best way to make a smartgroup for patches with dependencies

[ImAMacGuy]

I'm trying to make some smart groups to catch the Office 2011 patches and I'm going cross eyed.

Forinstance...

Need one for any office 2011 that isn't 14.1.x
then one for 14.2
then one for up to 14.2.3
then one for 14.2.3-14.2.5 to go to 14.3 or 14.3.1
Now 14.3.2 is out but requires 14.3.1

Is there a simple way to do this?

[mm2270]

I wasn't even aware of the 14.3.2 update and just took a look at the details from the Mactopia site. Looks like Microsoft rolled several previous updates into this one, so the situation is far better than before, According to their page, this 14.3.2 update only requires 14.1.0 (SP1) to be installed. Previous ones required 14.2.3 to be installed also, but apparently they combined them. That's extremely helpful! This actually will make some Office updates we're working on much easier to deploy.

Given that, your Smart groups should be very easy to set up.

One for any Macs under 14.1.0, and one for any Macs already at or above 14.1.0 but not running 14.3.2. Easy!

[frozenarse]

I'm seeing this in the Prerequisite section on Microsoft's site: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2817452
Additionally, you must install the Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.3.1 update before you install the Office for Mac 2011 14.3.2 update.

[mm2270 · Accepted solution]

Follow up on this. It indeed is the case that the new 14.3.2 update only requires 14.1.0 to be installed. I just ran through the process on a test Mac. Uninstalled Office, then Installed our 14.0.0 package, then 14.1.0, then 14.3.2. I did the updates themselves from the command line installer, not the GUI. No issues, and got the installation all up to date with only those 2 patches.

I rarely say this, but thanks Microsoft Mac team!! You just made Office patch deployment much easier. I hated having to deal with that 14.2.3 update previously.

FWIW, here is what I just updated our Smart Groups to, in preparation for our Office update process-

For 14.0.x (anything under 14.1.0):
Application Title | Has | Microsoft Outlook
and Application Version | Like | 14.0.

For anything at or above 14.1.0 but under 14.3.2:
Application Title | Has | Microsoft Outlook
and Application Version | Like | 14.1.
or Application Version | Like | 14.2.
or Application Version | Like | 14.3.
and Application Version | Is Not | 14.3.2

I haven't thoroughly looked through the group membership for the second group, but doing some spot checking it seems to properly capture the versions I'm asking it to.

[mm2270]

@frozenarse, well, its wrong. As I stated, i just did the installs and went from 14.1.0 to 14.3.2 without a hitch.

Also, on http://www.microsoft.com/mac/downloads they only include the SP1 patch and this latest 14.3.2 one. They removed all previous updates, so if it somehow required 14.3.1, that would be a big problem for them.

[blackholemac]

I would recommend a licensed software entry in Casper for this one. When you use a licensed software entry, you can define explicit point releases for each product in the suite and then write a smart group around "does the client have this licensed software template?". If yes, do nothing, if no, apply this/these updates. I can also use this to monitor how many licenses we have deployed that way of it.

One parting tip...each time MS releases a new point release (ie. 14.3), I have our MS admin download the newest disc image from their site...makes repackaging so much easier.

[frozenarse]

That is good news! Thanks for running those 14.1 -> 14.3.2 tests.

[jolo]

Hmmm

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2817452

"Additionally, you must install the Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.3.1 update before you install the Office for Mac 2011 14.3.2 update. To determine the updates that are installed on your computer, follow these steps: "

[franton]

Just tested 14.1.0 and 14.2.3 to 14.3.2. All worked for me.

[#10]

Going from 14.1.0 to 14.3.2 worked for me, but i also had to install the following two packages since they came up after the patch install and running the update:
Error Reporting 2.2.9 (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35382)
AutoUpdate 2.3.6 (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35381)