App management action workflows

10 min

This section addresses dependent and prerequisite apps and how to manage them.

A "dependent" app is an app / in-house app that has dependencies on one or more app in order to function correctly. In application associations, a dependent app can have only one level of pre-requisite app support. This means a prerequisite app cannot be a dependent app for another app.

A "prerequisite" app is an app that is required to be installed so that the dependent app can fully function.

Overview of the device users' workflow

For Apps@Work users, when a device user taps a (dependent) app to install, the user is informed that prerequisite app(s) are required to be downloaded first. Once the prerequisite app(s) are downloaded, the user can then download the main / dependent app. The user is prompted by tapping Install or Install All prerequisite apps, and then prompted to install the dependent app.

This applies to managed apps, unmanaged apps and in-house apps. For Android devices, the user will need to manually install each of the prerequisite apps before installing the dependent app.

All apps that users download from Apps@Work are considered managed apps. If a prerequisite app, is subsequently removed from a label, in Apps@Work the device user will see a "Not Available" text after the prerequisite app name listed.

Overview of the administrator's workflow

As a convenience to the end user, in Ivanti EPMM, the administrator can associate a prerequisite app to a dependent app. See To associate a prerequisite app to a dependent app: .

The administrator then assigns the dependent app to a label (the prerequisite apps are automatically assigned to the same label.) See To assign a label to a dependent / prerequisite app:.

As long as the administrator has the Enforce this version for Mandatory Apps. check box selected, the device user will download the latest version of that app.

Manage prerequisite app

The Manage Prerequisite App action item is used by administrators and is applicable for iOS, macOS, Android, and Android Enterprise platforms. A prerequisite app could be set to mandatory for the specific label. This ensures that if a user inadvertently removes the app, upon the device's next check in, the app will be pushed to the device.

To associate a prerequisite app to a dependent app:

Once a prerequisite app has been associated, it cannot be defined as a dependent app and vice versa. Unless the association is removed, apps deployed by the Administrator within the last 30 days are displayed in a New Releases section on the Apps@Work home page.

Procedure

Select Apps > App Catalog.

Select the Source and the Platform.

Locate and select the dependent app; only one app of the same platform can be selected.

Select Actions > Manage Prerequisite App.

In the Manage Prerequisite App dialog box, use the search box to quickly find the prerequisite app you want to assign to the dependent app. You can select one or more prerequisite apps. Whatever label that is associated to the dependent app will be applied to the prerequisite app, for example, iOS.

Select the app and then select Apply.

The dependent app now has the prerequisite app associated to it and vice versa. In the App Catalog , this information displays in the App Dependencies column. Hovering over the item in the App Dependencies column displays the application name, source and version number the prerequisite / dependent app is associated to.

The audit logs captures the following information: administrator name, date, action, app names, and app dependencies created.

To make the prerequisite apps a mandatory installation in Apps@Work, see Managing installed iOS and macOS apps. To send installation requests to users of Apps@Work, see Notifying users of new iOS and macOS apps or app updates.

To remove the association of a dependent / prerequisite app:

You can remove the association of prerequisite apps to dependent apps.

Procedure

Select Apps > App Catalog.

Select the Source and the Platform.

Locate and select the dependent app.

Select Actions > Manage Prerequisite App.

In the Manage Prerequisite App dialog box, use the search box to quickly find the prerequisite app you want to remove.

Clear the prerequisite app check box and then select Apply.

In the App Catalog > App Dependencies column, both the prerequisite app and its associated dependent app are not displayed.

The audit logs capture the following information: administrator name, date, action, app names, and app dependencies deleted.

To assign a label to a dependent / prerequisite app:

After associating the prerequisite app to a dependent app, you need to apply a label to the dependent app. Once a dependent app is assigned to a label, prerequisite apps are automatically associated to the same label.

If a prerequisite app is removed from a label, in Apps@Work, device users will see a "Not Available" text after the listed prerequisite app name.

When a master Apple license app is assigned to non-Apple license labels, the prerequisite apps are auto-assigned to those labels. However, if a primary Apple license app is assigned to Apple license labels, auto-assigning to Apple license labels will not occur. Administrators will need to manually apply Apple license prerequisite apps to Apple license labels.

Procedure

Select Apps > App Catalog.

Select the Source and the Platform.

Locate and select the dependent app.

Select Actions > Apply to Label.

In the Apply to Label dialog box, select the prerequisite app and then select Apply.

In the App Catalog > App Dependencies column, both the prerequisite app and its associated dependent app are displayed.

To remove a label from a dependent / prerequisite app:

Procedure

Select Apps > App Catalog.

Select the Source and the Platform.

Locate and select the prerequisite app.

Select Actions > Manage Prerequisite App.

In the Manage Prerequisite App dialog box, use the search box to quickly find the prerequisite app you want to associate.

Clear the app's check box and then select Apply.

In the App Catalog > App Dependencies column, both the prerequisite app and its associated dependent app are not displayed.

If the prerequisite app is removed from the label without removing the association, then device users will see a "Not Available" text after the listed prerequisite app name.

The audit logs capture the following information: administrator name, date, action, app names, and app dependencies deleted.

For detailed instructions on working with apps for each platform, see:

Managing apps for iOS and macOS

Managing mobile apps for Android

Managing apps on Windows devices.

Ivanti EPMM does not support viewing device information for apps installed on MAM-only iOS devices.