The following is a table of file types that are either used or generated by the tools in Windows® Internet Explorer® Administration Kit 8 (IEAK 8).

File type Description

.adm

An administration (.adm) file is used by Group Policy to define the system policies and restrictions for the Windows desktop, shell, and security. You can customize and restrict the settings in an .adm file by using IEAK or the Windows System Policy Editor. The .adm files used by IEAK are located in the <systemdrive>:\Program Files\Windows IEAK 8\policies folder.

Important

In IEAK 8, all .adm files, as well as the .adm parser, are Unicode. This means that, with this version of IEAK, you cannot use any custom ANSI-based .adm files that you created previously. If you place ANSI-based .adm files in the <systemdrive>:\Program Files\Windows IEAK 8\policies folder with the rest of the .adm files, IEAK Profile Manager will stop responding.

.asp

If you distribute Internet Explorer 8 from a Web server, you can include Active Server Page (.asp) files in your custom browser package. By using .asp files, you can embed script within your HTML pages to create dynamic, interactive Web content. For example, you can create sign-up pages that enable users to install the browser and register for Internet services. You can point to .asp files in Internet Explorer Customization Wizard 8 or IEAK Profile Manager. IEAK includes sample .asp files located in the <systemdrive>:\Program Files\Windows IEAK 8\toolkit\corp and the <systemdrive>:\Program Files\Windows IEAK 8\toolkit\isp\Server\ICW\reconfig\asp folders.

Important

The Internet sign-up option is not available for the Windows Vista® operating system.

.bat

An ASCII text file containing a sequence of operating system commands, possibly including parameters and operators supported by the batch command language. When the user types the name of the batch file at the command prompt, the computer processes the commands sequentially.

.bmp, .gif, .jpeg, .jpg

Your custom version of Internet Explorer can include graphics that use .bmp, .gif, .jpeg, or .jpg file formats. For example, you can replace the autorun splash screen with your graphic file. For more information about the requirements for graphics that you customize, see Create Branding and Custom Graphics.

.cab

Cabinet (.cab) files organize and store compressed installation files that are copied to the user's computer. IEAK contains a set of tools that can help you build and digitally sign .cab files for custom components. The auto-configuration .cab files also contain information (.inf) files.

.cif

A component information (.cif) file named IESetup.cif identifies the components that you can install with Internet Explorer, including any new components or component updates. In the .cif file, each component has an associated ComponentID. Windows Update Setup reads the .cif file to determine whether a component with a specific ComponentID is already installed and whether a newer version is available for installation.

.cmp

Connection profile (.cmp) files are generated by the Connection Manager Administration Kit (CMAK), and contain information specified by the user. Do not edit the .cmp files because any changes you make can be overwritten by the user.

.cms

Service provider (.cms) files are generated by CMAK, and specify the configuration of the phone book and most of the other functions of your service profiles. Most advanced customization for a service profile is done by editing the .cms file for that service profile.

.exe

An executable (.exe) file is the installation program that controls the setup process. This .exe file installs the .cab files that install your custom browser package on users' computers. Those .cab files can, in turn, include additional self-extracting .exe files for browser and custom components.

.inf

Typically, each Internet Explorer .cab file contains an associated information (.inf) file, which provides further installation information. The .inf file can reference files in the .cab file, as well as files at other URLs. Each .inf file also contains version information. When you change configuration settings, IEAK Profile Manager updates the affected .inf files and their version information and repackages the companion .cab files. For more information, see Setup Information (.inf) Files.

.ins

Internet Explorer Setup contains an Internet settings (.ins) file, which configures the browser and its components. You can create multiple versions of your browser package by customizing copies of this .ins file. IEAK Profile Manager also enables you to create, save, and load .ins files for updating Internet Explorer configuration settings. For more information, see Internet Settings (.ins) Files.

.isp

If you are implementing a sign-up process with your custom browser package, an Internet sign-up (.isp) file named Signup.isp provides dial-up information for your Internet services. Using Internet Explorer Customization Wizard 8, you can edit the parameters contained in the Internet sign-up file. For a server-based sign-up method, this sign-up file also contains a link to the URL of the server script that generates your .ins configuration file.

.pac, .js, .jvs

You can use a text editor to create an auto-proxy script file for your custom browser package. An auto-proxy script file can be a JScript (.js), JavaScript (.jvs), or proxy auto-configuration (.pac) file. When an auto-proxy script file is specified, Internet Explorer uses the script to determine dynamically whether it should connect directly to a host or use a proxy server. In Internet Explorer Customization Wizard 8, you can specify an auto-proxy URL for configuring and maintaining advanced proxy settings. For more information, see Automatic Configuration

.pvk

A private key file, that contains the private key associated with a digital signature. For more information, see Certificates, Digital Signatures, and IEAK.

.sed

Connection profile (.sed) files are generated by CMAK, and contain the instructions for building a self-extracting executable (.exe) file for your service profiles. Do not edit any .sed files.

.spc

A software publishing certificate file. Certificates contain the name and other information identifying the owner of the certificate, the public key associated with the certificate, a serial number, a validity period for the certificate, and the digital signature of the certification authority that issued the certificate. For more information, see Certificates, Digital Signatures, and IEAK.