Performing a Silent Upgrade

The typical use of silent installers involves preparing and testing a first install on a single machine that is representative of machines to be updated on the network. The installer is run in interactive mode and the output is captured to a response file.

For silent install to execute successfully, all of the machines must be identical to the machine where the response file was generated. The response file contains the required responses to the installation prompts. InstallShield can create a Setup.iss response file for you. Refer to the procedure for Upgrading Contenta Client but run the installation from the command line using the Setup.exe /r command-line parameter (for example, Setup.exe /r /f1ʺC:\Temp\Setup.issʺ).

InstallShield records your installation choices in Setup.iss and places the file in the Windows folder. After the response file has been created and tested, your IT administrator can use a network utility to execute the installation in silent mode over the network to like machines. Provide the IT administrator with the Setup.exe /s command line and response file. By default:

  • the installation is run based on the responses contained in the response file named Setup.iss located in the same directory.
  • the log file Setup.log is created in the same directory and with the same file name (without the extension) as the response file.
ParameterDescription
/f1

Use to specify the response file name and path.

For example: Setup.exe /s /f1ʺC:\Temp\Setup.issʺ.

The /f1 option is available both when creating a response file (Setup.exe /r) and/or when using a response file (Setup.exe /s).

/f2

Use to specify an alternative log file name and path.

For example: Setup.exe /s /f2ʺC:\Setup.logʺ

See the Log File topic for more information about the contents of the log file.