SFT Encoder Express Edition : The Simple App-V Package Encoder

  • Article

My Buddy Kalle Saunamäki pinged me earlier today and let me know that he has released a new tool for SFT Encoding packaging. I have not tested the tool yet but will certainly be playing around with it later tonight. The tool looks really interesting as it looks like a new way to package? Will certainly have a play! This is not a Microsoft Tool and therefore its not a supported microsoft tool but looks like another great third party tool from Kalle. I am sure he will welcome the feedback.

In Kalle own words from https://www.virtualapp.net/sft-encoder.html

Now for the first time outside the SoftGrid/App-V Sequencer you can create your own packages!

By using SFT Encoder Express Edition you have the possibility to create simple App-V package by encoding directory structure of your choice into a fully functioning SFT file. SFT Encoder Express Edition generates associated OSD and SPRJ files for oen executable out of the package, that you can then distribute from the Management Server to App-V clients.

SFT Encoder Express Edition can be used as quick and simple way of generating tools -type of packages out from the pre-existing directory structure for applications that do not need virtual registry entries etc.

Packages generated by SFT Encoder Express Edition are in SoftGrid 4.1/4.2 format.

Looking for advanced functionality?

Look no further! All the features in SFT Encoder Express Edition and much more is available in commerical editions of SFT Encoder:

  • Professional Edition for command-line driven advanced functionality of new package encoding and modification of existing packages
  • Enterprise Edition for advanced command-line and processing template -driven functionality of new package encoding and modification of existing packages
  • Server Edition for all the same functionality as in Enterprise Edition but for server -based and automated processing

You can find SFT Encoder's commerical editions at GridMetric Oy's site.

SFT Encoder Express Edition is provided as freeware and as-is with no warranty. All rights reserved. Redistribution and usage for commerical purposes prohibited.

Requirements:

Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 (Redistributable Package)

Download:

Latest release:

SFT Encoder Express Edition, version 1.0.0 - As MSI package
(revision history)

Usage:

 Options:
 /encode DIRECTORY   specifies directory to encode to package
 /out DIRECTORY      specifies directory into which SFT and associated files will be written to
 /root NAME          specifies the root-directory name to use for package internal directory structure
 /name NAME      uses specified NAME as project name and generated package name
 /launch FILE         specifies the executable that will be launched from package (has to be in the directory path supplied by /encode -parameter)
 /server ADDRESS        specifies the server address from which package will be streamed from

All parameters expect for /server are required by the SFT Encoder Express Edition. If parameters (like in FILE or DIRETORY paths) contain spaces, they must be enclosed in double-quotes (") and cannot end with backslash (\) character.

Example:

SftEncoderExpress /encode "c:\program files\mytool" /out c:\mypackages /root toolkit.v1 /name "My Admin Tool 1" /launch "c:\program files\mytool\mytool.exe" /server mgmtvas