Installing the Desktop Application
1. Installation
The Simplifica.CI Desktop Communication Application is designed for various execution environments on the Windows platform (versions WinXP and above). Below, we describe some of the most common methods that the Technology or Infrastructure department of your company can follow for the proper installation for all employees.
For the desktop application, it is necessary to install it on employees' computers. There are two methods:
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Installation performed by the employee.
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Silent installation via GPO, which is the most recommended and practiced method by all our clients.
What is the purpose of installing the desktop application?
The desktop app is installed to remain active with the Windows user, enabling push notifications when there is a communication announcement. It functions like a browser, loading everything from the cloud. The only information it collects from the machine is which user is active on Windows, ensuring the app is not enabled on different user accounts.
The purpose of the installation is because our application is proprietary, and it activates access linked to the user's own Windows account by verifying the user's data in our cloud-based database. This ensures that communication has an active channel as long as the employee's machine is logged in. It allows communication through push notifications on the screen, regardless of whether the employee opens the application or not, as the app remains in online execution.
Configuring it this way eliminates the need for the user to provide a password. It's sufficient for the user to be logged into Windows. Our application recognizes this through network settings (Domain/user) on the platform.
2. Installing the Desktop Application
- Silent Installation Mode
In this mode, the Technology or Infrastructure department should prepare the execution of our installer from their domain controller. Once the employee logs in to Windows with their account, the application will be installed and run automatically.
For GPO installation, it is necessary to have network data registered in the internal public database (Domain/user). If registration in the internal public database is done via a spreadsheet, there is a field to be filled out. If it is through integration or API, this data should also be sent to the platform.
It is also necessary to make some configurations within the platform, such as setting the activation mode for the internal audience in the app, which can be through the email or identity number of the internal audience.
1º First, grant access to the following domains on your network:
(Protocolos http:80 e https:443)
- app.simplificaci.com.br
- api-desk.simplificaci.com.br
- cdn.simplificaci.com.br
github.com
For this application installation process, the employee database should already be integrated into our platform along with the network data.
2º Access the platform settings page. Enter the internal network domain name, as shown in the image below:
Request access to the platform from the person responsible for the communication team in your company.
3º If in doubt about the correct name to be provided, consult the section titled "How does the Simplifica Desk application identify the network user and authenticate?" in this same article.
Great, everything is ready to proceed with the installation!
- Installer Link
Available through the file 'DesktopSetup_StandAlone' in EXE and MSI versions at the link below:
Download SimplificaDesk_Setup.exe
Download SimplificaDesk_Setup.msi
- Silent Installation
The installation through the MSI file via GPO already enables silent installation by default. However, if it is necessary to perform the installation through the EXE, use the parameters below to force a silent installation without user interaction.
/VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART
- Batch File Example for Group Policy (GPO) Installation (The condition below was created to avoid reinstallation if it has already been installed)
@echo off IF EXIST "%appdata%\SimplificaCI\Desktop\desktop.exe" GOTO end \fileserver\GPOFiles\DesktopSetup.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART :end
How does the Simplifica Desk application identify the network user and authenticate?
Simplifica Desk is automatically opened through the Windows Startup feature. This means that as soon as the Windows user initiates their session, the application identifies the current username and domain. It then checks if this user has been properly authorized within the database registered on the Simplifica.CI Platform.
This verification is done through the following command (CMD):
echo %USERDOMAIN%/%USERNAME%
Therefore, you can use the above command for identifying the domain name and user, which should be previously provided in the registration of each employee in your database.
Watch the tutorial.
- Employee Installation Mode
If you choose to use this mode, you do not need to fill in the network data in the platform. The activation will be done by the employee themselves, using their email or identity number. An internal campaign is required to inform each employee of the step-by-step process.
- Download the Simplifica Desktop;
The executable is available for download within our platform or by directly clicking on this link;
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Access the Simplifica Desk configuration menu and choose the activation mode that the employee will use to activate the application. The options are identity number or E-mail; it is advisable to use only one.
In this mode, the installation is the responsibility of each collaborator. It is not a complex process, but for the installation to be successfully completed, each user must have standard rights to install applications locally. Such rights are common for most Windows access accounts, so, in practice, we should pay attention to the following points:
- Have read and write access to the folder: C:\Users[username]\AppData
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How to check:
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If you can access your user data folder, then the installation should work without major complications.
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Follow the steps below to check your access: 1. Press WIN+R 2. Type %LOCALAPPDATA% 3. Press ENTER If a Windows window opens at the address 'C:\Users[username]\AppData\Local', the application installation should proceed without complications.
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Sending Installation Invitations
Create an email explaining what this channel is, its purpose, and how the employee should perform the installation and activation. After installation, the application needs to be activated by asking the employee to enter the activation code defined by the administrator in the dashboard, which can be either the CPF or email. Don't forget to include the download link for the app, listed below.
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Timeline of the Activation Process For a better understanding of this process, we present below the timeline that should occur in this installation mode and the actors responsible for each operation:
In both cases, you will be able to check who installed and activated in the 'Administer > Desktop Application' section.
3. Access the Simplifica Desk configuration panel
If you are experiencing any difficulties, we are here to help!
Feel free to contact our support team via chat at http://app.simplificaci.com.br/support or reach out to your implementation consultant.