Install Express Tools from Windows Command Prompt

[Todd_Rogers]

Does anyone know, or if it's even an option, to install the Express tools via the Windows command prompt?

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Todd_Rogers 

Looking at the setup.ini file for the installation, it looks like files are just copied and no "true" installation takes place.   But I can't say 100% if that's the case.

[Todd_Rogers]

@Jeff_M @redtransitconsultants @rkmcswain any clue about this?

[stevenh0616]

@Todd_Rogers ,

I've always gone through the installation add features, but as @Mark.Lancaster pointed out, I believe you can just copy the installation directory from another computer to the new computer. Then open AutoCAD and go to Options Support file paths and add the Express tools directory in there.

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020\Express

I assume that will fire it up automatically on restart, but I've never tested.

[rkmcswain]

No idea, but I can't imagine it requires "installing". It's just some lsp/arx/fas/dll/dcl files (and a few more) and a support file path added.

So probably something like this @Todd_Rogers 

xcopy "\path\express\*.*" "C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2021\Express" /E /F

[stevenh0616]

@Todd_Rogers 

Thinking about this a bit more, there are some parts of express tools that are added to the startup loaded applications, so these are likely registered for AutoCAD to load them up. It's more than just a copy and setting the Options support path.

I looked in the registry for registered applications on AutoCAD and express tools is not there. So next I went into the Support directory to look at the acad2020.lsp and could not find anything there.

Next I ran the 'ol ACADINFO command from the command line and that put out a text file telling me more about the installation. I found the following in that report.

This led me to check the acad2020doc.lsp file which is different for each language so it's under

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020\Support\en-us

There was nothing in that file for express tools that I could find.

However, while looking in that directory, I did find the 'acetmain.mnl' file is in there. This adds the pop menu (old style menus) to the software.

So, back to your question, adding express tools to a computer via the windows command prompt... I still think that copy the directory (but now include the ..."Support/en-Us" or another language), and then adding the support paths, it should load up. I do not know of a way to add the support paths using windows command prompt though - I would guess you'd have to edit the registry profile to add that to it, and still usually will require closing/reopening a couple times to get AutoCAD to read it... I think.

[GunnarNilsson]

The value of ACAD variable in the profile can be exported with Reg.exe . Then the path to Express can be added to the string in the exported file. After that the modified file is imported with Reg.exe.

[Todd_Rogers]

Thanks Steve. Will test and update you.

[stevenh0616]

Hi @GunnarNilsson, yes I'm aware that we can export/import the value of a variable with reg.exe. The issue here is where is that variable and what is it. We were trying to determine exactly how Express Tools loads up to add to a computer that did not have it installed, without effecting other profile settings. We would not want to just export the whole registry profile and apply to another computer.

[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

i'm the guy behind this particular request...but unfortunately..after doing what you proposed...i'm still stuck into the express tool..

Here what i did :

• Install autocad 2020 manually with language fr-fr and checked the express tools in the gui on a computer A
• Validate the express tools is loaded on the computer A
• Install autocad 2020 on computer B, with these type of command :
  • $(Repository)\Autodesk\Autocad\2020\AutoCAD_2020_French_Win_64bit_dlm\setup.exe /t /W /qb /language fr-fr /c ACAD: ACADSTANDALONENETWORKTYPE="3" ACADLICENSESERVERTYPE="Redundant Server License" ACADLICENSETYPE="Network License" ACADSERVERPATH="XXX@XXX;XXX@XXX,XXX@XXX"
  • The installation work perfectly and licencen are okay also, only express tool is missing
• The folder Express is there with all file in C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2020\Express
• The support file path are there also there 
• I try the suggestion to copy the express folder and support/fr-fr from computer A where express tools is installed and working to computer B where is missing, but even after i type EXPRESSTOOLS OR EXPRESSMENU in the command inside autocad....
• If i go to the add/remove program i'm still seeing the express tools is not installed also..
• I also check the file acad2020.lsp...and the copied version from computer A contains string for express menu...but even after i copied the support/fr-fr folder nothing loaded...

Any other tought on that ?

[m_latz]

I'm not sure if I understand the problem correct, so just a few questions:

You have created a deployment ?

And there you have the option to install/activate the Express Tools, but you have not activated the option and you want to install now without modifying the deployment ?

regards

Markus

[Todd_Rogers]

He is installing from the Windows command prompt. NOT a deployment.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

You have created a deployment ?

No we didn't create a deployment. We are aware of this possibility, but try to install with a windows command line directly, to avoid create 3-4 time the same deployment but with only a few difference like country,serial key,EULA...etc) that take disk space on our infrastructure.

Our goal is to use only command line to install...and that work 98 %...the only thing we are missing...is the express tools....As we have around 400 computers to install autocad 2020, we want to automate as much as possible and avoid to ask the user to do manual stuff..

Here the command : $(Repository)\Autodesk\Autocad\2020\AutoCAD_2020_French_Win_64bit_dlm\setup.exe /t /W /qb /language fr-fr /c ACAD: ACADSTANDALONENETWORKTYPE="3" ACADLICENSESERVERTYPE="Redundant Server License" ACADLICENSETYPE="Network License" ACADSERVERPATH="XXXX@XXX;XXX@XXX;XXX@XXX"

where repository is replaced by a namespace value.....and XXX@XXX by our redundant licence server name and ports.

[m_latz]

Aah, okay I understand now.

Express Tools is part of the acad.msi file and has it own feature "Root\Express_Tools". What you can do is enable this feature through windows installer properties or through a transformation which you have to add to your installation files.

I would prefer the "transformation solution", but if you do not want to include an additional file it is also possible to pass properties to the acad.msi file (theory, sometimes the setup.exe does not pass all propertiesto a msi, so I have to test).

regards

Markus

[Anonymous]

Hi,

i know you probably have to it before..but let's me know how can i add it to my current command line...or what i need to modified into the setup file or config files..I think that if we only need to add or modify one file...so when i trigger it by command line..the express tools is correctly installed...that won't be a big deal...that will avoid manual step for the end user

[m_latz]

The easiest is if I create a transformation for the acad.msi, where I set the InstallLevel for the ExpressTools to 3. This is also done, if you create a deployment.

Then you have to copy the "acad-et.mst" to the same location were the acad.msi is located. And add the info about the mst file to the setup.ini file.

If this is okay for you, I prepare that and upload it here with an example.

To verify the mst file you can use the orca editor.

regards

Markus

[Anonymous]

Hi,

if those correction is needed just one time into the autocad source folder stuff...yess i'm okay with that.

I have no problem that IT person make some adjustment into the package folder before using it to deploy to all computers....to will avoid end user to do any action.

Give me all details and operation to do..and i will try it for sure. 

As we probably gonna have to repeat the same operation every each year or new cad version...is there any part i can't do on my own ? 

If i have all step...i will be able to repeat it next year and so on...

Thank in advance for all your help..

[m_latz]

Good Morning David,

all modifications can you do also.

I prepare that, test it (theory and pratice) and try to explain so that you can do this yourself in the future.

regards

Markus

[m_latz · Accepted solution]

Hello @Anonymous 

here is a quick video how to create the two transformations for the acad.msi and AcadPS.msi MSI packages. I thought that there is only one package to modify, but after testing I saw, that we have also to modify the language specific file AcadPS.msi.

If you do not have a MSI editor I recommend Orca, because it is from a trusted source (Microsoft), but you can use also any other MSI editor.

Here is a link where you can download the msi45sdk.msi. You have to install, then you can install the orca.msi.

I think it is also possible to open with 7Zip and extract, but never tried.

I hope with my short video you can create the modifications, that are necessary. If not let me know, then I post the transformations here.

And if you ask, why not modifying directly the MSI ? Normally Autodesk signs the MSI files and if you modify, the signature is broken. And in general it is a copyright thing.

regards

Markus

[m_latz · Accepted solution]

And here are also the the two transformation. They are language independent, so you can use also for other languages than French. But I tested with German and French.

regards

Markus