DWG TrueView 2010 silent install

[Anonymous]

It looks like /q will run setup.exe silently but is there a way to pass commands to the msi or use a transform?

[canadianmade]

Ok, so I modified the MSI as instructed by GTVic. Ran the remote install using my script (minus the directx install) and it worked. I checked the D3D file in the SYSTEM32 folder and it was D3DX9_30.dll but TrueView 2011 still opened and I was able to open a drawing. 

So I'm assuming that TrueView 2011 doesn't actually need the D3DX9_41.dll file? What gives? Why would they require that file for the program to install if it still runs without it?

[canadianmade]

Skatterbrainz - is there any way you could send me that directx msi file you created. I know I can install without it but I would feel a lot better including the files that Autodesk asks for instead of just ignore that part of the install.

Thanks

[Anonymous]

If it were simple to do I would.  But I would have to break some serious rules at work and in this economy I can't afford to risk that.  If you can't afford InstallShield or Wise Package Studio (and who can on their own budget?), there are free/cheap tools for making MSI installer packages like http://www.advancedinstaller.com/  Just follow the process I described on my blog to add the files and run the command (dxsetup /silent) and it should work fine.

[canadianmade]

No Problem, I understand. I'm having a hard time trying to find your post about using Wise. I've downloaded a 30-day trial but I'm at a lost as to how to create the msi package. If you could provide a link to the post I would appreciate it. I tired the link that was posted earlier but I can't find a way to get to the post about using Wise from there?

[GTVic]

Its not just those two files, those are just the ones it checks for and then assumes the others are there as well.

If you try to activate hardware acceleration without the proper DirectX files then TrueView may crash or it may display a dialog and reset back to software rendering the next time you start the application.

DirectX may also be required for certain raster operations such as plotting raster images or gradient fill hatches.

Greg

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@canadianmade wrote:

Ok, so I modified the MSI as instructed by GTVic. Ran the remote install using my script (minus the directx install) and it worked. I checked the D3D file in the SYSTEM32 folder and it was D3DX9_30.dll but TrueView 2011 still opened and I was able to open a drawing. 

So I'm assuming that TrueView 2011 doesn't actually need the D3DX9_41.dll file? What gives? Why would they require that file for the program to install if it still runs without it?

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[Anonymous]

I will post the steps for making a single MSI for the June 2010 DirectX 9.0c library on my blog... http://skatterbrainz.blogspot.com

[GTVic]

Microsoft has also created an API to create your own setup so you can make your own EXE to install the DirectX. If you use NSIS they have created a module that uses this method.

I found some source code to do the same thing and it appears to work. I created a program that can replace DXSETUP.EXE, if you don't specify a /silent parameter it will display a dialog at the end with the result code. You can also specify /test.

I'm not sure if it will be any better than DXSETUP.EXE but you could try it.

[Anonymous]

As promised - http://skatterbrainz.blogspot.com/2010/11/packaging-directx-90c-as-msi.html

[canadianmade]

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!!!!! I can now deploy the application with confidence! This has been a life saver!!!

thanks again!

[GTVic]

When I script the DWGVIEWR.MSI file with silent parameters I always get a popup window asking if I want to close Explorer automatically or choose to reboot when done.

When the package is deployed there will be no one logged in so I think it will not be an issue but is there any way to get rid of this?

[canadianmade]

Not sure if you tried /norestart in your script after the .msi file.

you can get a list of msi commands by typing msiexec at the command line.

[Anonymous]

The other reply to your post is correct (using /norestart) but it also depends on how you "deploy" the package.  Are you using SCCM or SMS?  How are you configuring the package and advertisement?

[canadianmade]

I know I am hijacking this thread but you people have been so helpful that I thought you might take a look at another problem I'm having now!

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/DWG-TrueView/Object-Enabler-remote-install-not-working-on-TrueView2011...

[GTVic]

skatterbrainz,

I don't want to hijack this but the question is related. I was reading your blog on deploying AutoCAD 2010 and it refers to using the main transform with the ACADLP.MSI file.

"You have to invoke the .MST in the parent folder, which is the same one used for the main acad.msi installation"

I have tried running ACADLP.MSI on its own which failed and I am going to try running it with the following MSIEXEC parameters (from appdeploy.com):

INSTALLDIR="c:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2011" ADMIN_INSTALL="YES" LPPARENT="ACAD"

If that doesn't work then I will try the main MST file as you suggested in your blog but I don't understand how that MST could work because it is polluted with all sorts of custom entries for the main ACAD.MSI like custom folders to create and custom files to deploy which are in folders relative to the main ACAD.MSI location. To get around any 256 character limits on the execution line, I am just going to copy that MST to the ACADLP.MSI folder.

Any comments or suggestions?

[Anonymous]

I mention the issue of keeping path names as short as possible in my forthcoming book (soon to be released on Amazon Kindle, shameless plug, ho ho ho).  Yes, with longer path names (UNC) you will hit a limit with this and it's a stupid setup for (you know who) to create.  The MST should be in the same folder as the MSI, that's best-practices stuff.  But they don't build the deployments that way.  I don't want to upset anyone (probably too late, sorry), but that's just how it is.  We ran into this with Altiris and with SCCM deployments where the package failed when it hit the AcadLP+MST statement and blew the 256 char limit.  I have not tried moving the MST but that's definitely worth a try.

[GTVic]

I checked and the main MST provides INSTALLDIR="C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2011\". The other two properties are not included. So I am going to assume that maybe ACADLP.MSI only needs this one parameter and create a custom MST with just that. So that will be my first test.

[GTVic]

I have my AutoCAD 2011 scripted deployment working. Here are the changes I made:

First, you have to use the "-for-GPO.msi" file with the deployment MST file. I ignored GPO.mst because it was in a different folder and had an old date and only set one property ADSK_SETUP_EXE=1.

With the GPO MSI you will properly install the english version 0409 instead of 0000 and then the subscription and service packs will be able to detect that AutoCAD is installed.

For the language pack you need to include a property INSTALLDIR=C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2011\. I also added ADMIN_INSTALL=YES but I don't think that is needed.

The Civil Object Enabler requires the same INSTALLDIR property.

If you want AutoCAD to be able to update the Hardware Graphics Card database xml file for a user without admin rights you have to make the following folder writeable: C:\ProgramData\AutodeskRendering\PTXML.

[Anonymous]

Good stuff!  Thanks for sharing!

[Anonymous]

Hi canandianmade,

This type of problem usually occurs when setup d3dx9_30.dll is missing from your computer. This dll file can be downloaded from here. http://www.d3dx9.net/download-missing-d3dx9_30-dll/

Download it and then extract the downloaded zip file to the Windows System32 folder, which is located in Windows Drive.