Downloading Packages from the Library

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Downloading Packages from the Library

A PDQ Deploy Package includes a set of configuration options and instructions plus the install files needed by PDQ Deploy to silently install or update a free application.

When you download a prebuilt package from the Package Library, the configuration information of the package is stored in your local PDQ Deploy database. The install files are downloaded to the Repository, which is stored in the PDQ Deploy %ProgramData% directory by default (for example, C:\Users\Public\Documents\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Deploy\Repository). This directory can be moved and the install files from any packages you download in the future will download to the new location of the repository.

This topic contains the following sections:

Downloading Prebuilt Packages

Additional Information About Downloading Packages

Downloading Duplicate Packages

Previous Versions of Packages

Updated Packages

Auto Download

Multiple Packages Page

Downloading Prebuilt Packages

To download prebuilt packages from the PDQ Deploy Package Library:

1.On the Main Console tree, click Package Library.

The Package Library page displays.

2.(Optional) On the tree, navigate using Categories or Vendors to locate the likely package or packages you need.

You can also type keywords in the Filter field on the Package Library page to narrow your search.

TIP: For more ways to filter the Package Library, see Sorting the Package Library. You can also view and sort the Package Library on the web (https://www.pdq.com/package-library-list).

3.Select a package in the list and information about the package displays in Package Details.

Package Details sidebar includes information about the package and what it does.

NOTE: Enterprise mode required to access older prebuilt packages. For more information, see Previous Versions of Packages.

4.Once you have identified the package or packages you need, click the checkboxes to select them.

5.Click Download Selected (double-click one package or select multiple packages by holding Shift or Ctrl then double-click).

The new package is added to the Packages folder in the tree and will display the download progress next to the package name. The download progress and history is also displayed on the Download History tab of the Package Library.

NOTE: Packages downloaded in Enterprise mode default to Auto Download and are distinguishable with a separate package icon . For more information, see Auto Download packages. To disable Auto Download, see Auto Download in preferences.

6.(Optional) You can single-click the package name in the tree to view the individual package page of the Main Console.

7.(Optional) You can also view and edit the package and package step properties by selecting the package in the tree and double clicking (clicking Edit Package from the individual product page or Ctrl+O) to open. For information about editing and using prebuilt packages as templates, see Managing Packages. For information on editing an Auto Download package, see Editing an Auto Download Package.

The package is ready to be immediately deployed or scheduled for deployment. For information about deploying packages see Manually Deploying Packages or Setting up Scheduled Deployments.

NOTE: In Enterprise mode, packages that you download are Auto Download by default and the existing steps cannot be modified. You can add additional steps before and after the existing steps, or you can convert to a Standard Package. Converting to a Standard Package cannot be undone. For information about Auto Download, see Auto Download Packages. For information about adding additional steps to an Auto Download, see Editing and Adding Steps. For information on disabling Auto Download, see Auto Download in preferences.

Additional Information About Downloading Packages

Downloading Duplicate Packages

What happens if I download a package that is already downloaded?

The package will be downloaded again and appear in Packages with a number appended to the package name. Note that you may see duplicate packages if you re-download, but don't delete the earlier packages.

Previous Versions of Packages

I need a specific version of an update. How can I find older versions of PDQ Deploy packages?

Enterprise users can access a curated list of previous packages (old versions) in the Package Library. Typically, the older packages will be for the last release of a major version of the software.

To download older versions of packages from the PDQ Deploy Package Library:

1.On the Main Console tree, click Package Library.

2.On the tree, browse to and select the package for the product you need.

Under Package Details > Versions is a list of the older packages available.

3.To download one of the older packages, click the Download Now link for the version you want.

The new package is added to the Packages folder in the tree and will display the download progress next to the package name. The download progress and history is also displayed on the Download History tab of the Package Library.

Updated Packages

When new or updated packages are added to the Package Library, several indicators on the Main Console window will alert you. The Package Library icon on the toolbar changes from normal to updated . Also, the Updated Packages link on the Package Library page indicates how many updates there are (and the link appears on the Status bar).

To view the list of updated packages, do one of the following:

On the Package Library page:

Click the xx Updated Packages link.

Click the xx Updates tab.

On the Status bar, click the xx Updated Packages link.

On the xx Updates tab you can browse the updated packages and remove packages from the list (Clear Selected Notifications or Clear All Notifications).

NOTE: The Package Library is updated when PDQ Deploy is opened, every 2 hours thereafter, and when manually refreshed (View > Refresh or F5). The list of Updated Packages is based on changes to the library after your initial installation or after using Clear All Notifications.

Auto Download

Auto Download is an Enterprise mode feature that allows you to set packages to automatically download new versions of applications as they become available in the PDQ Deploy Package Library. These packages can then be scheduled for deployment so they will deploy upon approval they will automatically update computers for you. For details, see Auto Download Packages and Creating Auto Deployments.

When Auto Download Approvals are pending there are several indicators on the Main Console window to alert you. An Approvals icon will appear in the toolbar indicating the number of packages awaiting approval. The Auto Download approval waiting link on the Package Library page and the status bar will also include links indicating there are approvals waiting.

To manually approve a new version of an Auto Download package:

1.On the Main Console, do one of the following:

Click on xx Approvals on the toolbar.

Click the xx Auto Download approvals waiting in the Status bar.

Click the Package Library node in the tree and click the xx Auto Download approvals waiting link on the Package Library page.

Click the Package Library node in the tree and click the xx Updates tab.

The Updates tab of the Package Library is opened. The Auto Download Approvals panel displays the current version of the package as well as the latest version.

2.In the Auto Download Approvals panel, select the package to be approved.

3.Click Approve Now (or right-click and select Approve Now).

4.(Optionally) Click the individual package in the tree to open the Package page. Click the Approve link on the package page.

NOTE: While using Central Server, if the Server console is not connected to the Internet, the download will timeout after 10 minutes; however, a Client console will then download the updated package on behalf of the Server.

NOTE: Auto Download can be disabled by default in the preferences menu. See Auto Download for details.

Multiple Packages page

When multiple packages are selected in the tree (Shift+Click or Ctrl+Click), the Multiple Packages page opens on the right. From this page, you can perform the following actions:

Create new package nesting these packages: A New Package window opens with each packages listed as a separate nested step. For details, see Creating a New Package and Nested Package Step Properties.

Start a deployment with these packages: A Deploy Once window opens with each package selected to be deployed. For details, see Deploying Package(s) with Deploy Once.

Create new schedules with these packages: A new Schedule window opens for all selected packages. For details, see Creating Scheduled Deployments.

Attach packages to an existing schedule: The Select Schedules window opens. To attach the packages to an existing schedule, simply select the existing schedule and click OK, or double-click the schedule name.

 

 

 

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