This Technote explains how to silently install software and bypass the InstallShield.

Problem:

When netOctopus tries to install PC software that has an InstallShield, the install cannot complete without the user navigating through the Setup Program provided by Install Shield.

Situation:

When attempting to execute the PC Installer with netOctopus, the Setup Program requires end user input if the software ships with an installer from InstallShield.

Solution:

There are steps that can be used to bypass the Setup Program from InstallShield.

Please do the following on any local machine:

1. Run the Setup Program from the Command line with Option -r.
2. Perform all the settings that you want to install via netOctopus.
3. After the installation has finished, a file called setup.iss is placed in the Windows Directory.
4. Copy this file into the same location as the Setup.exe (Usually located on the Server Volume).

1. Select your computer in the Computers Window
2. Choose Commands/Execute PC Installer and fill in the following fields:

   Network Drive:	The path to the network drive (ie \\computer name\share name)
   Security:	Select whatever is necessary
   Executable Path:	Path to the executable file
   Executable:	Name of the executable file (i.e. Setup.exe)
   Options:	-s



3. When the installation is finished, the "Setuplog.txt" contains the result.

Summary:

Most Setup Programs cannot be completed remotely due to the InstallShield. If the fields of Execute PC Installer within netOctopus are setup correctly, the InstallShield will be bypassed and the Application will be installed silently.

For additional information please search for articles Q101901 and Q102394 at the InstallShield support site.