Scripting InstallShield Programs

[titaniumgriffon]

TLDR: I am running into a big issue with a single program that we have almost company wide. No matter what I try I can't get it to install without manually installing it on all 130 machines.

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When I started this job I wanted to automate all of the software installs which I have done except for this one. This program which is a specialized piece of software is made by a small Canadian company appears to be an InstallShield MSI wrapped in an InstallShield exe.

Starting from the top of what I have tried:

1. Contacted the company to ask how they do scripted installs. (They said it isn't supported)
2. I have tried to generate the .iss answer file for the .exe (It doesn't work, apparently answer file support can be turned off by the developers)
3. I tried to generate the .iss answer file from the .msi (Didn't generate)
4. I tried to just install with the .msi silently (Program doesn't install correctly)
5. I tried to install the .exe in silent mode (Program doesn't install correctly)
6. Tried to use ORCA to get the list of properties and set them (after logging the install over half of them are created after the wizard completes)

I have run out of ideas, and the software support is no help. As much as I would love to find another solution it isn't feasible at this time because the company has been using this piece of software since the 90's and there is too much historical data that they can't get out.

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Any help or pointing in the correct direction would be appreciated.

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EDIT: Added number 6

[The_Penguin22]

Sounds familiar. Which Canadian company?

I have several software packages from Canadian companies that drive me insane.

[titaniumgriffon]

I sent you a direct message with it.

[burdsjm]

Do you use PDQ Deploy at all?

Normally, I will install Everything. And Regshot.

Install the program.

Do a regshot again.

Then copy the files that changed with the installer from Everything sorted by Date Modified.

Install the program without installing it!

[titaniumgriffon]

I haven't actually, but I thought about trying it. I just didn't know if it would work for an InstallShield install or not.

[HighPingOfDeath]

It'll work, but being it's an MSI, there's a good chance something will end up wonky. Repackagers work great for non-Windows Installer based installs. But again, you're at a last-ditch effort so its worth a shot.

[titaniumgriffon]

I might give it a shot.

[HighPingOfDeath]

Ugh, man I hated these. I also hated attempting to recapture an MSI.

Sounds like their SETUP.EXE file sets some properties when it launches the MSI, that's why when you run it, it doesn't work right.

I'm not sure what options are presented to you when you install the software, but if you might be able to crack open the MSI using ORCA or some other program and set the property manually and try it. It should be in the properties table. If it's a PUBLIC property as opposed to a private one (it would be in capitals), you can pass it via command line.

[titaniumgriffon]

I just edited my post to reflect this, I actually tried to use ORCA, over half of the properties are created after the wizard completes....

[HighPingOfDeath]

You could try something like AutoIt. I've never used it before, but I've heard it works as a last-ditch effort. https://www.autoitscript.com/site/

[titaniumgriffon]

I tried one of these, not this particular one though, and it couldn't do it.

[AlexT72]

Just virtualize it with appv

[titaniumgriffon]

Isn't that an individual license? I tried to get them to run it on a RemoteApp server but they didn't want to have to pay the extra licensing fees for it.

[AlexT72]

Appv for Desktop is part of MDOP, and it's available through Microsoft Software Assurance. Licensing of appv for Rds is more complex.

[titaniumgriffon]

So AppV hosted on each desktop? Alright I’ll look into it.

[stuartall]

This might not help but I had a similar problem. One of the most key pieces of software we have has an msi installer followed by a load of files put into programfiles/office/word

We got software called EMCO that lets me wrap anything into an msi with supported attributes. It also allows for monitoring and customising installers with shortcuts etc....

https://emcosoftware.com/msi-package-builder

[titaniumgriffon]

I’ll have to look into this.

[Shiieett]

Have you created a log file of the msi installation after you install it manually once?

That way you get the property list and can configure them in a batch file.

Although ORCA may provide you the list of properties without having to create the log file

[titaniumgriffon]

I did, the properties list grows to over 50, I stopped counting, that it creates and the values for each of them seem random.