To edit installation options for applications

Open the Software Installation snap-in.

In the console tree, click Software installation.

Where?

Group Policy object name  > Computer Configuration (or User Configuration) > Software Settings > Software installation

In the details pane, right-click the application for which you want to set installation options, and then click Properties.

In the properties dialog box for the application, click the Deployment tab.

On the Deployment tab, click one of the following options under Deployment type:

Published: Users in the selected site, domain, or organizational unit can install the application by using either Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel or file activation.

Assigned: Users in the selected site, domain, or organizational unit receive this application the next time that they log on (for assignment to users) or when the computer restarts (for assignment to computers).

Under Deployment options, select the check boxes for the following options that you want:

Auto-install this application by file extension activation: Select this option if you want to use application precedence for the file name extension as it is determined on the File Extensions tab in the Software installation Properties dialog box.

If the application is not already installed, selecting this option causes the application to be installed when the user opens a file with this file association, for example, by double-clicking the file.

Uninstall this application when it falls out of the scope of management: Select this option if you want the application to be removed when users log on, or when computers start up, if they move to a site, domain, or organizational unit for which the application is not deployed.

Do not display this package in Add or Remove Programs in Control Panel: This option removes the most obvious method for users to uninstall the application. This may be useful from time to time during the software life cycle.

Install this package at logon: This option does not merely advertise the application to the user by means of a shortcut. Instead, it fully installs the application using the package defaults. Note that the package defaults themselves may call for installation of all features or of only some features.

Under Installation user interface options, click one of the following options:

Basic: Only progress bars and errors are displayed.

Maximum: The entire user interface that is supported by the package is displayed.

If you want to set the following advanced options, click Advanced:

Ignore language when deploying this package: Select this check box if you are installing an application whose language differs from the language of the operating system.

Remove previous installs of this product from computers, if the product was not installed by Group Policy-based Software Installation: This option might be useful, for example, if company policy does not allow users to install applications from their own compact discs.

Make this 32-bit X86 application available to IA64 machines: Specifies whether the 32-bit application should be assigned or published to 64-bit computers.

Include OLE class and product information: Specifies whether to deploy information about COM components with the package so that software on the client can install them from Active Directory as needed, in a manner similar to activation by file extension.