Create Software Update Group Tool console extension for ConfigMgr

A few weeks ago I released a PowerShell script that would allow administrators to easily create a Software Update Group containing Software Updates defined between a specified date. This is a functionality that I’ve over the years always used the Search node for, but have thought about turning into a script. With the script released, I started working on a graphical interface for it, better known as a GUI. As of today, I’m please to say that I’m releasing the Create Software Update Group Tool 1.0.0 to the community.

About the console extension

This tool will allow for administrators to quickly and easily create a Software Update Group containing Software Updates determined by a set of Products and Classifications within a specific time span. In order for the tool to function properly, a name with a length of at least 1 character is required, in addition to at least a single Product and Classification. A time span, with a start date default set to 1st of January of the current year and an end date set default to the 31st of December of the current year, is required. The start date of the time span is now allowed to be greater than or equal to the same value as for the end date. By default, the tool will exclude superseded and expired updates, however if wanted, this can be overruled by checking the corresponding check boxes.

Download the console extension

You can download the console extension from the TechNet Gallery.

Install the console extension

There are two ways that you can install this console extension, either by running the Invoke-ToolInstallation.ps1 script that comes in the package, or by manually copying the content to it’s designated location and editing the XML file.

Automated installation

1. Download the zip-file from the TechNet Gallery and unpack it to e.g. C:\Temp\CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup. You should now have the following files in C:\Temp\CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup:

• CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup.xml
• Invoke-ToolInstallation.ps1
• New-CMSoftwareUpdateGroupTool_1.0.0.ps1

2. Close the ConfigMgr console, open an elevated PowerShell console and run the following command to install the tool (Path parameter should point to a location where the script file will be stored, and the SiteServer parameter should be the name of the site server, e.g. a Primary Site server):

.\Invoke-ToolInstallation.ps1 -SiteServer CM01 -Method Install -Path C:\Scripts -Verbose

3. Re-launch the ConfigMgr console.

Manual installation

1. Download the zip-file from the TechNet Gallery and unpack it to e.g. C:\Temp\CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup. You should now have the following files in C:\Temp\CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup:

• CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup.xml
• Invoke-ToolInstallation.ps1
• New-CMSoftwareUpdateGroupTool_1.0.0.ps1

2. Close the ConfigMgr console and copy New-CMSoftwareUpdateGroupTool_1.0.0.ps1 from C:\Temp\CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup to e.g. C:\Scripts (it’s important that you place it in a non-temporary location, since the CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup.xml file will point to this location for referencing the script).
3. Edit the CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup.xml file on the lines that starts with <Parameters>, amend the parts specified in brackets (#), e.g. from:
-executionpolicy bypass -file #PATH# -SiteServer #SERVER# -ShowProgress -Verbose
to the following:
-executionpolicy bypass -file “C:\Scripts\New-CMSoftwareUpdateGroupTool_1.0.0.ps1” -SiteServer CM01
4. Go to <ConfigMgr console root directory>\XmlStorage\Extensions\Actions. You can get the path by running a PowerShell console and typing:

$env:SMS_ADMIN_UI_PATH

5. Create a directory in the Actions folder called:

• 23e7a3fe-b0f0-4b24-813a-dc425239f9a2

6. Copy the CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup.xml file from C:\Temp\CreateSoftwareUpdateGroup to the directory recently created.
7. Re-launch the ConfigMgr console.