Software Deployment: Adobe Help Center 2.1
January 10, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Purpose:
Deploy software applications to multiple users in a network environment with the knowledge that each software installation package has been configured in a specific way requiring non-existent to very minimal user interaction.
Tools:
1. An .msi editor with the ability to create .mst (transform) files
- Tuner and Editor are good tools and are part of FlexNet AdminStudio 7.5
2. A third party software deployment application
- Specops Deploy is our preferred choice for distributing software applications to targeted groups within our organization.
Instructions:
1. Open Tuner, then create a Transform (.mst) file and browse for the appropriate .msi file
2. Customize the installation settings for the .msi file, then save your changes
3. Perform an administrative installation
4. Open Specops, then deploy the software to a target
Useful Tips when Creating Transform Files:
1. Determine which Property values need to be modified by referring to the list of tables found in the windows installer package.
- In particular, pay close attention to the Control and Property tables.
2. View the Dialogs table; i.e., show the sequence of dialog windows that appear during a typical software installation.
Video and Images: Coming Soon…
Please have someone with an administrator account perform the following:
Phase 0: Preparation
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Preparation
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1. Locate your source files and copy them to C:\Temp
Phase I: Creating Transforms and Modifying Windows Installer Packages
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Tuner
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+Shortcuts
ProgramMenuFolder: Adobe > “Adobe Help Center”
(Create a sub-folder Adobe, then drop the existing shortcut in the folder)
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Test with Tuner
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Application Configuration
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+Dialogs
Installation Mode: Admin Sequence (Click on Show Sequence to view the sequence of windows that will appear)
Phase II: Administrative Installation
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Command Prompt
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Part A:
Method I: User Interaction
1) msiexec /a “Adobe Help Center 2.1.msi” TRANSFORMS=”Adobe Help Center 2.1.mst”
2) Network location: \\computer name\network share name\Adobe Help Center\2.1
Method II: Silent Install
msiexec /a “Adobe Help Center 2.1.msi” TRANSFORMS=”Adobe Help Center 2.1.mst”
TARGETDIR=”\\computer name\network share name\Adobe Help Center\2.1″ /qb
Note: The Change and Remove buttons are enabled for Adobe Help Center in Add/Remove Programs.
Phase III: Deployment
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Specops Deploy
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1. “Adobe Help Center 2.1.msi” TRANSFORMS=”Adobe Help Center 2.1.mst”
Important:
Deploy Adobe Help Center (AHC) before deploying any other software applications that relies on it to
display their help content. Otherwise, those programs will complain that the necessary package is not
installed. If you have already deployed an Adobe software application that relies on the Help Center, then redeploy
that software application.
Warning:
If you uninstall Adobe Help Center 2.1, then those software applications that rely on AHC to display
their help content will have their help content files removed as well. If you reinstall AHC, but fail to
redeploy the aforementioned software applications, then you will see the sample message below.
Sample Message Displayed:
Window Title: Help Topic Not Found
Message: This topic you selected is part of the Help for PhotoshopElements, which is not installed. To
see this topic install PhotoshopElements.
Remedy 01:
Go to the administrative installation point for each of the aforementioned programs and locate the
“program files” folder. Search for a zipped file that contains the help content for the aforementioned
programs.
Sample Network Location:
\\computer name\network share name\Adobe Photoshop\Elements\5.0\program files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 5.0\PhotoshopElements_5.0_en_us.zip
Remedy 02:
After you have redeployed AHC, redeploy the aforementioned software applications.
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Comments:
“Adobe Help Center is a free, downloadable application that provides access to product Help
and learning resources on Adobe.com. Adobe Help Center also provides updates to software and
product Help as they become available. To use product Help, you must have an Adobe product
installed that includes Adobe Help Center.”
- Source: Adobe Help Center
Related Links:
http://www.appdeploy.com (Help Center 2.x)
http://www.appdeploy.com/packages/detail.asp?id=877
http://www.appdeploy.com (Package: Photoshop CS2 9.x)
http://www.appdeploy.com/packages/detail.asp?id=511
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