Exploring the .scapp file

Without a doubt, the Toolbox is one of best features of ConnectWise Control®. The ability for hosts to quickly and easily execute commonly used tools on a remote machine with a single click is a great timesaver. In 5.5 we expanded upon the Toolbox and added the ability to group tools together into .scapp files.

A .scapp file is basically a renamed .zip archive that the ConnectWise Control Toolbox knows to handle a bit differently. When a .scapp file is executed from the Toolbox, it copies all of the tool's contents into the same directory on the remote machine, and then executes the first item alphabetically.

Until now, there hasn't been a simple way to copy over and execute several .exe files at once.  Say you have a single .exe that depends upon a few other files (ex.: configurations, .dll, etc.) in order to run correctly.  Previously, the tool had to be compiled in a way that included these files, but now this can be done with a single .scapp file.

Grouping all of the required files and a simple .bat script to control the execution order prevents the need for recompilation.  This could also include a collection of tools that must be executed sequentially in order to function correctly.

Another potential use might be a tool that must run from a specific directory. It would be pretty simple to create a .bat file that copies the tool into this directory and then executes it.  After creating the .bat file, ensure that it is named correctly, create a .zip file of both items, change the .zip extension to .scapp, and then copy it into your ConnectWise Control Toolbox.

Each time this .scapp is executed, it will copy the .exe to the specified location and then execute it, saving a few clicks for the host.

Of course, these are just two basic examples of what can be done with a .scapp Toolbox item but the possibilities are endless. The ability to define .scapp files adds another great entry to the ever-growing arsenal of tools that can be used to remotely support users and machines.

Couple these tools with the ability to execute them directly from the host page (added in 5.4) and the ConnectWise Control Toolbox remains a force to be reckoned with.