Using a Setup.iss File for a Silent Installation of Acrobat Reader in Windows

This record provides instructions on how to record a Setup.iss script, which you can use for a silent installation of Adobe Acrobat Reader. (A silent installation means the installer displays no interface, and all options are preselected.) Once you've recorded the Setup.iss script, you can use it in conjunction with the Acrobat Reader installer to install in 32-bit Windows operating systems (for example, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0).

For large-scale enterprise deployment of Acrobat Reader, use the Acrobat Enterprise Installation Tool, available from Adobe's Web site at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/main.html.


Note: The Abcpy.ini file (Adobe blind copy initialization file), which enables you to customize the Acrobat Reader installer, isn't needed for these instructions. This record doesn't include instructions on how to use the Abcpy.ini file, display dialog boxes during a silent install, or access other installer applications. For information on using the Abcpy.ini file, see Related Records.


Disclaimer: Adobe Systems Incorporated provides these instructions as a courtesy, because this information is not readily available elsewhere. These instructions were not tested by Adobe Engineering, and Adobe Technical Support cannot assist with the creation of a Setup.iss script or troubleshoot issues that arise from an improperly created Setup.iss script.

Recording the Installation Process

The first step in creating the script for a silent installation is recording, or copying, the installation process you'll want to use for the silent installation:
1. Choose Start > Run, then click Browse.
2. Navigate to the Acroread folder on the Acrobat CD-ROM, select the Setup.exe file, and click Open. The pathname appears in the Run dialog box.
3. Type a space after the path in the Run line, and then type -r. For example, the pathname could appear as "C:\Acroread\Setup.exe -r". Click OK.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions, selecting the options you want to use for any silent installations, such as the location of the Acrobat Reader program files. The installer creates a Setup.iss file in the Windows folder.


Using the Script

Once you've got the Setup.iss script file that contains the recorded installation options, you can run the Acrobat installer with the script from any other computer:
1. Copy the Setup.iss file into the same folder as the Acrobat Reader installer. (If your installer is on a CD, you will have to copy the folder with the installer to your hard drive.)
2. Choose Start > Run, then click Browse.
3. Select the Setup.exe file for Acrobat Reader, and click Open. The pathname appears in the Run dialog box.
4. Type a space after the path in the Run line, and then type -s. For example, the pathname could appear as "C:\Windows\Desktop\Setup.exe -s". Click OK.


The installer installs Acrobat Reader using the options you selected while creating the Setup.iss file. You won't have to select any installation options and the installer won't display any dialog boxes indicating its progress.

;***************************************************************
;Adobe Installer External Configuration File: Abcpy.ini
;***************************************************************

;***************************************************************
;Main Section
;The (Product) key is a required key
;***************************************************************
[MAIN]Product=Acrobat Reader 5.0


;***************************************************************
;OEM Installation Options
;***************************************************************
[OEM Install]
SetupTitle=
SetupCaptionBarTitle=
DisplayWelcomeDlg=NO
DisplayEULA=NO
DisplayTypeOfInstallDlg=NO
DisplaySelectDestDirDlg=NO
DisplayCustomDlg=NO
DisplayUserInfoDlg=NO
DisplayConfirmRegDlg=NO
DisplayStartCopyDlg=NO
DisplayFinishDlg=NO
DisplayFinalMessage=NO
DisplayRebootDlg=NO
DisplayMaintUIDlg=NO
ProgGroupName=
DefaultDestDir=
OverrideDestinationPath=NO
UserName=
UserCompanyName=
UserSerialNumber=
DisplayBackGround=NO
DisplayProgressBar=
ProgressBarStart=
ProgressBarEnd=
CloseRunningApps=NO
InstallModeSilent=YES
UninstallCombineVersions=YES
UninstallPreviousVersions=YES
UninstallModeSilent=NO
PDFOutputFolder=


;***************************************************************
;**** Program Files BlindCopy
;***************************************************************
[ReaderBlindCopy]
NumberOfGroups=1

Group1Platform=All
Group1Language=All

;--Requirement Objects
Group1NumberOfRequirements=
Group1Requirement1=
Group1RegEditFile=

;--File Objects
Group1NumberOfFiles=
Group1DestDir=
Group1Loc=

Group1FileName1=
Group1File1ExpandType=

Group1FileName2=
Group1File2ExpandType=DateWithSubDir

;--Shortcut Objects
Group1NumberOfIcons=
Group1Icon1Style=
Group1Icon1Folder=
Group1Icon1SubFolder=
Group1Icon1Exe=
Group1Icon1ExeSubDir=
Group1Icon1Description=
Group1Icon1Number=

Group1Icon2Style=
Group1Icon2Folder=
Group1Icon2SubFolder=
Group1Icon2Exe=
Group1Icon2ExeSubDir=
Group1Icon2Description=
Group1Icon2Number=
Group1Icon2App=
Group1Icon2AppLoc=

;--Registry Objects
Group1NumberOfRegEntries=2
Group1RegEntry1Platform=ALL
Group1RegEntry1ParentKey=HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Group1RegEntry1Key=Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\5.0\AdobeViewer
Group1RegEntry1ValueName=TrustedMode
Group1RegEntry1ValueType=NUMBER
Group1RegEntry1ValueData=1

Group1RegEntry2Platform=ALL
Group1RegEntry2ParentKey=HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Group1RegEntry2Key=Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\5.0\AdobeViewer
Group1RegEntry2ValueName=TrustedMode
Group1RegEntry2ValueType=NUMBER
Group1RegEntry2ValueData=1

;--INI Objects
Group1NumberOfIniEntries=
Group1IniEntry1Platform=
Group1IniEntry1FileLoc=
Group1IniEntry1FileName=
Group1IniEntry1Section=
Group1IniEntry1Key=
Group1IniEntry1Value=

;--Launch Objects
[Launches]
NumberOfLaunches=
Launch1Platform=
Launch1Language=
Launch1Type=
Launch1Program=
Launch1CmdLine=
Launch1ChangeDir=
Launch1Wait=