Choosing the Correct Installer
There are two installer options available for PDF-XChange Products - .msi and .exe. The .msi installers should always be given preference unless there is a good reason not to do so.
The .msi Installers (recommended)
The .msi installers are intended for both single users performing a standard, GUI-based installation, and large-scale networks performing unattended installations. They feature a large and dynamic range of parameters and options for managed, unattended installations. This manual will focus predominantly on the .msi installers as it is expected that the vast majority of network administrators will choose this option.
Pros:
•Ideal for unattended installations.
•Large and dynamic range of installer options available.
•Compatible with industry-standard deployment methods.
•Easy to manage through centralized software management systems such as Active Directory, SCCM and Kase.
Cons:
•Discrete installers require knowledge of the architecture of the target system. Note that the 32-bit installer will not operate correctly on 64-bit systems.
The .exe Installer (not recommended for managed installations)
The .exe installer is intended for individual users who are using a graphical user interface (GUI) to install the product. It takes very few parameters/arguments and is not recommended in a managed environment.
The .exe installer is a wrapper around the .msi installer. The advantage of this installation setup is that it contains the ability to auto-detect the system architecture on which it is running and then install the appropriate 32 or 64-bit binaries. This is the simplest installation method for individual users in a GUI environment as it is largely automated and can be used in any supported version of Windows. The disadvantage of this installation setup is that the wrapper is limited in what it can pass to the embedded .msi installer and is therefore less flexible with regard to deployment options.
Pros:
•One installer for 32 or 64-bit systems.
•Simple and standard installation experience.
•Good option for inexperienced/non-technical staff.
Cons:
•Limited parameters and options for unattended installation.
•Requires user interaction in order to install and update.
•More complicated to integrate into enterprise software management applications in comparison to the .msi installers.