users directories and look for an MDE Name (for example HR.MDE) if it exists copy the file to that users folder and replace it.
I figure I could scheedule to deployment batch file to run during the night say at 2 am. Since it would run through all users folders and replace the file it would only need to be run once.
MY MAIN ISSUE: What is the code to reda from a folder say called D:\UserAPPs. They go into each folder, check for that MDE and if exist replace it. It not exist or when done with that user go to the next folder till it went through all the users folders.
Wish I could 1000 ponts on this. Please Help. Any/All suggetsions will be apprciated.
Weeks later and update is done. The new MDE is placed in a certain location on the server and when the user logs in it checks for the 2 TXT files and (1) if they have the app goes to step (2) checks the version number. If it's the same it does nothing; otherwise it copies the new MDE to their hard drive.
MOVING TO: We are going virtual thus users will not have a C drive. What I have come up with is s structure similar to a HOME drive. Where each user will have a folder and inside it contains the MDE. We are starting to use Citrix XenApp so I have published shortcut that will run the app where I tell it to for each user.
PROBLEM: now my problem is updating. Since we use WYSE Thin Clients the user does not actually login to the "system" till they launch an app. I can get the login script to run and replace files but if the APP is a database that needs replacement and is open it will not over write.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO: Is create a script that would parse through all users directories and look for an MDE Name (for example HR.MDE) if it exists copy the file to that users folder and replace it.
I figure I could scheedule to deployment batch file to run during the night say at 2 am. Since it would run through all users folders and replace the file it would only need to be run once.
MY MAIN ISSUE: What is the code to reda from a folder say called D:\UserAPPs. They go into each folder, check for that MDE and if exist replace it. It not exist or when done with that user go to the next folder till it went through all the users folders.
Wish I could 1000 ponts on this. Please Help. Any/All suggetsions will be apprciated.
ASKER
What I hope to do is not have each user run it every time they login.
I hope I could put the batch (deployment file) on the server. Then when we update the app we schedule it for night time.
It would then read the USERAPP directory and look in each users folder and if the app is found replace it. If not continue on till done.
It would be easy for use to use windows scheduler to say set app 1 at 2 am, app 2 at 3 am. Of course we would set it to run only once since it would replace all files as needed.
Could you give me a sample of the batch file you use?
Any idea how I can do this
I hope I could put the batch (deployment file) on the server. Then when we update the app we schedule it for night time.
It would then read the USERAPP directory and look in each users folder and if the app is found replace it. If not continue on till done.
It would be easy for use to use windows scheduler to say set app 1 at 2 am, app 2 at 3 am. Of course we would set it to run only once since it would replace all files as needed.
Could you give me a sample of the batch file you use?
Any idea how I can do this
My batch file doesn't do anything more than copy a file from LocationA to LocationB, and then launch the new file at LocationB. It doesn't involve looping, directory searches, etc. YOu can probably do that with batch scripting, but I'm no expert i that area.
It seems to my your goal is to move a fresh copy of a database to a user's working directory. This is as simple as a Copy statement, but I'm not sure what the directory searching is needed for. Can you provide more details?
It seems to my your goal is to move a fresh copy of a database to a user's working directory. This is as simple as a Copy statement, but I'm not sure what the directory searching is needed for. Can you provide more details?
ASKER
Basically you are right it is a fresh copy. My main is is the looping through the directories and then check for the file. If exist replace; if not continue to the next users folder till all done
I'm not sure how to do this with batch scripting. You might ask the Moderators to include the Scripting Zones in this question.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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You'll need to change the NEW_APP constant to be the path to your new MDE application, and then save the above as a text file with the extension '.vbs'.
It'd be worth adding some error handling too - let me know if you'd like some help with this!
It'd be worth adding some error handling too - let me know if you'd like some help with this!
ASKER
The VB solution is the best one. I used this code with some other code and was able to get the application to deply as needed without any users help
Build a Batch file that copies the FE from a specific location to one that is common to all users (for exampled: Home\Users]<UserName), then launch that file. I've done this on a XenApps setup and it works pretty well. Each time the user launches the app (or in your case, fires off the app) they get a new copy of the FE and that new copy is launched.