Switches for MSI Installers
The most useful options for msiexec are detailed below. Please note that parameters are case sensitive. All available options are detailed here.
The command line for installation is: msiexec /Option <Required Parameter> [Optional Parameter] [PROPERTY=PropertyValue]
Install Options
/package or /i
This switch installs or configures the product specified.
Syntax
<Product.msi>
/a
This switch installs the product specified on the network as an administrative install.
Syntax
<Product.msi>
/j<u|m>
This switch advertises the specified product. "u" advertises to the current user, "m" advertises to all users.
Syntax
<Product.msi>
Parameters
•[/t <Transform List>]
•[/g <Language ID>]
/uninstall | /x
This switch uninstalls the product specified.
Syntax
<Product.msi>
Parameters
The parameter for this switch can be either an .msi file or the relevant product code.
Display Options
/quiet
This switch installs the application without user interaction.
/passive
This switch installs the application in unattended mode. The user will see only the progress bar.
/q[n|b|r|f]
This switch sets the user interface level. "b" installs a basic UI, "f" installs a full UI and is the default setting, "n" means that no UI is installed, "r" installs a reduced UI.
Restart Options
/norestart
This switch disables the automatic system restart when installation is complete. (Please note that many PDF-XChange products require a restart to function properly).
/promptrestart
This switch prompts the user for a restart when it is necessary.
/forcerestart
This switch forces a system restart when installation is complete.
Logging Options
/l
This switch defines the logging level for installation.
Syntax
<Logfile>
Modifiers
a - start up of actions.
c - initial UI parameters.
e - all error messages.
i - status messages.
m - out of memory or fatal exit information.
o - out of disk space messages.
p - terminal properties.
r - action-specific records.
u - user requests.
v - verbose output.
w - nonfatal warnings.
x - extra debugging information.
+ - append to existing file.
! - flush each line to the log.
* - log all information except for verbose output and extra debugging information.
/log
This switch is the equivalent for /l* <LogFile>.
Syntax
<LogFile>
Repair Options
/f
This switch repairs the product specified.
Syntax
<Product>
Parameters
The parameter for this switch can be either an .msi file or the relevant product code.
Modifiers
a - forces the reinstallation of all files.
c - if a file is missing or checksum does not match the calculated value.
d - if a file is missing or a different version is installed.
e - if a file is missing or an equal or older version is installed.
m - all required computer-specific registry entries. This is a default setting.
o - if a file is missing or an older version is installed. This is a default setting.
p - only if a file is missing.
s - all existing shortcuts. This is a default setting.
u - all required user-specific registry entries. This is a default setting.
v - runs from source and re-caches the local package.
Standard Properties
ADDLOCAL
The value of the ADDLOCAL property is a list of features, delimited with commas, that install locally. If it is not used the all available options will be installed. If it is used then all required features must be specified.
Syntax
ADDLOCAL=<list of features>
Features
•F_Viewer - PDF-XChange Editor and its main components.
•F_Plugins - the plugins module for PDF-XChange Editor. (This requires F_Viewer).
•F_Plugin_SP - the spell-checker plugin. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_FileOpenPlugin - the security plugin that handles FileOpen DRM. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_ReadOutLoudPlugin - the plugin that provides 'read-out-loud' functionality. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_OCRPlugin - the plugin that allows the OCR of image-based PDF files in PDF-XChange Editor. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_OptimizerPlugin - the plugin that optimizes PDF files.
•F_BookmarksPlugin - the plugin that facilitates the inclusion of advanced functionality for bookmarks. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_PDFAPlugin - the plugin that converts PDF files into PDF/A format. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_SPPlugin - the SharePoint plugin, which facilitates the use of files located on SharePoint servers. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_GDPlugin - facilitates the use of files located on Google Drive™. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_OFCPlugin - to install the plugin that allows the conversion of documents into MS Office formats directly within the software. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_DBPlugin - facilitates the use of files located on the DropBox™ cloud. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_EOCRPlugin - facilitates the use of the Enhanced OCR plugin. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_MDPlugin - to install the plugin that enables the conversion of Markdown files into PDF documents. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_ODPlugin - the plugin that enables working with files located on Microsoft OneDrive. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_BoxPlugin - the plugin that enables working with files located on Box.com. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_3DPlugin - the plugin that enables the viewing of embedded 3D content in PDF documents. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_ColorPlugin - the plugin that enables the conversion of colors in PDF documents. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_CSVPlugin - the plugin that enables the conversion of .csv files to tables in PDF documents. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_BrowserPlugins - the plugin for web browsers (Explorer, FireFox, Opera, Safari and Chrome) that facilitate browser-based PDF file viewing. (This requires F_Viewer, as well as F_IEPlugin and/or F_NPPlugin).
•F_NPPlugin - the plugin for Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera. (This requires F_BrowserPlugins and F_Viewer).
•F_IEPlugin - the plugin for Internet Explorer. (This requires F_BrowserPlugins and F_Viewer).
•F_SanitizePlugin – the plugin that enables the sanitization of documents. (This requires F_Plugins).
•F_VLangs - provides additional languages for the localization of PDF-XChange Editor. (This requires F_Viewer).
•F_Tools - the plugin for PDF Tools and its components.
•F_Tools_Plugins - the plugins that extend the functionality of PDF Tools. (This requires F_Tools).
•F_TLangs - provides additional languages for the localization of PDF Tools. (This requires F_Tools).
•F_Drivers - PDF-XChange Standard Printer and related components.
•F_Office2PDF - the Office to PDF facility, which enables the batch-conversion of MS Office documents to PDF. (This requires F_Drivers).
•F_OfficeAddin - provides extended support for MS Office applications when converting documents to PDF. (This requires F_Drivers).
•F_IEAddin - the add-in for MS Internet Explorer that facilitates the conversion of web pages to PDF format.
•F_Langs_Drv - language localization files for the PDF-XChange Standard printer driver, the Office Addin and the Office2PDF feature. (This requires F_Drivers).
•F_ShellExt - the plugins for Windows Explorer and Windows shell. These extensions enable the viewing of PDF thumbnails in Windows Explorer, display PDF file properties, handle the previewing of PDF files in Windows Vista and Office 2007 and provide the IFilter component, which allows the Windows Desktop Search to operate within PDF files.
•F_Updater - the updater for PDF-XChange products. The updater checks automatically for updates to the software.
•F_KeyInstaller - the key installer for PDF-XChange products.
A comprehensive list of properties defined by the Windows installer is available here.
Product Specific Properties
PNAME
This property specifies the name of the printer to be used. The default value is "PDF-XChange Standard."
Syntax
PNAME=<printer name>
INSTALLLOCATION
This property specifies the installation folder.
Syntax
INSTALLLOCATION=<installation folder>
SET_PRINTER_AS_DEFAULT
When specified with a value of "1" the PDF-XChange Standard printer will be set as the default printer after installation. If this property is not specified then the PDF-XChange Standard printer will not be set as the default printer.
Syntax
SET_PRINTER_AS_DEFAULT="0"
SET_AS_DEFAULT
If this property is unspecified, or specified with value of "1", then PDF-XChange Editor will be set as the default application for PDF files.
Syntax
SET_AS_DEFAULT="0"
VIEW_IN_BROWSERS
If this property is unspecified, or specified with a value of "1", then PDF-XChange Editor will be configured to open PDF files inside browsers.
Syntax
VIEW_IN_BROWSERS ="0"
DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS
If this property is unspecified, or specified with a value of "1", then the installer will place shortcuts for installed applications on the desktop.
Syntax
DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS="0"
PROGRAMSMENU_SHORTCUTS
If this property is unspecified, or specified with a value of "1", then the installer will create a program menu group for installed applications and their components.
Syntax
PROGRAMSMENU_SHORTCUTS="0"
USERNAME
This property specifies the username to which applications will be registered.
Syntax
USERNAME=<username>
ORGANIZATION
This property specifies the organization name to which applications will be registered.
Syntax
ORGANIZATION=<organization name>
USERMAIL
This property specifies the user email.
Syntax
USERMAIL=<user email>
KEYFILE
This property specifies the UNC location of the license vault file <filename>.xcvault. See here for further information.
Syntax
KEYFILE=<path to xcvault file>
KEYDATA
This property specifies the registration key.
Syntax
KEYDATA=<registration key>
APP_LANG
This property specifies a language for PDF-XChange Editor, PDF-Tools and the PDF-XChange Standard printer. (This requires F_Vlangs in order to operate for PDF-XChange Editor, F_TLangs in order to operate for PDF-Tools, and F_Langs_Drv to operate for PDF-XChange Standard). This property uses the "language culture name" to define languages. For example German is "de-DE". The <id> for target languages is available here. The parameters "Auto", "Builtin" and "None" can also be used instead of a language culture name. Auto uses the system locale language, Builtin uses US English and None retains the existing language in cases where the software is being upgraded, or operates in the same manner as Auto if the software is being installed for the first time.
Syntax
APP_LANG=<id>
NOUPDATER
If this property is unspecified, or specified with a value of "0", then the PDF-XChange Updater will be installed. If specified with a value of "1" then the updater will not be installed. (Available from build 310).
Syntax
NOUPDATER=<0>
SCHEDULEUPDATER
If this property is unspecified, or specified with a value of "1", then the installer will add a task to the task scheduler to check for software updates.
Syntax
SCHEDULEUPDATER=<0>
MSI Installer Examples
•Install the application in quiet mode to the folder "C:\Program Files\My PDF Applications":
msiexec /i ProV8.x64.msi /quiet INSTALLLOCATION="C:\Program Files\My PDF Applications"
•Install the application in quiet mode to the default folder and specify the user license information with the key as a string:
msiexec /i ProV8.x64.msi /qb USERNAME="John Doe" USERMAIL="abc@a.b.c" KEYDATA="PVP60-….+XivqqLSozuRTqTCxnRv0sNR1i2UTPSA5AvAUl4Q="
•Install the application in quiet mode to the default folder and specify the user license information with the key as a vault file:
msiexec /i ProV8.x64.msi /qn USERNAME="John Doe" USERMAIL="abc@a.b.c" KEYFILE="\valid\UNC\path\to\vault\file.xcvault"
•Install only PDF-XChange, Office Add-In and PDF Tools, and specify a new name for the printer:
msiexec /i ProV8.x64.msi /qb ADDLOCAL="F_Drivers,F_OfficeAddin,F_Tools" PNAME="My PDF Printer"
•Install all products with German as the application UI language. (If ADDLOCAL is not called then all features, including all languages, are available to the installer and the following properties can be used. If ADDLOCAL is used to specify components and an alternative language is to be used then corresponding language components (F_Vlangs, F_Langs_Drv and/or F_TLangs) must be explicitly called:
msiexec /i ProV8.x64.msi /quiet APP_LANG=de-DE