For different reasons people use scripts to launch publish applications but is that really necessary? How about you could do that right in the command line while publishing the application? That way you would not need a script.

I have done exactly that with Citrix XenApp 6.0 and here two examples.

Publish Windows Explorer maximized
This is nice for iPad etc. users and Windows Explorer doesn't except the Citrix maximize option. Make sure you read CTX128009

Command Line:
CMD /C "START "Windows Explorer" /MAX "%WinDir%\Explorer.exe"  /n /e /root,R:\"


Publish SAP BEx Analyzer with a different temp path
By default the SAP BEx Analyzer uses the standard temp path but if you restrict the profile path then users get an error message and might find it annoying

Command Line:
CMD /C SET TEMP=%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%Windows&start "BExAnalyzer" "C:\Program Files (x86)\SAP\Business Explorer\BI\BExAnalyzer.exe"

Many companies have a policy to use Microsoft Internet Explorer as browser and most of my customers too. I monitored sessions and Internet Explorer uses sometimes quite some memory. I personly had four tabs open with around 440 MB memory usage in total. After some tuning I got it down to 70 MB and here is how I accomplish that.



Internet Explorer tuning tips

1. Disable the browser tab grow by setting it to "0" - Saves memory 
Path: User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer
Set tab process grow <- Set to 0

2. Disable all unneeded browser add-ons - Saves memory and performance
Path: User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Security Features\Add-On Management
Add-on List <- Add GUID from Add-on and set to "0"
How to find add-On GUID: IE | Extras | Add-On Management | Select Add-On | Click "More Information"

3. Disable browser Accelerators - Saves Memory
Path: User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\Accelerators
Turn off Accelerators <- Enable

4. Disable Suggested Sites - Saves memory and performance
Path: User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer
Turn on Suggested Sites <- Disable

5. Disable InPrivate browsing - Helps with user profiles
Path: User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Internet Explorer\InPrivate
Turn off InPrivate Browsing <- Enable

Important Internet Explorer Hotfixes

• A memory leak issue occurs in Internet Explorer 8 when you switch between XML files
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2032595
• After Internet Explorer Maintenance Group Policy settings are configured in a domain, a 20-second delay occurs when you log on to the domain from a client computer that has Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 installed
  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941158
  

According to CTX126977 you just need to add users to the local "Distributed COM Users" to get a custom Citrix Administrator to work. This should ensure that users can enumerate across all servers in the farm. That doesn't work for me and for others in the forum. There is another article CTX106304 that explains how to set MFCOM launch permission but is a pain to do with a lot of servers in the farm.

Here is an easy way that worked for me in a global XenApp Farm:

1. Use Group Policy Restricted Groups to add users/group to the local Distributed COM Users
Path: Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Restricted Groups

2. Use Group Policy Define Activation Security Check exemptions do disable Activation Security Check for the MFCOM appid
Path: Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System\Distributed COM\Application Compatibility\Define Activation Security Check exemptions

Use the DCOMCNFG tool to find the Application ID (appid) for MFCOM. Mine is {7BB98CBB-42E7-402B-994B-C21141D252DB} and is the value name and the value is 1 to disable the activation check.

Hope that helps some people with their Custom Citrix Administrators.

New version of my XenApp update script to support XenApp 6.5 and 6.0. New is a source media check because some of the XenApp hotfixes requires access to the source media during installation. The update script has been already downloaded several thousand times. With XenApp 6.0 its a must to install a bunch of hotfixes before should even think to start using XenApp 6.0

Download XA6xUpdate_v1.5.zip

I have lately dropped here and there comments about the Universal Printer Server code name "Phaser" and actually some Citrix guys make fun of me because I'm so persistent with that topic since 2009! Why 2009? Well at iForum Las Vegas Citrix developer Gary showed the first bits (really just some command line exe) of project Phaser. Since then I keep telling Citrix to get it out of the door every time I have a chance. Now it seems it will finally happen after three years!

Read the article here

At Citrix Synergy Barcelona there where several sessions about Cloud Gateway to replace Web Interface. Interesting that they had also a Q&A with a "CTP friend" to tell people why it's good to move while I was in the audience. Now back in 2009 I already wrote about the death of Web Interface but my whole point was that the release was too early. Web Interface End-Of-Life (EOL) is 2015 and time that I think Citrix actually needs in order for customer to move to Cloud Gateway.

What's Cloud Gateway? Basically just a new product name for existing components like Access Gateway + Web Interface would be the past and now it's Access Gateway + StoreFront = Cloud Gateway Enterprise or just StoreFront = Cloud Gateway Express. Congrats! You are probably a Cloud product owner now! StoreFront again is what was called the Citrix Delivery Services 1.0 now 2.0; all the name changing quite confusing, right.

Ultimately StoreFront replaces Web Interface (Web Receiver) including the service site. Even as a CTP I didn't get the StoreFront beta (guess I know why) so now here you have a first quick report on it. Let's start with, I would NOT advice any of my customers to go with StoreFront now or any time soon (before 3.0 or 4.0 I guess) but see yourself.

Description	Web Interface	StoreFront
Launch applications	Yes	Yes
Autolaunch desktops	Yes (file)	No
Prevent multi-launch of applications	Yes (file)	No
Filter or hide applications	Yes	No (use AG)
Tweak ICA parameters	Yes (file)	Yes (file)
Messages, Notes etc.	Yes (UI)	No
Web UI change through console	Yes	No
Advanced customization	Yes	Limited
Code extension	Yes	No
Software Development Kit (SDK)	Yes	No
Pre-populated domain	Yes (UI)	Yes (UI)
Domain list	Yes	No
Explicit authentication	Yes	Yes
Pass-through or mixed authentication	Yes	Yes
Kerberos authentication	Yes	No
SmartCard, Token authentication	Yes	No (use AG)
Anonymous logon	Yes	No
Access Gateway integration	Yes	Yes
Password Manager integration	Yes	No
Password change	Yes	Yes
Customize web session timeout	Yes (UI)	Yes (file)
Settings per location (IP subnet)	Yes (UI)	No
Client proxy settings	Yes (UI)	No
Client deployment	Yes	Yes
Java Client fallback	Yes	No
Application search	Yes	Yes
Favorite applications	No	Yes
Stateless web sessions	No	Yes
Theme support	No	No
Error logging in eventlog	Yes	No?
Documentation	Yes	Basic

  UI = Option in console, File = Configured by edit source file.

Personally I think the StoreFront console is missing usability and not very intuitive to use, no workflows, no wizards, very limited information. Again I see a lot of open work for Citrix developers until 2015! Also when I look through the list, Cloud Gateway Expess should come with Access Gateway VPX and FREE platform license for ICA-Proxy (Secure Gateway function).