WebTools deployment in a restricted environment

•
Environment: onsite
• 6 minutes to read
 • 6 minutes to read

Currently, the best way of distributing WebTools is by deploying the pre-requisites and allowing users to install WebTools themselves. This method will utilize the built-in update functionality.

However, there are companies where users are not allowed to install software on their devices at all. Those companies need to deploy the pre-requisites and the MSI files using their preferred deployment strategy. Updates must be manually handled by the company and deployed through their solution.

If WebTools are already installed, or if you for other reasons wish to configure it, it is possible to use SoConfig files for the initial setup:

Example of a SoConfig file -screenshot

When deploying through GPO or other alternatives, executing the SoConfig file during the log-on process will set up WebTools for the user. The site will not be added again if it has already been added.

Note

If you are not the administrator, you get WebTools installed in c:\users\<yourname>\appdata\local\SuperOffice. To install on C:\Program files, you need to be the local administrator.

Overview

  1. Extract required files from the WebTools installer.
  2. Distribute the MSI files (using GPO or SCCM tools) to all machines that are going to use WebTools.
  3. Auto-configure the URL and Settings using a script.

The following MSI files must be deployed to every SuperOffice user (AD group all SuperOffice users):

  • SoCrossTableInstaller.msi (component for viewing cross-table reports)
  • SuperOffice.MailLink.Setup.msi (add-in for Microsoft Outlook)
  • SuperOffice.Web.Extensions.msi (document-handling plugin for SuperOffice)

Pre-requisites

  • Username in SuperOffice must be the same as in ActiveDirectory (sAMAccountName).
  • SuperOffice needs to be configured to use Active Directory as the authentication method for all users.
  • SuperOffice Web needs to be configured to use Windows Authentication on the website.
  • We also recommend to disable the WebTools upgrade dialog.
  • Blocking applications must be closed.
  • Libraries must be installed before any SuperOffice plugins are installed.

Blocking applications

There are several applications that need to be closed when MailLink and Web Extensions are being installed. Make sure all of these are switched off when you deploy WebTools.

Warning

Do not run Outlook.exe as administrator (then you do not run it as "your own local user") and that will not work for MailLink.

For MailLink, close:

  • Outlook
  • SuperOffice CRM Win client
  • SoEventServer

For Web Extensions, close:

  • SuperOffice TrayApp Client

Step 1: Extract required files from the WebTools installer

You need to extract SoCrossTableInstaller.msi, SuperOffice.MailLink.Setup.msi, and SuperOffice.Web.Extensions.msi.

  1. Download the WebTools installer from the Download Service or from inside the SuperOffice CRM Download menu.

  2. Extract Mail Link and Web Extensions installers out of WebTools installer:

    SuperOffice.Web.Tools.exe /k /d C:\Temp

  3. Run SuperOffice.MailLink.Setup.exe but don't finish the installation. While keeping the installer on-screen:

    1. Go to the %temp% folder.
    2. Locate a folder where the installer unpacked the MailLink files.
    3. Copy the SuperOffice.MailLink.Setup.msi file out of it.

  4. Run SuperOffice.Web.Extensions.exe as above to obtain SuperOffice.Web.Extensions.msi.

  5. To get SoCrossTableInstaller.msi, download CrossTable viewer from inside the SuperOffice Web Download menu and follow the same procedure as with MailLink to get the MSI from the %temp% folder during CrossTable viewer installation.

Tip

Because MailLink is a separate downloadable installer (the latest version) available on the Download Service, customers wishing to upgrade or extract MSI only MailLink can do so.

Steps 2-3: Deploy and configure MSI files

  1. Install all MSI packages with a help of the InstallWebTools.cmd script (see below). It also copies the SuperOfficeWebToolConfiguration.cmd script to the Start menu for all users and removes the default Web Extensions link.

  2. Edit SuperOfficeWebToolConfiguration.cmd with correct settings:

    set SuperOfficeWebUrl=https://socrm.myorganization.com/sales
set SuperOfficeServiceURL=https://socrm.myorganization.com/service
set SuperOfficeOwnerContactName=Licence owner name

  3. Restart the target computer.

InstallWebTools.cmd

Copy the below code-lines to Notepad or another text editor and save as InstallWebTools.cmd.

```text
@echo off
msiexec /i SoCrossTableInstaller.msi /qn /norestart
msiexec /i SuperOffice.MailLink.Setup.msi /qn /norestart
msiexec /i SuperOffice.Web.Extensions.msi /qn /norestart
xcopy SuperOfficeWebToolConfiguration.cmd "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup" /Y
del "%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\SuperOffice CRM.Web Extensions.lnk"
```

SuperOfficeWebToolConfiguration.cmd

Copy the below code-lines to Notepad or another text editor and save as SuperOfficeWebToolConfiguration.cmd.

```text
@echo off

set SuperOfficeWebUrl=https://socrm.myorganization.com/sales
set SuperOfficeServiceURL=https://socrm.myorganization.com/service
set SuperOfficeOwnerContactName=Licence owner name

IF NOT EXIST "%appdata%\soconfig\" (
GOTO CREATEDIR
)

IF EXIST "%appdata%\soconfig\" (
GOTO SOCONFIG
)

:CREATEDIR
mkdir "%appdata%\soconfig"
GOTO SOCONFIG

:SOCONFIG
IF NOT EXIST "%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig" (
@echo {>> "%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
@echo "WebsiteUrl": "%SuperOfficeWebUrl%",>> "%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
@echo "UserName": "%USERNAME%",>> "%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
@echo "CompanyName": "%SuperOfficeOwnerContactName%",>> "%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
@echo "MailClientName": "outlook">> "%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
@echo }>> "%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
GOTO RUNSOCONFIG
) else (
GOTO STARTWEBTOOL
)

:STARTWEBTOOL
IF "%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%"=="x86" (
start "" "%Programfiles%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Web Extensions\SuperOffice.TrayApp.Client.exe"
) else (
start "" "%Programfiles(x86)%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Web Extensions\SuperOffice.TrayApp.Client.exe"
)
GOTO END

:RUNSOCONFIG
IF "%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%"=="x86" (
"%Programfiles%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -set PreferredClient SM_Web
"%Programfiles%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -set SmUrl %SuperOfficeWebUrl%/services/MailLinkService.svc
"%Programfiles%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -set CsUrl %SuperOfficeServiceURL%/scripts/soapTicket.exe
"%Programfiles%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -register-user
"%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
GOTO END
) else (
"%Programfiles(x86)%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -set PreferredClient SM_Web
"%Programfiles(x86)%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -set SmUrl %SuperOfficeWebUrl%/services/MailLinkService.svc
"%Programfiles(x86)%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -set CsUrl %SuperOfficeServiceURL%/scripts/soapTicket.exe
"%Programfiles(x86)%\SuperOffice\SuperOffice Mail Link\SuperOffice.MailLink.ClientConfiguration.exe" -register-user
"%appdata%\soconfig\config.SoConfig"
GOTO END
)
:END
exit
```