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Activation-less Microsoft Office Workloads

Introduction and Benefits

Requirements

Showcase

Workload Details

Optional Close Workloads

Deployment and Configuration

Introduction and Benefits

These activation-less Office workloads let you run basic Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook tests on desktops without an activated license. You’ll gain read-only interactions, smooth scrolling, full-document PDF printing, and time measurements for both application startup and each PDF print operation.

By simulating these limited yet realistic interactions, you can:

  • Validate environments in license-restricted or audit-only workspaces
  • Maintain consistent coverage without requiring Office activation
  • Generate user-like load through document viewing, navigation, and PDF printing
  • Right-size and configure Office installs and base images under realistic usage
  • Catch regressions early by integrating these workloads into continuous performance monitoring

The download files for the workload are attached at the bottom of this page.

Requirements

  • Microsoft Office is installed on the desktops-under-test (VM, cloud, SBC, hybrid, laptop, or desktop)
  • The Microsoft Print to PDF printer needs to be set as the default printer

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Showcase

Watch our Activation-less Office Workloads in action - from launch through smooth scrolling and full-document PDF printing in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook running on unlicensed desktops. See how easy it is to validate environments and generate a real user-like load without activating Office.

Workload Details

Set Default Printer

Ensure Microsoft Print to PDF is your default printer by adding the Set Default Printer workload to your Office Activation‑less Application Group.

  • Place it first in the group.
  • Configure it to Run Once and Leave Application Running.

Outlook

Outlook Start

  • Imports a predefined PRF and mailbox configuration.
  • Launches Outlook, dismisses the activation dialog, and records a startup time measurement.

Outlook Run

Scrolls in the inbox, opens a predefined email, scrolls within it, and prints the message to PDF, timing the print operation.

Excel

Excel Start

Opens Excel with a predefined workbook, dismisses the activation dialog, and records a startup time measurement.

Excel Run

Scrolls through the sheet, then prints the file to PDF, timing the print.

Word

Word Start

Opens Word with a predefined document, dismisses the activation dialog, and records a startup time measurement.

Word Run

Scrolls through the document, then prints the file to PDF, timing the print.

PowerPoint

PowerPoint Start

Opens PowerPoint with a predefined slide deck, dismisses the activation dialog, and records a startup time measurement.

PowerPoint Run

Views the slide deck, then prints the file PDF, timing the print.

Loop Behavior: After the last configured Run, the sequence will repeat from the first Run if:

  1. The Test is configured to loop or is a Load Test, and
  2. There’s enough time remaining to complete a full new loop.

Optional Close Workloads

  • Outlook Close, Excel Close, Word Close, PowerPoint Close
  • Features: Gracefully shut down each application.
  • Use Case: Include them at the end of your Application Group if you want apps closed between test loops for a fresh start.

Deployment and Configuration

  1. Upload Workloads to Appliance
    1. Consult Uploading scripts.
  2. Create Application Group
    1. In Login Enterprise, create an Application Group (e.g., Office Activation-less). For details, see Application Groups.
  3. Add workloads in the desired sequence, such as:

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    1. Note that the Run Once and Leave Application Running for the Start workloads should be enabled if the Close workloads aren’t used; this is so the apps can concurrently run without closing in between test loops
    2. You can reorder steps, interleave other workloads (e.g., Edge), or insert Close scripts anywhere in the Application Group to suit your testing needs. Close scripts will only close an application if that application is running at the time. Such as:
  2. Frame 1123.png
  3.  
  4. Add to Load Test
      1. See Adding Applications to a Load Test. 
        1. Note: this workload group can also be used in Application and Continuous testing scenarios
  5. Configure and Run
    1. Launch your Test to capture: EUX and VSImax scoring, Session metrics, Application performance and thresholds notifications, user logon and latency measurements.
    2. Ensure all relevant measurements are enabled for comprehensive results.