Configuring PowerPoint Transcoder
Overview
This guide walks through the steps to properly configure the Appspace server for use with the PowerPoint Transcoder (available for download from the Marketplace). The article will cover the following:
Pre-requisites
- Microsoft Office 2010 (64-bit) installed
- Windows Server Administrator credentials
Microsoft Office 2010 Installation
Your server must be properly configured with the Microsoft Office suite of tools (specifically, Microsoft PowerPoint) to support the PowerPoint Transcoder within Appspace. There are some additional notable features/options that should also be included during the Microsoft Office installation:
Visual Basic For Applications
Be sure to include (choose ‘Run from My Computer’) Visual Basic for Applications during installation. This feature can be found under the Office Shared Features.
Actions.Net Programmability Support
Also be sure to include (choose ‘Run from My Computer’) Action .NET Programmability Support during installation. This feature can be found under Office Tools.
Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Configuration
Note
The following are the configuration steps necessary to properly setup your Windows Server 2008 server environment running Appspace for use with the PowerPoint Transcoder. If you are using Windows Server 2010 as your Appspace server foundation, please see the section below: Windows Server 2012 R2 Configuration
Step 1
Begin by launching Server Manager - typically located in the Windows quick launch menu.
Step 2
Under the Server Manager tree on the left-hand column, select Features. Click Add Features in the main window pane.
Step 3
Check the box for Desktop Experience.
You will be prompted by an additional dialog window prompting you to add the fetures required for Desktop Experience. Click Add Required Features to continue.
Click Next to continue once you have verified that the Desktop Experience option has been checked/selected.
Step 4
On the Confirm Installation Selections screen, click Install.
Step 5
Once installation has completed, click Close on the Installation Results screen. The wizard will ask if you would like to restart the server now - click ‘Yes’ to restart the server or ‘No’ if you need to save your work before manually rebooting the server.
Step 6
After the server completes the restart, the wizard will resume and should display “Installation succeeded” for the newly added features. Click Close to exit the wizard.
Step 7
From the Windows Start menu, select Administrative Tools > Services.
Step 8
Find the Themes service and right click to select Properties.
Step 9
On the General tab, select Automatic from the Startup type drop-down menu. Once selected, be sure to click Apply to ensure this setting is saved.
Step 10
Continue by clicking the Start button to start this service. Once the Service status reads “Started” - you may click OK to close the window.
Step 11
On your local disk, navigate to the following directory: C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile and create a new folder named Desktop.
Once created, right click on the folder and select Properties.
Step 12
On the Security tab, make sure the SYSTEM group is selected before clicking the Edit button.
Step 13
On the Permissions window, again make sure the SYSTEM group is selected before clicking on the Add button.
Step 14
Type in “everyone” (without the quotes) in the object name field and click Check Names.
The system should auto-detect this object. Click OK to continue.
Step 15
Back on the Permissions window, make sure the new Everyone group is selected. Check the box to allow full control for this group, and click OK to continue.
Note
You may encounter a Windows Security window notifying you of the permission change. Click Yes if you see this pop-up window.
When finished, click OK to close any remaining dialog windows.
Step 16
From the Windows Start menu, select Administrative Tools > Task Scheduler.
Step 17
Within Task Scheduler, select the Nexus On-Demand branch from the tree in the left-column. Find the task named AppSpace Job Runner and right-click to select Properties.
Step 18
On the properties window, click the Change User or Group button.
Step 19
Type in “administrator” (without the quotes) in the object name field and click Check Names.
The system should auto-detect this object and possibly re-name it. Click OK to continue.
Step 20
Back on the AppSpace Job Runner Properties window, you should now see the Administrator account selected. Click OK to continue.
Note
The Task Scheduler will likely prompt you at this point to enter the password for the Administrator account. Complete your credentials and click OK to complete the process.
You may exit the Task Scheduler. Your Windows 2008 server is now properly configured and ready to be used with the PowerPoint Transcoder in Appspace. You may proceed to download and install the transcoder by following the instructions as outlined in the Configuring Transcoder Plug-ins article.
Windows Server 2012 R2 Configuration
Note
The following are the configuration steps necessary to properly setup your Windows Server 2012 server environment running Appspace for use with the PowerPoint Transcoder. If you are using Windows Server 2008 as your Appspace server foundation, please see the section above: Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Configuration
Step 1
Begin by launching Server Manager - typically located in the Windows quick launch menu.
Step 2
From the Dashboard of the Server Manager, click ‘Add roles and features’.
Step 3
On the Add Roles and Features Wizard, make sure the radio button for Role-based or feature-based installation is selected. Click Next to continue.
Step 4
When asked to select the destination server, be sure to select your desired server from the server pool. Click Next once selected to continue.
Step 5
When prompted to select server roles, keep the default selections and click Next to proceed.
Step 6
At the list of features, scroll down to User Interfaces and Infrastructure and expand that feature. Check the box for Desktop Experience.
You will then be prompted to add features that are required for Desktop Experience. Click Add Features to continue.
Click Next to continue once you have verified that the Desktop Experience option has been checked/selected.
Step 7
At the confirm installation screen, click Install.
Step 8
Once installation has completed, click Close on the Installation progress screen.
Important
You will need to perform a server restart at this point to complete the installation.
Step 9
On your local disk, navigate to the following directory: C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile and create a new folder named Desktop.
Once created, right click on the folder and select Properties.
Step 10
On the Security tab, make sure the SYSTEM group is selected before clicking the Edit button.
Step 11
On the Permissions window, again make sure the SYSTEM group is selected before clicking on the Add button.
Step 12
Type in “everyone” (without the quotes) in the object name field and click Check Names.
The system should auto-detect this object. Click OK to continue.
Step 13
Back on the Permissions window, make sure the new Everyone group is selected. Check the box to allow full control for this group, and click OK to continue.
Note
You may encounter a Windows Security window notifying you of the permission change. Click Yes if you see this pop-up window.
When finished, click OK to close any remaining dialog windows.
Step 14
From the Start menu/button, launch Task Scheduler (you may choose to locate and launch it via the search function).
Step 15
Within Task Scheduler, select the Nexus On-Demand branch from the tree in the left-column. Find the task named AppSpace Job Runner and double-click it to access the Properties page.
Step 16
On the properties window, click the Change User or Group button.
Step 17
Type in “administrator” (without the quotes) in the object name field and click Check Names.
The system should auto-detect this object and possibly re-name it. Click OK to continue.
Step 18
Back on the AppSpace Job Runner Properties window, you should now see the Administrator account selected. Click OK to continue.
Note
The Task Scheduler will likely prompt you at this point to enter the password for the Administrator account. Complete your credentials and click OK to complete the process.
You may exit the Task Scheduler. Your Windows 2012 server is now properly configured and ready to be used with the PowerPoint Transcoder in Appspace. You may proceed to download and install the transcoder by following the instructions as outlined in the Configuring Transcoder Plug-ins article.