Applies To
Express Software Manager version 4.5 through 5.x

Summary
This technical note explains how Express Software Manager version 4.5 through 5.x recognizes applications and describes how you can identify the applications that are not recognized. This note also addresses how to determine which applications to support.

Recognizing Applications and Files
Express Software Manager provides tools to identify files by name, size, and location. Express recognizes an application by comparing its associated files to information in the Express Knowledgebase. Configuring files carefully in the Application Wizard assures that Express correctly displays the information in reports.

Express Software Manager enables you to focus on the important applications in your environment and configure the files associated with each critical application. You do not need to identify every detected file to recognize the applications you want to support.

How Applications are Recognized
The Application Wizard in Express Software Manager recognizes applications by exactly matching the detected file name and file size to the Express Knowledgebase. Applications are recognized with an associated confidence level:

High	The application’s main executable name and file size match exactly.
Fuzzy	The application’s main executable name matches exactly, the company is a major manufacturer, and the file size is within 20% of the corresponding file size in the Express Knowledgebase.
Medium	Two or more unique support file names of an application match exactly, but the application’s main executable is not found.
Low	One unique support file name and size match, but the application’s main executable is not found

These confidence levels allow applications to be recognized even though support files for an application may not match. If an exact match is not made, the unrecognized file is added to the Additional Executable Files list in the Application Wizard.

Identifying Unrecognized Files
There are two recommended methods of sorting application information in the Application Wizard: frequency of launches and installation path. Use this information to associate unrecognized files with the correct application. Procedures for each method are presented in the next two sections.

Identifying Unrecognized Files by Frequency of Launches
If you have metering enabled, sort the files in the Application Wizard by frequency of launches. Focus your efforts on the most frequently used applications.

Follow these steps:

1. In Express Console, open a library.

2. Select Run Application Wizard from the Auto-Added Applications Detected dialog box.

3. Click the Next button until you reach the dialog box entitled Application Wizard: Configure Additional Executable Files.

4. Click View Options.

5. In the list of Display Columns, select Launches. Click Apply and OK.

6. In the sorting bar above the files list, click Launches to sort the files by frequency of launches.

If you decide not to configure an application because it is launched infrequently, click remove to remove the file from the list. Note: If you click remove and the file is launched at a later date, the Express Inventory client will detect the file at that time, and it will re-appear on the Additional Executable Files list.

Identifying Unrecognized Files by Installation Path
If you do not have metering enabled with Express Software Manager, use the installation path information to identify unrecognized files.

Each application is typically associated with a unique directory structure (the default installation path). The path is often the key to identifying an unrecognized application. Only the main executable files (or unique support files) need to be configured. Note: If an application is installed to a different path, the application can be identified by the subdirectory structure, which typically remains the same.

Follow these steps:

1. In Express Console, open a library.

2. Select Run Application Wizard from the Auto-Added Applications Detected dialog box.

3. Click the Next button until you reach the dialog box entitled Application Wizard: Configure Additional Executable Files.

4. Click View Options.

5. In the list of Display Columns, select Install path. Click Apply and OK.

6. In the sorting bar above the files list, click Install Path to sort the files by installation path.

Acknowledging Other Unrecognized Files
Many of the unrecognized files may belong to shareware or downloaded software that you do not need to support. These shared files are typically located in a few specific directories:

Download
I386
Recycle Bin
Setup
Temp
Win NT
Windows\System
<folder for network drivers>

International Applications
Localized versions of an application frequently have the same name and file size as the US version. In these instances, the Application Wizard identifies the application as the US version--with its associated Year 2000 compliance information--in the list of Auto-added applications.

If you are using a localized version and know the Year 2000 compliance information, you can enter comments in the Application Properties:

1. In Express Console, open a library that contains the application.

2. Expand the Configured folder. Note: You must configure the application before you can add your own comments.

3. In the right pane, double-click the application (or right-click the application and click Properties).

4. In the Application Properties dialog box, click the Year 2000 tab.

5. In the User notes section near the bottom of the dialog box, enter comments Year 2000 compliance information.

Related Technical Notes

1207	Contributing to the Express Knowledgebase
1295	Identifying Unrecognized Applications in Express Software Manager 4.0
1556	Identifying Unrecognized Applications in Express Software Manager 6.0
9991	Express Software Manager Technical Notes (5.x or lower)