Assigning Office to users Assigning Office to users allows you to take greater advantage of IntelliMirror management features. This method ensures that users have access to the same Office configuration no matter where they are or which computer they use. Their Office installation is based on Group Policy and not fixed by their location. When you assign Office to users, information about the software is advertised on users computers in the Windows registry and on the Start menu or Desktop the next time the user logs on. When the user clicks an Office application shortcut or opens an Office document, Windows Installer retrieves the package from the administrative installation point, installs the application on the user s computer, and starts the application.
Applications assigned to users are also resilient.
If a user removes an assigned Office application from the computer, Windows automatically restores the registry information and Windows Installer shortcut the next time the user logs on. Supporting roaming users In many organizations, users with unique job responsibilities roam from one computer to another. If you assign Office to users in this scenario, their Office configuration is available to them wherever they log on. Individual Office applications and features are not actually installed until the user activates them by clicking a shortcut or opening a file. Because these users typically have consistent, high-speed network connections, the installation process takes little time.