editing an msi file using orca

[Millsy79]

Hi

I'm trying to make the install of a piece of software more straight forward and so that I can possibly automate the install. The MSI File has a couple of options which I'm struggling to figure out how I can make sure they get pre-selected by editing the file using orca. I was hoping someone on here may have more experience in using orca that might be able to help. I have attached 2 picture to try and help you see what I'm trying to select.

First I'm trying to make the install automatically select Custom. Then I need it to be able to select everything to be installed to local hard drive except for the database manager option.

 

[mavhc]

What happens when you install the MSI in quiet mode?

[Millsy79]

before the screens i have included in the screenshots their are a couple of other options that ask for a server address and port. I have already edited the MSI to include those. So I was hoping that a quiet install would just work and do a complete install instead of the preferred custom install but nothing seems to install at all when using the /quiet or /qn switches. My guess is that it fails at the point it wants to know what type (full install or custom install).

[NegativeKillDeath]

Have you tried using Orca to create a transforms file with your required configuration?

[Millsy79]

thats what I'm trying to do. but i'm struggling to figure out what to edit so that it will auto pick the custom option and then fill in the required options that you can see in the pictures i posted in my first post.

[NegativeKillDeath]

Check the property table for INSTALLERLEVEL and make a note of its value, if it doesn't exist then it will be the default of 1. Next check the Features table, each of the installable features should be present with a value listed in level. If a feature's level is equal or greater than the INSTALLERLEVEL value then it will be installed. Creating the transform file and passing it to the msi will be what lets it know its a custom install and to use the settings in the file.

[Millsy79]

Thanks. The Property table doesnt have INSTALLERLEVEL in it but the feature table had the options in it. the first feature had a level of 1 and the rest had a level of 1000. I changed all but database manager to 1 and now the list is how I would like it. However if I run the quiet install nothing happens so I still don't think is selecting Custom.

[NegativeKillDeath]

Are you testing this from a command prompt? Run the command prompt elevated to see if that makes a difference.

[pete]

You could also (assuming InTune or GPOs apply to the clients) apply the necessary config via GPO post-install.

 

Install one client manually, pull the relevant config file / entries and include them in a "C-AppConfig" GPO.

 

Also means you won't have to faff with the next version of the installer.

[Millsy79]

HI

I hadn't realized that the install relied on accessing a file from a folder in the same location as the msi file. So whilst I've been testing the silent install version of the msi file on a test machine it couldnt access the required file. So all the editing of the msi had worked and when i created the intune app for it with the required files it pushed out without any errors.

 

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.