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OpenAsset InDesign Plugin Network Installation

A step-by-step guide for installing the InDesign Plugin as part of a Group Policy Object

CJ Teeter avatar
Written by CJ Teeter
Updated over a week ago

The OpenAsset InDesign Plugin for Windows and Mac is an .msi or .pkg that can be deployed as a part of a Group Policy Object (GPO).  All users must have a valid Adobe Id or Enterprise Id. Deployment can be carried out via a command line script run silently on each user’s computer from a shared network drive on both Windows and OS X.

You can download the relevant files using the links below:

Note: for Mac users, use a .pkg network manager such as Jamf.

1. Create a Distribution Point

To publish or assign a computer program, you must create a distribution point on the publishing server. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Log on to the server as an administrator.

  2. Create a shared network folder where you will put the Microsoft Windows Installer package (.msi file) that you want to distribute.

  3. Set permissions on the share to allow access to the distribution package.

  4. Copy or install the package to the distribution point. For example, to distribute Microsoft Office XP, run the administrative installation (setup.exe /a) to copy the files to the distribution point.

2. Create a Group Policy Object

To create a Group Policy Object (GPO) to use to distribute the software package, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Group Policy tab, and then click New.

  4. Type a name for this new policy (for example, Office XP distribution), and then press Enter.

  5. Click Properties, and then click the Security tab.

  6. Clear the Apply Group Policy check box for the security groups that you don't want this policy to apply to. 

  7. Select the Apply Group Policy check box for the groups that you want this policy to apply to.

  8. When you are finished, click OK.

3. Assign a Package

To assign a program to computers that are running Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000, or Windows XP Professional, or to users who are logging on to one of these workstations, follow these steps:  

  1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Group Policy tab, select the policy that you want, and then click Edit.

  4. Under Computer Configuration, expand Software Settings.

  5. Right-click Software installation, point to New, and then click Package.

  6. In the Open dialog box, type the full Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path of the shared installer package that you want. For example, \\file server\share\file name.msi. Important Do not use the Browse button to access the location. Make sure that you use the UNC path of the shared installer package.

  7. Click Open.

  8. Click Assigned, and then click OK. The package is listed in the right-pane of the Group Policy window.

  9. Close the Group Policy snap-in, click OK, and then close the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.

  10. When the client computer starts, the managed software package is automatically installed.

4. Publish a Package

To publish a package to computer users and make it available for installation from the Add or Remove Programs list in Control Panel, follow these steps:

  1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in. To do this, click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Active Directory Users and Computers.

  2. In the console tree, right-click your domain, and then click Properties.

  3. Click the Group Policy tab, click the policy that you want, and then click Edit.

  4. Under User Configuration, expand Software Settings.

  5. Right-click Software installation, point to New, and then click Package.

  6. In the Open dialog box, type the full UNC path of the shared installer package that you want. For example, \\file server\share\file name.msi. Important Do not use the Browse button to access the location. Make sure that you use the UNC path of the shared installer package.

  7. Click Open.

  8. Click Publish, and then click OK.

  9. The package is listed in the right-pane of the Group Policy window.

  10. Close the Group Policy snap-in, click OK, and then close the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.

  11. Test the package.

Note: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different.

  1. Log on to a workstation that is running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional by using an account that you published the package to.

  2. In Windows XP, click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  3. Double-click Add or Remove Programs, and then click Add New Programs.

  4. In the Add programs from your network list, click the program that you published, and then click Add. The program is installed.

  5. Click OK, and then click Close.

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