Software Deployment

Hello All,

the vendor msi of crystal reports has a custom action that checks which language should be used. By Default the proprty that is checked by this custom action has the value of -1. If you fill out this property with the language code (e.g 1043 for dutch) the vendor msi doesn't need setup.exe to continue.
hopefully this will help u.
kind regards

Wouter

That worked great! Thanks alot. I was busting my brain trying to get this one figured out, and turns out to be so simple. I used Orca to find the property to change. It is not actually located under the Custom Action tables, but in the Property table, under ProductLanguage. The default is set to "-1" like you said. I just changed it to "1034" for English, an walla!, no more need for setup.exe. Now I can finally create a transform and get this thing packaged.

Cool!

I should add that point 2 is not applicable in this case as there is no "OnCheckSilentInstall" custom action in the InstallExecuteSequence.

I will be using Orca to create the transform as they don't have any other packaging tools here.

Thanks,
M

We are currently deploying Crystal Reports XI with the following:

MSIEXEC /I "CrystalReports_Pro.msi" TRANSFORMS="CrystalReports1_Pro.mst" ADDLOCAL=ALL PIDKEY="?????-???????-???????-????" /qn

Obviously replace the ??? with the appropriate PIDKEY.

Hi MDG534621,

Running the string you have described unfortunately still prompts with the same message stating that I need to use the Setup.exe.

What other properties have you set in your mst file. There must be something there that stops the msi from relying on the Setup.exe?

Thanks,
M

Hi,

I'm having the same exact problem with the setup.exe.
MDG534621, how did you get the transform created, one that wouldn't need setup.exe? Does anyone know how to contact Chipster, who posted this?: http://www.appdeploy.com/packages/detail.asp?id=570

If he is someone who was able to succesfully package this app, I'm hoping he can help us. I can neither get a snapshot to work, or a transform. Help!

Would you be willing to share your transform file, minus the PIDKey of course?

I need to get crystal reports xi into a deployable MSI too. I'd like to see the transform that gets around the need to start it with setup.exe!

How do you suggest that I get this to you. I am willing to provide the MST that we are using minus the PIDKEY.

Just checking have you extracted the MSI using a /A. I think that I did this first.

Hi,

Yeah, I did try msiexec /a. I got the app to extract as a network install, but even then it was asking for setup.exe.

Can you send me the MST as an zip attachment to matrixjp@lycos.com?
Thanks for your help.

Hey that would be great. If you could send your mst to

tungless@blg.co.uk

Many thanks!!!

Brilliant. Thanks for this piece of information. I can now create a transform for this and get it deployed. Many thanks.

Hi there

I had no trouble installing crystal reports xi using this string:

setup.exe PIDKEY=xxx CLIENTLANGUAGE=EN ADDLOCAL=ALL REBOOT=ReallySuppress /qn

This works for the French and English setup just fine (its a multilanguage edition). But the german version thinks it needs a reboot at the end. Using the switch 'reboot=reallySuppress' just leads to an error message popping up at the end. omitting that switch leads to a reboot that comes unexpected for the script.

I looked at the log file and, apparently, crystal wants to install some drivers in c:\windows\system32\spool\drivers\...\stdnames.gpd and thinks that these are in use. Therefore, they need be replaced only at the next startup.

The errormessage is 1604, Setup incomplete.

So how can I prevent the setup from rebooting, while not having the complaining box popping up ?

Or could I find out who is using the files it wants to replace ?

I do a reboot after installing it anyway, so I would be happy to perform the required reboot myself...

(I have no packaging tool. Is there one that is free ?)

All

I have created an .msi file by doing a /a on the network share. I have also created an .mst file with the English language set and my pidkey on the PIDTEMPLATE. Unfortunately when i deploy the package it fails to pass the pidkey user info gui.
I can see the my pidkey information but when i click next it comes up with "the product key is not valid or has expired". Ofcourse this is not the case as it is a valid product key. I have tested succesfully manually.
It seems that even though the key is there, it cant recognise it.
Any assistance on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[:)] I have managed to resolve my problem, thanks to the fantastic contirbution of all the Wise masters in Appdepploy.com
Thanks again guys, you solutions have been invaluable

Hello guys (or girls)

How do you get rid of the Webregistration and the check for updates on the latest screen (with the finish button).

I have made the following keys/changes in the mst file

* Property "PIDKEY" with the value *****************
* Property "Productlanguage" changed to 1043 (otherwse the msi needs the setup.exe)
* Propertie "CheckForUpdates" changed to 0 (otherwise the msi askes for webupdates)

thnx in advance

Does anyone know how you can register the package?
When I deploy the package, the serialkey is accepted, but when you start the software for the first time, you need to fill in the register key.

Check for the registry entry which is being updated or created.Capture that registry entry and then include that in your package already.

I think you need to construct an administrative installation. setup /a

I was able to completely disable the auto-update feature (mimic the "disable web updates" checkmark at the end of a normal install) by adding the following registry key to my transform.


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 11.0\Crystal Reports]
"DisableCheckForUpdates"="1"


I still get the registration wizard, but it's a lot less annoying than the auto-update that continously comes up.

Hope this helps.

The comments posted here helped tremendously in my deployment efforts. In the end I was able to set up a package the deploys silently, does not have web update enabled, and suppresses the registration screen on first run. Here is how I did it.

1. I ran setup.exe /a to perform an admin install to a server distribution point.
2. Used ORCA (from MS Platform SDK) to open the CR msi file in the distribution point. Changed the ProductLanguage property from -1 to 1033 (or what ever language code you need) Saved the altered MSI. This allows deployment via msiexec /i
4. Installed product to a test machine. Ran the registration wizard to receive a 10-digit key via email.
5. Used InstallShield tuner to create a transform file with the following changes:
a. Add property: DISABLEWEBUPDATE=1 (disables the web update feature)
b. Add a registry entry: HKLM\SOFTWARE\[BOBJ_NAME]\[RegistryVersion]\Crystal Reports\Key Codes\[CRWEdition]\Serial (String Value) VALUE=10 digit key received from registration in step 4. (This works regardless if multiple PIDKEYs are used)
c. (optional) Add property: PIDKEY=XXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXX
d. (optional) Add property: EXCLUDEJAVAFILES=1 to disable java developer domponent or 0 to enable
e. (optional) Add property: EXCLUDEDOTNETFILES=1 to disable .NET developer component or 0 to enable
f. (optional) Add property: EXCLUDERDCFILES=1 to disable RDC component or 0 to enable
6. Install via your favorite deployment suite. Command line looks like this:
msiexec /i "pathtomsi\CrystalReports.msi" TRANSFORMS="pathtomst\CrystalReports.mst" ADDLOCAL=ALL PIDKEY=XXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXXXXX-XXXX EXCLUDEJAVAFILES=1 EXCLUDEDOTNETFILES=1 EXCLUDERDCFILES=1 REBOOT=ReallySuppress /qb!

ADDLOCAL must be passed in or else no features are installed.

Also for the service pack, there is not an MSP package for it, but after some digging, I found that it does support silent install.

setup /s /f2"pathtologfile\logfilename"



** When you open CR11, the start page opens up with the Online Resources check box checked. To disable this by default, you must modify the PF\Business Objects\Crystal Reports 11\en(or language)\js\chrome.js file.

To disable completely modify the fncrToggleOnlineSource function:
if (checkBox.checked)
checkBox.checked=false;
else
checkBox.checked=true; <<--- change to false

To disable initial value to not shown but allow it to function if checked, change the fncrToggleOnlineSourceCheckbox function:

if ((displayOnLineResource == null) || (displayOnLineResource != false))
check.checked="true"; <<---- change to false

Great work MGordon! I walked through your procedures and it worked like a charm. However, I noticed that the same procedure didn't work on Crystal Reports XI Release 2. I tried validating the R2 MSI with AdminStudio and it's a nightmare. Business Objects needs to clean up their products before releasing them.

Anyway, I thought I would throw in my two cents and see if anyone was successful with the second release. Thanks!

MGordon, I'm trying to package CRXI...giving me grief. I've made the changes as per your suggestions, however I receive 'Incorrect or unsupported language provided to Update Service' after installation. Any ideas?

Kind regards,
B

Hi, I have tried everything to get my CR_XI_Pro MSI installation working! I'm using AdminStudio 8.5, and have replaced the Lang -1 to 1033 in the MST, but it still prompts for setup.exe aggghhhhh. Could you send me your MST too, or anyone give me any further tips, help, advice....? Yours frustratedly!!

My MSI works and can install silently but
at completion prompts that the installation is complete and even appears in add/remove as a 23mb installation. However I have no icons and when i check the dir structure for the install there are no files in there.
I uninstalled and ran the msi by itself without any switches of silent install /qn+ it'll install all the way through with all the required files and shortcuts.
Weird.

This usually happens when no components are selected during a silent install. ADDLOCAL=ALL should install all the components. If you only want to select specific components you will have to specify which components like so ADDLOCAL=Access,Application,BDE,CDO,CharacterSeparated,CrystalReports,etc.


ORIGINAL: 4g15

My MSI works and can install silently but
at completion prompts that the installation is complete and even appears in add/remove as a 23mb installation. However I have no icons and when i check the dir structure for the install there are no files in there.
I uninstalled and ran the msi by itself without any switches of silent install /qn+ it'll install all the way through with all the required files and shortcuts.
Weird.

We recently upgraded from XI to XIR2 because of security vulnerabilities in the XI version that we were unable to patch with patches suppled by the vendor(I have a thread on here about the problem). I was able to successfully deploy this application unattended. I did make quite a few changes in my transform to prevent java components installing, registration popups, etc. From talking to the vendor anyone who has a XI license can download the XI R2 from their website and use the same license key.


ORIGINAL: offthehook

Great work MGordon! I walked through your procedures and it worked like a charm. However, I noticed that the same procedure didn't work on Crystal Reports XI Release 2. I tried validating the R2 MSI with AdminStudio and it's a nightmare. Business Objects needs to clean up their products before releasing them.

Anyway, I thought I would throw in my two cents and see if anyone was successful with the second release. Thanks!

any one know how to install silent install for a patch?

Anyone know how to disable the web registration wizard on CR launch?

I tried key below using the 10 digit system code and it didn't work. I tried both dword and string and the same thing.


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 11.0\Crystal Reports\Keycodes\CR Dev]
"Serial"="##puthere###"

Has anyone successfully done the above? If so how?

Hi
I worked on Crystal Reports XISP4 (Full Built) and done it successfully. I am not sure aboout SP2 but see if it is of any use
Delete the Custom Action.

LaunchRegWizAction.6F2B3983_59B8_11D3_B360_00A0C9DA500E

Delete the File RegWiz.exe

Delete Action RegisterUser from Install ExcuteSequence Table
Delete Action LaunchRegWizAction.6F2B3983_59B8_11D3_B360_00A0C9DA500E from InstallUISequence Table
Modify the Component regwiz.exe.6F2B3983_59B8_11D3_B360_00A0C9DA500E Key path to Null in Component table
Modify File r3rwizen.dll.6F2B3983_59B8_11D3_B360_00A0C9DA500E with neutralFile value to NULL in table LangDll

And to Diable Updates

Add a property DISABLEWEBUPDATE and value = 1

modify CheckForUpdates=0

Good luck

Regards,
Ram.

Here's what I did to deploy Crystal Reports XIr2.

1. Copy installation to network. Do not perform an Admin Install.
2. Manually install Crystal Reports and register it. Export the following registry key to a file. You should have a value called 'Serial' in this key.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 11.5\Crystal Reports\Keycodes\CR Pro].
3. Using AdminStudio Tuner, create a Transform file for CrystalReports.msi. You should find the msi in the Win32 folder. Make sure to uncheck the 'Response Transform' check box.
4. Import the registry file that was exported in step 2.
5. Make the following Setup Property changes.
PIDKEY = xxxxx-xxxxxxx-xxxxxxx-xxxx
CheckForUpdates = 0
DISABLEWEBUPDATE = 1
ADDLOCAL = ALL
ProductLanguage = 1033
CLIENTLANGUAGE = EN

That's it. I've deployed it from a Computer Based GPO without any issues.

Has anyone here performed these same steps and deployed into a Terminal Services\Citrix environment successfully? Any caveats?

Cheers

ORIGINAL: bengmau

Anyone know how to disable the web registration wizard on CR launch?

I tried key below using the 10 digit system code and it didn't work. I tried both dword and string and the same thing.


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 11.0\Crystal Reports\Keycodes\CR Dev]
"Serial"="##puthere###"

Has anyone successfully done the above? If so how?



Late response to this I know but I thought I would reply in case anyone else was wondering (This is for Release 2).

To disable the registraton screen I added the follow regkey:
HKCU\Software\Business Objects\Suite 11.5\Crystal Reports\Control\
"Counter"=dword:00000001

The program seems to count the number of times it has run, so if the regkey doesn't exist or is equal to 0 it will prompt to register.

[font="times new roman"]
Can anyone help me with my issue… I have the multilanguage one but I need to run it only in english.
I have changed all the property settings to english INSTALLLANGDLL=0, ProductLanguage=1033, LangCode=En, CLIENTLANGUAGE=EN but still on install the programme checks the language setting on the PC and sets up the language that finds there… do anyone knows how to work around that?

ORIGINAL: bengmau

Anyone know how to disable the web registration wizard on CR launch?

I tried key below using the 10 digit system code and it didn't work. I tried both dword and string and the same thing.


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Business Objects\Suite 11.0\Crystal Reports\Keycodes\CR Dev]
"Serial"="##puthere###"

Has anyone successfully done the above? If so how?



have a look in the UI and InstallExecute sequence tables.
if I can remember there are some problem CA's you will need to set their conditions to 0

Thanks Drgnfyre

It is working [:D]

Hi Bengmau,
I too am looking to find out where to put the registration number. I have my MSI cracked open with Orca and I got the Reg path but to no avail. When I put in my Reg code into the MSI, after install, instead of getting prompted with Reg wizard I am told my license is expired. If i take reg code out of MSI package then i get Reg Wizard.

Hi jmike08,
I have SP1 for Crystal Reports 11 Rel 2 and I too am looking for the silent install. I performed a setup.exe /a to extract the data. Now I just need to test more.

Why not install to a VM, find where the serial number gets put in the registry, export it as a .REG, then import that into your transform?