Overview
Bespoke applications are applications that do not meet the criteria for Devicie's back catalog, or while they may exist in our back catalog, customers may request special conditions on the application that would make it unfit for back catalog.
In this article we will discuss:
- Conditions for a bespoke application
- Examples of bespoke applications
- Assignments on bespoke applications
- Steps to assign bespoke applications
Conditions for a bespoke application
In a separate article we discussed back catalog application updates and assignments and how they work. But in order for an application to be a fit for our back catalog, certain conditions need to be met. If the application doesn't meet all of the below conditions, Devicie would not be able to automate its updates and/or deployments, hence why it would need to be packaged as a Bespoke application.
The list of conditions are:
- Installer files need to be publicly available for download from the publisher's website
- Version ID need to be publicly available on the publisher's website
- Supports silent installs
- Installed application and version must appear under Control Panel > Programs and Features
- The application version under Control Panel > Programs and Features must match the application version on the publisher's website
- The application need to be installed as is from the publisher. No modifications are supported on the application such as logo, license numbers, activation code, etc...
Examples of bespoke applications
Bespoke applications can cover a wide range of applications, not just the standard .msi or .exe packages. Below is a list of examples that fall under the "Bespoke Application" category:
- Applications that don't fit all the above mentioned conditions.
- Standard exe or msi applications that require special modifications such as a license number or activation key
- Network printers
- Printer queues such as PaperCut or Equitrac follow-you queue
- Registry modifications
- Creating shortcuts for applications (excluding task bar or start menu locations)
- PowerShell scripts
- Copy or place content in directory on the device
Assignments on bespoke applications
Bespoke application are packaged as a "once-off" package and are charged as such. Changes or updates to bespoke applications will incur additional charges. Since the application updates and deployment is not automated for bespoke apps, the assignments aren't either.
Changes to bespoke application assignments are not monitored or managed by Devicie. So if a customer accidentally or intentionally changes the assignments, Devicie will not revert the changes back.
As such, Devicie recommends customers manage their own bespoke application assignments and keep a record of how applications are assigned. The next steps will link you to resources that can guide you through the steps to assign bespoke application on your tenant.
Steps to assign bespoke applications
Application assignments can be very easy for applications that need to go to a group of users or device, but they can get complex when they involve exclusions, uninstalls, dependencies, and filters.
Microsoft's documentation covers most assignment scenarios, limitations, and possibilities. For working with filters, check the following article that explain possibilities with filters and how assignments can have an inclusion or exclusion filters attached to them. Filters make it possible to deploy a resource to a group of users while excluding a filter of devices that meet certain criteria. This cannot be done with an exclusion group assignment.
Notes
Applications targeting ESP will need to be assigned with the intent "Required" as user interaction on ESP is blocked.
Applications assigned to devices need to be assigned with the intent "Required". This is because the end user will not be able to see them in their Company Portal in order to install.
Application dependencies are application that are required to be installed before your Win32 application can be installed. For more information about application dependencies follow this article.