Answers file / r & transform problems
Hello
I am trying to create an answers file to record the installation of an application. The app requires a license key during install so I thought I could create an answers file then use this to create a transform file.
I have successfully created a transform file within Orca, this works ok for accepting the license agreement and changing the option for launching the readme file. However I do not know which field to add / change for the license key. I was under the impression the answers file would record me entering the license key and show what the license key would be entered into the transform file as.
To try and record the installation I am using the following command
msiexec.exe /i /r filename.msi
However it does not work - the /r switch is not recognised.
Why am I unable to use the /r switch?
Many thanks in advance for any assistance with this matter.
I am trying to create an answers file to record the installation of an application. The app requires a license key during install so I thought I could create an answers file then use this to create a transform file.
I have successfully created a transform file within Orca, this works ok for accepting the license agreement and changing the option for launching the readme file. However I do not know which field to add / change for the license key. I was under the impression the answers file would record me entering the license key and show what the license key would be entered into the transform file as.
To try and record the installation I am using the following command
msiexec.exe /i /r filename.msi
However it does not work - the /r switch is not recognised.
Why am I unable to use the /r switch?
Many thanks in advance for any assistance with this matter.
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Posted by:
pjgeutjens
13 years ago
Sarah,
sounds to me like you're mixing up 2 types of installers. On the one hand you're trying to create answer files using the -r parameter, which is something linked with InstallShield Setups. On the other hand there's talk of an MSI, which is another type of installer.
If you have an MSI available from the vendor there's no need for an answer file. You should be able to put everything in a transform. Fastest method to determine which property to add to hold your product key, in my experience, is to look through the MSI's dialogs, find the text field in which you would normally enter the product key during a non-silent installation, and note the property to which it is linked. Then you should create this property if it does not exist yet and enter the key in it.
Same goes for the option for the readme file. Find the dialog where you have a checkbox for 'show readme', or something similar, and change this checkbox's default state to false, so it's not ticked.
If you only have Orca available, you'll have a harder time finding the relevant table entries, but look at the Control table for starters.
Hope this helps,
PJ
sounds to me like you're mixing up 2 types of installers. On the one hand you're trying to create answer files using the -r parameter, which is something linked with InstallShield Setups. On the other hand there's talk of an MSI, which is another type of installer.
If you have an MSI available from the vendor there's no need for an answer file. You should be able to put everything in a transform. Fastest method to determine which property to add to hold your product key, in my experience, is to look through the MSI's dialogs, find the text field in which you would normally enter the product key during a non-silent installation, and note the property to which it is linked. Then you should create this property if it does not exist yet and enter the key in it.
Same goes for the option for the readme file. Find the dialog where you have a checkbox for 'show readme', or something similar, and change this checkbox's default state to false, so it's not ticked.
If you only have Orca available, you'll have a harder time finding the relevant table entries, but look at the Control table for starters.
Hope this helps,
PJ
Posted by:
anonymous_9363
13 years ago
That would belie your experience, though, Pieter, wouldn't it? For a newcomer, the fastest way would be to log the install on a sacrificial box or VM (I do hope you're packaging with a VM/VPC/VBox...)
MSIExec /I [path_to_and_name_of_MSI] /L*V [path_to_and_name_of_log_file]Every MSI log features a list of properties and their values at the end. One of them will contain the license key.
Posted by:
pjgeutjens
13 years ago
That would belie your experience, though, Pieter, wouldn't it?
Well, if I'm totally honest, sometimes 'guessing' turns out to be the fasted method... but I can't really advocate that approach now can I? [;)]
Posted by:
marge_simpson
13 years ago
Thanks for all your replies.
As you may have guessed I am pretty new to this.
I opened the MSI in AdminStudio and looked at the Control table - I wasnt aware this was there! Extremely insightful :-)
I have located the properties I needed and added them into a transforms file which works with a silent installation.
Thanks again for all your help
As you may have guessed I am pretty new to this.
I opened the MSI in AdminStudio and looked at the Control table - I wasnt aware this was there! Extremely insightful :-)
I have located the properties I needed and added them into a transforms file which works with a silent installation.
Thanks again for all your help
Posted by:
barryliu
13 years ago
If you have adminstudio, you can use turner and check "create response transform". That is the same as -r or what you were trying to do getting an answer file. In this case, giving you a MST file to install the MSI with.
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