Using scripts in Novell zenworks application objects

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

This page describes how to use scripts in Novell Zenworks application objects.

 

Where they go in the application object

There are four places that a script can be used within an application object. The following refer to the tabs and pull down menus as seen when viewing an application object with ConsoleOne :-

  • Run Options / Launch Scripts / Run before Launching

  • Run Options / Launch Scripts / Run after Termination

  • Distribution Options / Distribution Scripts / Run before Distribution

  • Distribution Options / Distribution Scripts / Run after Distribution

 

Differences between them

There are some differences in the way that Launch Scripts work, compared to Distribution scripts.

  • Launch scripts are run on the workstation in user space - the user can be aware that the script is runnning, and there can be user interaction with the script.

  • Distribution scripts are run in secure system space within the workstation - the user gets no indication that a script is running, and there can be no user interaction. If the script requires user interaction, the script will fail at that point.

 

The order of running these scripts

These various scripts are run in a particular order once an application object is invoked :-

  1. Run before Launching script

  2. Run before Distribution script

  3. Application delivered

  4. Run after Distribution script

  5. Application launched

  6. Application closed

  7. Run after Termination script

 

The command set

Both Launch scripts and Distribution scripts have a set of allowable commands - they are a subset of the commands that are permissible in Novell client scripts, eg, login scripts.

The client command set includes :-

  #
  @
  Attach
  Break
  CLS
  Comspec
  Context
  Display
  DOSBreak
  DOS Set
  DOS Verify
  Drive
  End
  Exit
  Fdisplay
  Fire phasers
  Goto
  If...then...else
  Include
  Lastlogintime
  Machine
  Map
  Noswap
  No_default
  Pause
  Pcompatible
  Profile
  Rem
  Remark
  Script_server
  Set
  Set_time
  Shift
  Swap
  Term
  Tree
  Write

The commands that are not allowed in application object scripts are :-

  CLS
  Display
  Exit
  Fdisplay
  Include
  Lastlogintime
  No_default
  Noswap
  Pause
  Pcompatible
  Script_server
  Set_time
  Swap
  Write

So by a process of subtraction, the subset of commands that are allowable in application object scripts is :-

  #
  @
  Attach
  Break
  Comspec
  Context
  DOSBreak
  DOS Set
  DOS Verify
  Drive
  End
  Fire phasers
  Goto
  If...then...else
  Machine
  Map
  Profile
  Rem
  Remark
  Set
  Shift
  Term
  Tree

 

Finally ...

The above information has been obtained either from documentation on the Novell website, or from Novell training material. The information on the Novell website isn`t very easy to find.

Also, there doesn`t seem to be on the website any list of what commands are allowable in application object scripts - they only provide a list of what is not allowable, hence the process of subtraction above.

I have not tested many of these commands, so cannot confirm that all of them will work in application object scripts.

 

© 2003 Ron Turner

Return to the Index page