Answer file

[phpbb9]

Hi,

I am new user of advanced installer,
I converted an exe package to an msi, I need to automate this package and make a silent installation without any interaction from the user.
When you run this package in the normal mode you will need to input some parameters and accept conditions.
How can I automated this and include all the answers and parameteres within the package?

Thank you

[Daniel]

Hello and welcome to Advanced Installer forums,

Thank you for your interest in Advanced Installer.

In order to obtain what you want you can run your installation package from command line using /qn parameters, which will start the installation in silent mode. Also, if you want to set some installation parameters, then you can use public properties in your project which can be set from command line when launch main installation package. Please take a look on our "Msiexec command line" article.

All the best,
Daniel

[phpbb9]

Hi Daniel,
Thank you for your reply,

The parameteres that I need to specify are not public or common,
for example.. one of the steps of the setup wizard require me to enter the local host name and the the IP address of the server.

I am looking for a way similar to the full capturing wizard in AI to automate this process.

Appreciate your help

[Daniel]

Hello,

If you have an MSI file then you can use our "Transform Wizard" to save the executed user interface elements of an installation. So, from toolbar "Home" tab use [Create Transform] button to start the transform wizard. Then, choose "Response transform. Executes the user interface elements of the installation and saves the responses in a transform file." option. Also, please keep in mind that our "Windows Installer MST transforms" feature is available only in an Enterprise or higher project type.

After you have created the transform file you can apply it to your MSI installation package from command line. In order to apply a transform to a MSI package through the command line you can use a command line like this:

Code: Select all

msiexec.exe /i package.msi TRANSFORMS=transform.mst

All the best,
Daniel

[phpbb9]

Thank you Daniel,

I guess this is exactly what I need, but can you please explain the way to include the answer file into the msi package so I don't need to specify any commands, I need to just run the msi and it will do the rest.


Thanks again

[phpbb9]

Hi again,

I tried to use the transform wizard but it didn't work as I need, let me explain my scenario:

I have an exe package with other related dlls files in the same directory, the setup wizard will ask the user for some parameters
I used the advanced installer to convert the exe to msi package.
When I run the msi, after two clicks on next, the original exe setup start and it asks about teh required parameters.

I need the answer (mst) file to include all the these parameters
Is it possible to do that? how?

[Daniel]

Hello,

but can you please explain the way to include the answer file into the msi package so I don't need to specify any commands

You cannot achieve this. Please keep in mind that a MST file is designed to be embedded in a MSI only at install time and you can do that from command line.

I need the answer (mst) file to include all the these parameters
Is it possible to do that? how?

I'm afraid that if you have an exe file which is launch from your msi, then the MST file will contain only the changes related to the MSI. In order to apply a MST to your EXE file you should transform the EXE in a MSI package installation. You could achieve this using our Repackager tool.

Please keep in mind that the import features in Advanced Installer (the Repackager, the Import MSI feature etc.) are intended to be used to get a starting point for your installation package, not to completely reproduce other installation packages. The Repackager tool captures only the effects of the installation (the changes made on the system). If the original installation package executes custom code (programs, scripts etc.) then only the effect will be captured (registry entries, files and folders etc.). Also, after repackaging an installation some adjustments may be necessary in order to obtain a working installation package.

All the best,
Daniel

[phpbb9]

Thank you Daniel for you reply,
I tried the repackaging wizard but the result msi didn't work corrcetly.

Any other suggestions?
I really appreciate your help

[Daniel]

Hello,

If the related parameters required by your EXE package can be set from command line, then you can add the EXE package as a prerequisite to your main installation package. Then, you can set the related parameters in the "Install Command Lines" fields from "Prerequisites" -> "Setup Files" tab.

All the best,
Daniel