Manual software installation is a non-starter for enterprise IT. FlowDrafts ships with a standard MSI package designed for silent, machine-wide deployment via Microsoft Intune or SCCM. This guide outlines the specific command-line flags, registry-based detection rules, and license pre-configuration steps required for a zero-touch rollout to 1,000+ endpoints.
For enterprise IT administrators, "User Interaction" during a software rollout is considered an operational failure. In a modern Endpoint Management environment, the goal is 100% silent execution. Whether you are managing a global law firm or a multi-national investment bank, the deployment of Outlook add-ins must be stable, repeatable, and transparent to the end-user.
FlowDrafts Private was engineered with the Enterprise IT persona in mind. Unlike web-based add-ins that are often managed via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (and subject to varied propagation times), FlowDrafts is a native Win32/VSTO application. This allows IT teams to maintain absolute control over versioning, environment stability, and license distribution using industry-standard tools like Microsoft Intune.
The MSI Standard: Silent and Machine-Wide
The FlowDrafts installer is built on the Inno Setup framework, providing a robust MSI wrapper that supports standard silent installation switches. For a truly "silent" rollout, the /VERYSILENT and /NORESTART flags are mandatory. This ensures that the installation occurs in the background without interrupting the user's current Outlook session or forcing an unscheduled system reboot.
Crucially, the add-in supports Machine-Wide Registration. By installing to the %ProgramFiles% directory and writing to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry hive, the add-in becomes available to all users on the device. This is a critical requirement for firms utilizing Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) or shared workstations in a Citrix or Azure Virtual Desktop environment.
Zero-Touch Install
Utilize standard /VERYSILENT flags for a background rollout that never interrupts the professional's workflow.
Registry Detection
Implement reliable detection rules using the FriendlyName key in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for 100% reporting accuracy.
Pre-Configured Keys
Simplify activation by deploying a license.key file to the install directory, pre-filling the Company Code for users.
Version Control
Adhere to a strict "No Auto-Update" policy, giving IT absolute authority over version testing and deployment cycles.
Configuring Intune Win32 App Deployment
To deploy FlowDrafts via Intune, the .msi or .exe must be wrapped into a .intunewin package using the Microsoft Win32 Content Prep Tool. Once wrapped, the following configuration is recommended for the Intune portal:
- Install Command:
FlowDraftsSetup.exe /VERYSILENT /NORESTART - Uninstall Command:
"%ProgramFiles%\FlowDrafts\unins000.exe" /VERYSILENT /NORESTART - Install Behavior: System (to ensure all users on the machine are registered).
- Detection Rule: Registry-based. Key path:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\FlowDraftsAddIn. Value:FriendlyName.
The Orange Nudge: Managing the Update Lifecycle
FlowDrafts Private respects the Change Management protocols of enterprise environments. We do not perform background updates that could introduce unvetted code into your infrastructure. Instead, the add-in performs a non-intrusive version check every 7 days. If an update is available, a subtle Orange Notification Dot appears on the Ribbon icon. This alerts the user to notify their IT department, ensuring that updates are pulled through sanctioned internal channels rather than pushed by an external service.
Institutional-Grade IT Readiness
In the enterprise, the "Last Mile" of software adoption is always deployment. By providing a standard MSI footprint and robust silent installation capabilities, FlowDrafts ensures that IT teams can scale their Outlook productivity initiatives with 100% reliability. FlowDrafts is the only high-stakes mail merge solution that prioritizes IT Control and Environment Stability as much as user performance.