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 Tracker Software 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.
Additional options and more detailed explanations are available at the Microsoft website.
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 then all available options will be installed. If it is used then all required features must be specified.
Syntax
ADDLOCAL=<list of features>
Features
•F_Drivers - the PDF-XChange Standard print driver and its components.
•F_Office2PDF - components of the Office to PDF feature, which enables the batch-conversion of MS Office documents to PDF. (This requires F_Drivers).
•F_OfficeAddin - the addin that provides extended support of MS Office products. (This requires F_Drivers).
•F_IEAddin - the add-in for MS Internet Explorer that facilitates the conversion of web pages to PDF format. (This requires F_BrowserExts).
•F_Langs_Drv - the files that allow the localization of PDF-XChange Standard and its components. (This requires F_Drivers).
•F_Updater - the updater for the applications that Tracker Software Products produce.
•F_KeyInstaller – the key installer for Tracker Software applications.
•F_BrowserExts - plugin for browsers that enables the conversion of web pages into PDF files.
•F_ChromeExt - extension for Chrome browser that enables the conversion of web pages into PDF files. (This requires F_BrowserExts).
•F_EdgeExt - extension for Edge browser that enables the conversion of web pages into PDF files. (This requires F_BrowserExts).
A comprehensive list of properties defined by the Windows installer is available here.
Product Specific Properties
INSTALLLOCATION
This property specifies the folder in which products are installed.
Syntax
INSTALLLOCATION=<installation folder>
PNAME
Specifies the printer name. The default value is "PDF-XChange Standard."
Syntax
PNAME=<printer name>
SET_PRINTER_AS_DEFAULT
If this property is not specified, or specified with a value of "1", then PDF-XChange Standard will be set as the default printer.
Syntax
SET_PRINTER_AS_DEFAULT="0"
DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS
If this property is not specified, or specified with a value of "1", then the installer will place shortcuts on the desktop for installed applications.
Syntax
DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS="0"
PROGRAMSMENU_SHORTCUTS
If this property is not specified, 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>
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 the PDF-XChange Standard print driver. (This requires F_Langs_Drv in order to operate). 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 Tracker 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 software in quiet mode to the folder "C:\Program Files\My PDF Applications":
msiexec /i StandardV9.x64.msi /quiet INSTALLLOCATION="C:\Program Files\My PDF Applications"
•Install the software in quiet mode to the default folder and specify the user license information:
msiexec /i StandardV9.x64.msi /quiet USERNAME="John Doe" USERMAIL="abc@a.b.c" KEYFILE="\UNC\path\to\xcvaultfile"
•Install only PDF-XChange Standard and the updater:
msiexec /i StandardV9.x64.msi /quiet ADDLOCAL="F_Drivers,F_Updater"
•Install the software with all features, German as the UI language and a 'basic' UI. (Please note that ADDLOCAL is not being used, therefore all components, including F_VLangs, are installed:
msiexec /i StandardV9.x64.msi /qb APP_LANG=de-DE