Office 97 permits a Run from Network Server installation. Use the Program Group Control, rather than the Package Command Manager, to distribute a Run from Network Server installation to the clients. Program Group Control provides fault tolerance and load balancing, while Package Command Manager does not.
You will need to complete the following tasks:
To create a package for the main Office components
In the SMS Administrator, open the Packages window, and from the File menu, choose New. The Package Properties dialog box appears.
Choose Import. The File Browser dialog box appears.
Select the appropriate PDF (OFF97STD.PDF or OFF97PRO.PDF) from the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit Tools and Utilities.
Choose Sharing. The Source Directory dialog box appears.
Enter the location of the main Office files (for example, \\system1\install\msoffice) and click Close.
Click OK to create the package.
To create a package for the shared Office components
In the SMS Administrator, open the Packages window, and from the File menu, choose New. The Package Properties dialog box appears.
Choose Import. The File Browser dialog box appears.
Select MSAPPS97.pdf from the Microsoft Office 97 Resource Kit Tools and Utilities.
Choose Sharing. The Source Directory dialog box appears.
Enter the location of the main Office files (for example, \\system1\install\msapps) and click Close.
Click OK to create the package.
To create a job to distribute the main Office components
In the SMS Administrator, open the Jobs window, and from the File menu, choose New. The Job Properties dialog box appears.
In the Job Type box, select Share Package on Server.
Click Details. The Job Details dialog box appears.
Select the main Office package (for example, Microsoft Office 97 Professional 8.0) in the Package box.
Under Job Target, select a site or site group that includes the users you want to receive this job.
Click OK.
To create a job to distribute the shared Office components
In the SMS Administrator, open the Jobs window, and from the File menu, choose New. The Job Properties dialog box appears.
In the Job Type box, select Share Package on Server.
Click Details. The Job Details dialog box appears.
Select the shared Office package (for example, MSAPPS97) in the Package box.
Under Job Target, select a site or site group that includes the users you want to receive this job.
Click OK.
After both of these jobs are complete, create a program group for users to install Office.
To create a program group for installing Office
In the SMS Administrator, open the Program Groups window, and from the File menu, choose New. The Program Group Properties dialog box appears.
In the Name box, type a name for the program group (for example, Office Installation).
Choose Packages.
From the Available Packages list, select both of the Office packages you have created (the main components and shared components). Click Add to add both packages to the Member Packages list.
Choose OK.
Choose User Groups.
From the Don't Share with these Groups list, select the group or groups that you want to have access to the program group. Then click Add to move the groups to the Share with these Groups list.
Click OK twice to create the program group.
Now users can install Office on their computers, using the following procedure:
To install Office on client computers, using Program Group Control
At the client computer running Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, click Start, point to Programs, point to SMS Client folder, and then click Program Group Control. SMS Program Group Control adds a folder with the name of the program group you created to the Programs folder in the Start menu.
If the client computer is running Windows NT Workstation 3.51, go to Program Manager, double-click the SMS Client program group, and double-click Program Group Control. Program Group Control adds a program group that includes an item with the name of the program you created to Program Manager.
Click Start, point to Programs, point to the new program group, and click the Setup item (for example, MS Office 97 Pro Installation).
If the client computer is running Windows NT Workstation 3.51, go to the Program Manager and double-click New Program Group, then double-click the Setup command name (for example, MS Office 97 Pro Installation). The Program Group Control adds a program icon with the name of the program group you created (for example Office Installation) to the Program Manager.
The Program Group Control Start dialog box appears, asking if the applications should be configured now.
Click Yes to start Office Setup.
After Setup is complete, a new folder for the Office 97 will be added to Programs in the Start menu. (If the client computer is running Windows NT Workstation 3.51, an Office 97 program group is added to Program Manager). Users can start applications by clicking items in the new folder or program group, just as they would if Office 97 were installed on the local computer.