How do I deploy PDF-XChange via a Group Policy?

How do I deploy PDF-XChange Viewer over a network using an Active Directory Group Policy?

PDF-XChange 4 Pro has an MSI installer available for deploying over a network.

Download as appropriate, the 32 bit or 64 bit versions from here: http://www.tracker-software.com/product/downloads. 

Included in the installation is an extensive help document.  Page 14 (Section 1.6) describes the Standard Switches for MSI type installers.  Additionally the latest version is available from the MSI installer itself.  The first screen when launched in Graphical mode has a help button that documents the available switches and will pertain to the version you are installing.

Some examples of how this might be used.

An unattended installation with only a progress bar and default settings and logging (of the installation process) enabled:

msiexec.exe /i \\fileserv\data\files\install\PDFXC_x86.msi /passive /lv*x! c:\install.log KEY="12345-12345-12345-12345-12345"

An unattended installation, quiet, basic UI with specific components installed and defaults set for printer and browser addins, desktop and start menus shortcuts and logging.

msiexec.exe /i \\fileserv\data\files\install\PDFXCPro_x64.msi  /qb ADDLOCAL="F_Drivers,F_OfficeAddin,F_Office2PDF,F_Help_Drv,F_Wizard,F_Help_Wiz,F_Viewer,F_Help_Viewer,F_ShellExt"  SET_PRINTER_AS_DEFAULT="0" SET_VIEWER_AS_DEFAULT="1" VIEWER_IN_BROWSERS="0" DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS="1" PROGRAMSMENU_SHORTCUTS="1" /lv!*x c:\PDFXCPro_x64.msi.log
 

Options can be passed either directly through the command line for the installer or in some cases through the use of an .ini file.  The .ini file need 2 sections, [Properties] and [Profiles].

[Properties] can accept any of the Properties listed in the help file.  Please note that Properties are different from Options which cannot be included int he .ini file.

[Profiles] allows you to specify one or more profiles to be installed.  There are usually a list of ppr files with full path for the installer to access.  See this article for creating profiles and this for exporting them to .ppr files:

A sample .ini file might look like this:

[Properties]
PNAME=PDF-XChange 4.0 (MSI)
ORGANIZATION=Tracker Software Ltd.
USERMAIL=support@tracker-software.com
USERNAME=Paul
ADDLOCAL=All
KEY=PXP40-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

[Profiles]
Default=\\UNC\path\to\default.ppr
Profile1=\\UNC\path\to\A4.ppr
Profile2=\\UNC\path\to\Letter.pp

and could be called like this:

msiexec.exe /i \\UNC\path\to\installer\PDFXCPro_x64.msi  /qb CONFIGFILE="\\UNC\path\to\profileTest.ini" /lv!*x c:\PDFXCPro_x64.msi.log

In this example I have specified the full UNC path to the various resources.  The installation will fail to do what you specify if all the resources are not available so a full path is recommended.

See also: KB#262: How do I predefine default User preferences when deploying the PDF-XChange Driver?