MDT 2010 Easy Deployment Wizard Sorting (Alphabetically)

Deployment Wizard Sorting in action. Note that this works in other parts of deployments as well.

Updates

(3/11/2011) Updated a miscount in the code which would not add a single item in a folder.

Preface

So I thought I was done with messing around with MDT, packed my stuff, decided to give LiteTouch one last run through. Hm, I feel like installing Adobe Reader, let me just go to the A’s and –GASP! There has been no sorting all this time?!  There must be a built in way… Either I suck at finding this option, or it just simply doesn’t exist 🙁

Other Utilities

There are currently a couple of fixes that I’ve seen by a few helpful fellows.

First there is a helpful powershell script by Michael Niehaus which can be run that sorts everything out, however I really wanted something I could put in, and forget about completely. I believe the  script removes, then re-adds, the items. This works because MDT 2010 lists in order of how they were added. I don’t fully understand the script so I can’t say much about specifics, he does list the limitations and warnings at the lower end of the post.

A second useful utility you should definitely check into as well is one created by XTREME Consulting Group, Inc. Not to my tastes however. Do note that it does give more flexibility by letting you order however you’d like. Regardless, I am in search of an even simpler approach. It looks like it works on the same principal as the script above. Again, a great utility and may be better for your tastes so definitely take a look into it.

MDT Code Enhancement

Instead of modifying any data, I decided to tackle this through modifying a single function within MDT’s VBscript code. This would make it much more dynamic: I’d adjust code in one spot that seemed easiest, get it working, and save it. No need to do anything after that, no re-sorting after adding more applications. Fire and forget. The downside is that the sorting code gets run each time on the client, however, its just mild vbscript with moderate degree of looping. Worth the bit of extra second or two of overhead in processing IMO :). Sorting will only take place within the Wizard. While it does not sort the MDT toolbox, I just use column sorting if I’m ever looking for a specific item. The only pain is that you have to click the column when you need sorting; Something I can live with. Below is how you can implement my addition into your code.

1. Navigate to your deployment share and open ZTIConfigFile.vbs within the Scripts folder for editing
2. Find Private Function BuildHTML_Folder in the code. Directly above it, add the following code. Click HERE for formatted plaintext code.

   function GetArrayItemName(oItem)
   	Dim sSortName
   	sSortName = ""
   
   	If not oItem.SelectSingleNode("./DisplayName") is nothing then
   		sSortName = oItem.SelectSingleNode("./DisplayName").Text
   	End if
   	If sSortName = "" then
   		sSortName = EncodeXML(oUtility.SelectSingleNodeString(oItem,"./Name"))
   	End if
   
   	GetArrayItemName = sSortName
   end function
   
   Function SortDictionary(objDict)
       Dim strDict()
       Dim objKey
       Dim strKey,strItem
       Dim X,Y,Z
       Z = objDict.Count
       Const dictKey  = 1
       Const dictItem = 2
   
       'Ensure there is at least two items before continuing
       If Z > 1 Then
         'Create array, each item has the dictionary key and object temporarily
         ReDim strDict(Z-1,2)
         X = 0
   
         For Each objKey In objDict.Keys
             strDict(X,dictKey)  = objKey
             set strDict(X,dictItem) = objDict.Item(objKey)
             X = X + 1
         Next
   
   	'X = 0 (outer for)
   	'Y = X (inner for)
   	'Z = Count
   
         For X = 0 to (Z - 2)
           For Y = X to (Z - 1)
   
             If StrComp(GetArrayItemName(strDict(X,2)), GetArrayItemName(strDict(Y,2)),vbTextCompare) > 0 Then
                 strKey  = strDict(X,dictKey)
                 set strItem = strDict(X,dictItem)
   
                 strDict(X,dictKey)  = strDict(Y,dictKey)
                 Set strDict(X,dictItem) = strDict(Y,dictItem)
   
                 strDict(Y,dictKey)  = strKey
                 Set strDict(Y,dictItem) = strItem
             End If
           Next
         Next
   
         SortDictionary = strDict
       Else
   	ReDim strDict(0,2)
   
   	'Just fill in single one
   	 For Each objKey In objDict.Keys
             	strDict(0,dictKey)  = objKey
             	set strDict(0,dictItem) = objDict.Item(objKey)
            Next
   
   	SortDictionary = strDict
       End If
   
     End Function

3. Find comment ‘ Construct Child Elements and erase the for … next  code (3 lines) completely. This code can also can be seen HERE in formatted plain text.  The new logic:

   Dim dFolder, count
   dFolder = SortDictionary(FindItemsByFolder(oFolder))
   if dFolder(0, 1) <> Empty Then
   	for count = 0 to UBound(dFolder)
   		BuildHTML_Folder = BuildHTML_Folder & BuildHTML_Element ( oFolder, dFolder(count,2) )
   	next
   End If

4. Save it, you’re set!

Current code is LARGELY untested at this time. Please report any bugs! Folders are not sorted, however if there is demand for this I’m sure I can clear that up as well.