Software Deployment

Normally, in a corporate environment, one would create an Administrative Installation Point (msiexec /a [whatever.msi]...) then patch that. If you didn't do that - and it sounds like you didn't - you need to patch each client that's received the deployment.

Thank you I will try msiexec /a and make an AIP.

Will that also make a transform?

Will that also make a transform? Nope. You'll need the appropriate customisation tool from Adobe.

What Would this be?, I checked the Adobe site to no avail


ORIGINAL: VBScab

Will that also make a transform? Nope. You'll need the appropriate customisation tool from Adobe.

Ian's talking about the Customization wizard - http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/detail.jsp?ftpID=3993.

But I'm not sure there is one for the CS3 products, see this post

http://itninja.com/question/faulttree-100044

Isn't that customization wizard only for Acrobat?, it will not work for after effects?

Ok

I did an AIP of Adobe After effects CS3,

by running the following command on each of the msi located in the payload folder point them to the z:\aip folder

for example

msiexec /a "c:\Adobe After Effects CS3\After effects\Adobe CS 3\Payloads\AdobeAftereffects8All\AdobeAftereffects8All.msi" Targetdir=z:\Aip
msiexec /a "c:\Adobe After Effects CS3\After Effects\Adobe CS3\payloads\AdobeAfterEffects8PresetsAll\AdobeAfterEffects8PresetsAll.msi" TargetDir=z:\aip

and so on for all the msi's in the payloads folder

the contents of the aip directory after the setup has been run is roughly 1.5 gig

How do I patch the AIP with all the updates Adobe After effects needs once it has been deployed?

Any assistance would greatly be appreciated as I am desperately trying my best to learn the ways of deployment.

Nine hours after your post...in the nicest possible way (because you're clearly not one of those numpties who expect to be spoon-fed every step of the way) you may find Google useful in those dead hours.

msiexec /p [path\name of update MSP file] /a [path\name of MSI file] /qb /L*v [path\name of log file]

Thank you but I have never did an AIP before, hence all my questions. I have googled a lot even if it doesn't look like it. My AIP has a bunch of MSI'S and when I try to run anyone of them it says please use the setup.exe.

An old chesnut. Try setting a property ISSETUPDRIVEN to '1', either on the command line or in a transform.

I have googled a lot even if it doesn't look like it

I'm pretty sure Ian was actually serious when he said the google advice was meant in the nicest possible way [:D]
You look like you're well on your way there. Adobe installers can be notoriously obscure, and the patching can be particularly 'fun'


PJ

I have another question. Did I do the right thing running all the msi's the payload folders and pointing them to a folder called z:\aip to create an Administrative Install Point?

Is that the correct way to create an AIP?

Your original command lines showed you using drive Z: whereas here you show drive C:. An AIP should be hosted on a network share to which all your users have read access, not on a local hard drive.

As ever, MSDN will have a raft of information for you to browse, including everything you need to know about AIPs. Note, however, that the counsel there is to NOT patch AIPs but individual clients. From memory, this advice is based on the premise that most networks are slow (!) and unreliable. Quite how that situation would be different with copying files locally for execution isn't made clear. In practice, you'll find that most shops patch AIPs.

I meant z:\aip not c:\aip it was a typo.

Long day.

Also I tried ISSETUPDRIVEN=1 in the command line

so for example
msiexec /i z:\Aip\AdobeAftereffects8All\AdobeAftereffects8All.msi issetupdriven=1 it still complains it has to be run from the setup

I assume I have to run all the msi's in my AIP from a batch file to install the entire adobe after effects package. Is this correct?

I will check msdn for info on AIP's as a desperate to understand all this. I haven't gotten to the patching process yet.

Thank you for all your advice.

msiexec /i z:\Aip\AdobeAftereffects8All\AdobeAftereffects8All.msi issetupdriven=1
is that another typo, ISSETUPDRIVEN has to be in uppercase it's a public property. You may also need to remove a custom action I think it's onsilentinstall

I assume I have to run all the msi's in my AIP from a batch file to install the entire adobe after effects package. Is this correct? Sorry, Rob, I don't have a clue as I've not come across this package at any of my clients but I guess so.

Thank you will give it a shot with uppercase ISSETUPDRIVEN, if it works I will begin my patching adventures. Thanks for your advice.

Thank you timmsie

I tried ISSETUPDRIVEN=1 in uppercase and it still complains up wanted to install with the setup.exe

When you say remove a custom action you mean with a tool like orca? is onsilentinstall a field in the msi?


ORIGINAL: timmsie

msiexec /i z:\Aip\AdobeAftereffects8All\AdobeAftereffects8All.msi issetupdriven=1
is that another typo, ISSETUPDRIVEN has to be in uppercase it's a public property. You may also need to remove a custom action I think it's onsilentinstall

you mean with a tool like orca?Yes but do NOT directly edit the MSI. Rather, create a transform by opening the MSI, making your change - and I recommend applying an impossible-to-meet condition on the CA rather than removing it - and then saving the change to a transform. Then you specify that transform in your command line using the TRANSFORMS property.

I'd suggest checking to see whether or not there are any other changes you'd like first. I'll bet there's a EULA which needs to be accepted at application start-up, for example. That acceptance probably gets recorded in the registry so, if you include that in the transform, you'll avoid annoying your end users.

I opened up the msi in orca, man there is a lot of info.

Excuse my sheer ignorance and newbie-ness I did a search from within Orca for ISSETUPDRIVEN it did not find any such field, also did a search for onsilentinstall also no such field either.

I know someone will point out my glaring failure.

You need to add the property to the Property table. Once you've done that, use the 'Transform/Generate Transform' menu to create the transform.

is this correct? I mean is it in the right place? When I try to create the transform it says there has been no change.

Then it would seem that the original MSI contains that property. Are you sure that what you have is as supplied by Adobe? I can't imagine that that property would be there if that was the case.

I guess you cannot do an Administrative install point with Adobe After Effects cs3. What I did to back track a bit.

1. I ran all the msi's located in the payload folder using the msiexec /a command pointing them to a share called z:\aip

2. this created a bunch of msi's in the z:\aip folder, along with a windows folder and program files folder

3. Since this my first attempted at an Administrative install point, my assumption was I had to run all the msi's located in the z:\aip to successfully install Adobe After effects?

4. Every time I try to run any one of the msi's located in the z:\aip folder I get use the setup.exe

Which leads me to think that an Administrative install point is not possible with Adobe After Effects cs3. Could I be wrong?

This scenario highlights the value of using proper tools.

If you had Wise or InstallShield, you would be able to step through the installation actions one by one and thus be able to identify the one which is trapping the non-use of the set-up stub. (Did you try Kim's advice and look for the Custom Action mentioned?). BTW, [hint]both vendors allow 30 days trials of their software...[/hint]

I'll download a trial of installshield, I may need help with the step by step through procedure your speaking off. I never used the installsheild package. Also I did not did the custom action advice as I had no idea of what to look for. With that said I am learning more than I thought I would from trying to accomplish something I thought would be easy. So thank you all for your advice and expertise I do appreciate it.

From Adobe

http://forums.adobe.com/message/3642755#3642755

I guess an AIP is not possible with CS3 including after effects.