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FlexApp Packaging Office 2021 LTSC

Chris Serrano
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Problem: FlexApp packaging Office 2021 LTSC

 

Prerequisite

**NOTE** Office must be captured on a FPC versions 6.8.4.7654-7842 or above

The FPC (FlexApp Packaging Console) and VDI base image should be well-managed and cannot have had Office previously installed (even if uninstalled which would leave it in a tainted state). This includes the parent VDI image that will be used as the target.

FPC should follow best practices similar to what’s outlined here: https://docs.liquidware.com/profileunity/en-us/685/flexapp-packaging-console-best-practices/685-flexapp-console-best-practices-overview.htm

Please review https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/install-different-office-visio-and-project-versions-on-the-same-computer for Microsoft supported installation scenarios for version control.

Office 365 Products would need to include “Shared Computer Licensing” as outlined here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/overview-shared-computer-activation for installation xml’s and would need to be from same installation channel.

 

Process Flow

  1. Download ODT from the Microsoft site linked below and save it to a network location accessible from the FPC.
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49117
  2. On the FPC, open an elevated CMD prompt and extract the files locally to 'C:\ODT', using the command below as an example:

    • \\Server\Share\officedeploymenttool_16227-20258.exe /extract:"C:\ODT" /quiet

  3. Modify 'C:\ODT\configuration-Office2021Enterprise.xml', commenting out or removing the lines shown below for Microsoft Project and Visio:

    <Product ID="VisioPro2021Volume">
        <Language ID="en-us" />
    </Product>
    <Product ID="ProjectPro2021Volume">
        <Language ID="en-us" />
    </Product>
  4. From the elevated CMD prompt, execute the commands listed below:

    • cd "C:\ODT"
    • setup.exe /download "C:\ODT\configuration-Office2021Enterprise.xml"

  5. Once the Office files have completed downloading in the previous step, launch the FlexApp Packaging Console, providing the management console URL, username, and password.
  6. Once logged in, click the 'Create' button at the top-left of the console and populate the fields listed below:

    • Package Name - Provide a name for the package - e.g. Office 2021 LTSC
    • Installer Location - Leave blank
    • Package Type - VHDX
    • VHDX Location - Provide the path to location where FlexApp packages are saved - e.g. \\Server\Share\FlexApps
    • Size - Leave the default value of 20GB
    • Compression - Leave unchecked unless desired
    • Disk Type - Leave the default value of 'Expandable'

  7. Click 'Create' at the bottom-right of the window and when the option is available, click the 'Start' button at the bottom-left of the next window to begin the capture process.
  8. In the elevated CMD prompt from step 4, run the command below to begin the installation process for Office:

    • setup.exe /configure "C:\ODT\configuration-Office2021Enterprise.xml"

  9. Once the installation process for Office completes, click 'Close' in the installer UI, and run the command below from the elevated CMD prompt:

    • ren "%ProgramData%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Outlook.lnk" "Outlook .lnk"

  10. Click 'Finish' at the bottom-left of the FPC window to stop recording changes to the system and finalize the package creation process.
  11. Once the finalization process completes, click 'Save' at the bottom-right of the FPC window, select the desired icon for the package when prompted, and then click 'OK' at the bottom-right of the FPC window to complete the save process for the package.
  12. Download the 'Office2021.bat' file linked at the bottom of this page and save it to a location that's accessible from the FPC.
    **Note** Ensure the downloaded file is unblocked by right-clicking the script, selecting 'Properties', checking the 'Unblock' box at the bottom-right, and save it by clicking 'Apply' and 'OK'.
  13. After the uninstallation process completes and the main screen of the FPC console is visible, click the 'Playback' button for the newly-created package to play it back.
  14. Upon completion of the playback process, click drop-down button for the package to display additional options in the drop-down, and select 'Scripts'.
  15. Click 'Add Scripts' in the next window and select the options below for each drop-down button:

    • First drop-down - 'appdir-1'
    • Second drop-down - 'Post-Activation'

  16. In the FPC, click the magnifying glass icon to bring up an Explorer window, navigate to the location where the 'Office2021.bat' file was saved, and click 'OK'.
  17. Click 'OK' next to the magnifying glass icon in the FPC window to add the script to the package.
  18. Finally, click 'OK' at the bottom-right of the FPC window to begin the save process.

Office 2021 LTSC is now packaged as a FlexApp and ready to be published to users.

**NOTE** If for any reason, the package needs to be cloned and the FPC version is 6.8.5 or later, DO NOT select the 'Optimize' option.

 

Product: FlexApp

Product Version: 6.8.4.7654-7842 +

Updated: June 28, 2024

 

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