Preparing Installation Kits
To minimize disruption, most installers enable you to install their software without user intervention. This section describes how to create these silent installation kits using the following tools:
The
InstallShield silent install method.
The
Microsoft Setup method, for older software packages, such as Office 97.
Vector AM also supports the Windows Installer (MSI) method for later applications that feature the Certified for Microsoft Windows logo. For detailed information on preparing installation kits for Windows Installer Service packages, refer to the Software Distribution chapter in the Vector Asset Management User Manual.
Other packages may be configurable to support silent installation methods. For more information, refer to the documentation supplied with the software package. If an application does not support a silent install, it may be possible to install it using a separate tool to provide automated responses to the application’s questions. We recommend the WinBatch product from Wilson Windowware.
Preparing Kits for Packages that use InstallShield
To perform a silent InstallShield installation, you must create a response file to record the installation settings you want to use. Some applications provide an example Response file, which can be edited and used for installations. Alternatively, use this procedure to create a response file for each type of installation you want to perform.
To create an InstallShield Response file:
1 Copy the software package to a location that is accessible to all PCs on which you want to install the software.
2 On a PC that is typical of the target group, run the SETUP.EXE of the package with the -R (Record) option. For example, if the package is in the RCP32 directory of the PC’s U: drive, type:
u:\rcp32\setup -r
3 Complete the installation with the responses you want to use to install the package. The responses are recorded in a file called SETUP.ISS, which is saved in the PC’s WINDOWS directory. This file can then be used to provide the installation responses when you install the software on the other PCs.
4 When Setup has finished, copy the response file to the directory from which you started SETUP.EXE.
You can now configure a Package Definition to define how the application must be installed.
Preparing Kits for Microsoft Packages
Earlier version of Microsoft applications, such as Office 97, use a SETUP program to install the software package. This requires you to create an installation kit using the administrative parameter in the Setup command line.
To create a Microsoft Setup Installation kit:
1 Run Setup from the CD using the administrative option. For example, to create an administrative kit, type:
h:\setup /A
2 Follow the Setup instructions to copy the software package to a location that is accessible from the PCs on which you want to install the software, and to configure the kit. You can now configure a Package Definition to define how the application must be installed.
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