SCCM Folders and Collections

1 What is needed

Three folders, one for each kind of deployment.

Folder	It holds
A user folder named Software Distribution	Collections used for deploying applications to users.
A device folder named Software Distribution	Collections used for deploying applications to devices.
A device folder named Software Distribution Packages	Collections used for deploying packages to devices.

You can let SoftwareCentral create the three folders, create them manually in Configuration Manager, or use your existing folders. Open Settings and select SCCM Folders and Collections (in the SCCM group). If you have several sites, choose the site in the Select site box at the top first; the page shows the folders and collections of that site.

The SCCM Folders and Collections page: Create default structure, Create collection and Create folder on the left, the SCCM root collection tree with All Systems selected in the middle and Save on the right — Settings › SCCM Folders and Collections, with **SCCM root collection** open and **All Systems** selected.

2 Create the folders

Click Create default structure on the left.

A Warning! dialog tells you that three default folders will be created if they do not exist. Confirm it and SoftwareCentral creates the three folders described above at the top level of the site. A folder is only created when no folder of that name and kind exists on the site, so running it again is harmless.

Not saved yet Create default structure only creates the folders. You must still select them in the five settings below and click Save.

3 The five root settings

The middle of the page has five panels, one open at a time. Expand the folders in the tree and click the folder or collection to use.

The five root panels: SCCM root collection (open), SCCM root user collection, Package root folder, Application Distribution Devices and Application Distribution Users — The five panels. One is open at a time; click a header to open another.

Panel	You select	What it is and what to choose
SCCM root collection	A device collection	The root device collection. In early versions of the SCCM this was known as the “COLLROOT” collection. Select All Systems.
SCCM root user collection	A user collection	The root user collection. Select All Users.
Package root folder	A device folder	Select the folder created earlier called Software Distribution Packages.
Application Distribution Devices	A device folder	The folder where the application install and uninstall device collections are created. Select the folder Software Distribution created before.
Application Distribution Users	A user folder	The folder where the application install and uninstall user collections are created. Select the user folder Software Distribution created before.

When you are done, click Save on the right (the box is headed Save SCCM collection settings). A panel where you select nothing keeps the value that is already stored.

Collection or folder The two root collection panels need a collection. If you pick a folder there, the page answers Root collection can't be a folder and nothing is saved.

4 Create collection and Create folder

The two buttons under Create default structure open a window to add something to Configuration Manager without leaving SoftwareCentral.

In the window	What to do
Enter collection name / Enter folder name	The name. It must not already exist on the site, otherwise you get Name already exist on site followed by the site code. An empty name gives Name is missing.
Select collection type / Select folder type	Device or user.
Select a parent folder	Where to place it. A new collection must go inside a folder; a new folder can also go at the top level.

The Create Collection window: Enter collection name, Select collection type Device or User, a parent folder tree, and Save and Cancel buttons — **Create collection**: name, type and the folder to put it in. **Save** becomes available when a name is entered.

The Create Folder window: Enter folder name, Select folder type Device or User, a parent folder tree, and Save and Cancel buttons — **Create folder**: the same window without the collections in the tree.

A collection created here gets the comment Created in SoftwareCentral.

5 Best practice

Do	Why
Start with Create default structure	The names are the ones the rest of the documentation uses, and the dialog creates only what is missing.
Configure the folders on the central site	Use the same site every time, so everyone sees the same structure. The central site is shown unless your role has a site of its own.
Select the root collections All Systems and All Users	The root settings define what SoftwareCentral can reach; a narrower collection hides devices and users from the portal.
Do not delete, or recreate under a new name, a folder you have saved	The settings remember the folder or collection, so a deleted one leaves the setting pointing at nothing. Select it again and save.
Keep device and user folders apart	A device folder cannot be used where a user folder is expected, and the panels only show the right kind.
Give the SoftwareCentral account the folder and collection rights it needs	Creating folders and collections is done with that account. See Preparing the SCCM.

6 Troubleshooting

You see	Check
A tree is empty or a folder is missing	The wrong site is selected, or the folder was created in Configuration Manager after the page was opened. Reload the page.
Root collection can't be a folder	Choose a collection, not a folder, under SCCM root collection and SCCM root user collection.
Name already exist on site	Choose another name; names are checked across the whole site.
The settings are back to the old values	You did not click Save; Create default structure does not save.