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How to Use the Package Conversion Manager Plug-In

 

Updated: February 1, 2012

Applies To: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

Use the information in this topic to help you configure and use the Package Conversion Manager plug-in.

The Package Conversion Manager plug-in enables you to customize the Package Conversion Manager analysis and conversion processes. To use the Package Conversion Manager plug-in, write an executable or script file that performs custom operations, and then edit the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager configuration file, Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.exe.config, to call the executable or script. The most common languages used to write the script are VBScript or PowerShell.

The Package Conversion Manager plug-in is run once for each package. If you analyze or convert multiple packages at one time, the Package Conversion Manager plug-in will run multiple times.

Note

For a description of the Package Conversion Manager elements in the System Center 2012 Configuration Manager configuration file, see Technical Reference for the Package Conversion Manager Plug-in Configuration XML.

The Package Conversion Manager Process

This section describes the processes used by Package Conversion Manager both by default and when using the Package Conversion Manager plug-in to customize the process.

The Default Package Conversion Manager Process

The default Package Conversion Manager process is as follows:

  1. Read a Configuration Manager package.

  2. Create an application from the package and add default attributes.

  3. Analyze the application and determine a package readiness status.

  4. Take one of the following actions, depending on the Package Conversion Manager operation being performed:

    • If performing an Analyze operation, display the package readiness status in the Configuration Manager console.

    • If performing a Convert operation, write the application to the Configuration Manager database.

The PCM Process Using the Plug-in

The Package Conversion Manager process using the Package Conversion Manager plug-in is as follows:

  1. Read a Configuration Manager package.

  2. Create an application from the package and add default attributes.

  3. Convert the application to XML and then save the file to disk.

  4. Run the plug-in script to modify the application XML according to your program or script. For more information, see Technical Reference for the Package Conversion Manager Plug-in Configuration XML.

  5. Convert the application XML into a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager application.

  6. Analyze the application and determine a package readiness status.

  7. Take one of the following actions, depending on the Package Conversion Manager operation being performed:

    • If performing an Analyze operation, display the package readiness status in the Configuration Manager console.

    • If performing a Convert operation, write the application to Configuration Manager database.