What's New in the Internet Explorer Administration Kit?

You can use the Internet Explorer Customization wizard and the IEAK Profile Manager, both included in the IEAK, to customize, deploy, and maintain Internet Explorer. For more information about the contents of the IEAK, see What's in the Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit?.

The IEAK contains new features to help you streamline and manage Setup, sign custom files automatically with digital certificates, control whether users can customize their installation, and periodically provide updated information and files to users.

For more information about what's new in Internet Explorer 5, refer to the online Help installed with the product.

Here are some of the key new IEAK features:

• Smaller setup footprint and modular features. Internet Explorer is smaller and more modular. You have more control over which features are installed and whether users can customize setup options.
• Install only the features users need. You can install only the Internet Explorer 5 features that you know your users will need, but enable users to install new features as they need them with the Automatic Install feature. Through System Policies and Settings, you can control whether this feature is enabled.
• View only the Internet Explorer Customization wizard screens that apply to you. In the Customization wizard, you can specify only the features that you want to customize. This is especially helpful if you want to specify only a few custom settings; you don't have to enter information for every page of the wizard.
• Improved digital certificate support. If you have digital certificates, the IEAK wizard can sign custom files and programs automatically. Signing your files is necessary if you plan to distribute your files over the Internet or you don't want to specifically configure your intranet settings. Additionally, Internet service providers can specify a root certificate, so that all certificates in the hierarchy from that certification authority can be approved.
• Batch text setup file. The IEAK enables you to customize setup, but you can further control setup by using a batch text file. You can include the batch file in your custom IEAK package.
• The Connection Manager Administration Kit, which enables you to customize users' connection settings and appearance, is included and installed with the IEAK.
• Internet Connection wizard integration. Internet service providers can integrate user sign-up with the Internet Connection wizard.
• Enhanced Automatic Version Synchronization (AVS). When you download updated program versions, you don't need to download setup (.cab) files that haven't changed. This saves download time. The version number and disk space needed for each component are also displayed in the AVS interface.
• Custom browser toolbar buttons. You can customize the browser toolbar by specifying custom buttons to run scripts or executable files.
• Automatic Install. Internet Explorer enables users to install features that were not initially installed as they need them.
• Update notification page. You can provide information about updated programs, files, or company news at intervals with a standard .htm page.
• Installation into a custom directory. You are now prompted to choose an installation directory, so previous versions of the IEAK do not have to be overwritten. You can also determine whether or not users can change their installation location.