Automatic Installation of Apache OpenOffice on Using the Windows Installer
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Note: This is no longer valid for OpenOffice.org 3.x
Contents
Introduction
Apache OpenOffice can be easily installed on a central location in a network. This How To shows which parameters and properties of the installation program can be used to cooperate with an existing corporate software distribution process. A re-packaging ("snapshot") is not required.
System Requirements
Apache OpenOffice 2.x distributes standard MSI files for installation on Windows platforms using the Windows Installer technology. Supported platforms are Windows 2000, Windows XP or Vista. It is strongly recommended to install the latest Service packs and all available Windows Updates before starting the installation.
Template:Documentation/Note Additionally, a software distribution program is needed to control the distribution of the software in the corporate environment. This is beyond the scope of this How To since their operation differs considerably from product to product. However, all of them can distribute MSI files in a network. The parameters required to control this will be described in this How To.
Downloading and Unpacking Apache OpenOffice
First step is to download the installation files for Apache OpenOffice. You can get them for free from http://download.openoffice.org. Save the downloaded file in a folder of your choice. You will get one single executable file:
OOo_2.3.0_Win32Intel_install_wJRE_en-US.exe
The actual file name may differ according to the selected language and software version.
This file contains the installation package in compressed format. It has to be unpacked first:
- Double-click the filename in the Explorer
- Click Next >
- Select the folder for unpacking, for instance, [/C:/OOo_Install C:\OOo_Install]
- Click Unpack
- Click Cancel to terminate the installation routine at this point.
If you would continue the installation routine, Apache OpenOffice would be installed for one user on this machine. However, the scope of this How To is a Silent or Unattended installation of Apache OpenOffice in a network. After unpacking you are safe to delete the downloaded exe file.
Unattended (Automatic) Installation
After unpacking, you will get a number of files, one of them being openofficeorg23.msi which is the central installation file. MSI files are installation programs that make use of the Windows Installer technology from Microsoft. There is a central installation utility called msiexec that manages the installation and can be controlled using parameters.
For a first test installation you should select a client that has no Apache OpenOffice installed:
- Open a command window (Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt)
- Change to the folder with the unpacked installation files, for instance
cd C:\OOo_Install - To start an installation that requires no user interaction, issue the following command:
start /wait msiexec /qn /norestart /i openofficeorg23.msi
The parameters used above are:
- start /wait
- Since installation will be performed in the background (no output on the screen) we do not know when the installation is completed and we can move on. By using start /wait in front of the msiexec command, the command line will pause any other task until the installation routine has finished. Then, the cursor will be visible again.
- msiexec
- This is the Windows Installer utility
- /qn
- This parameter specifies that no user interface will be displayed during the installation: no progress bar, no dialog boxes, but also no error messages! Variations of this parameter are
/qb for a simple interface displaying only a progress bar in Windows Installer design
/qr for a reduced interface displaying only a progress bar in Apache OpenOffice design - /norestart
- Some installation programs attempt to reboot the system automatically after installation. This parameter avoids that. However, after installing new software under Windows it is generally recommended to reboot the system at the earliest convenience.
- /i
- This is the parameter that starts the installation
After calling the command you either see a progress bar or nothing (depending on the /q parameter used). After the installation has finished, the cursor will reappear on the command line. Depending on the system this may take several minutes. We have just successfully performed our first unattended installation of Apache OpenOffice.
If you open the Windows start menu now, you will see an OpenOffice.org 2.0 entry in the Programs section, and you are ready to start OpenOffice.org. This installation is for all users on that client. A separate user installation step is not required.
To deinstall Apache OpenOffice at a later time use the following command:
start /wait msiexec /qn /norestart /x openofficeorg20.msi
Using /x instead of /i starts the deinstallation process. After deinstallation you should reboot the system at the earliest convenience.
MSI Properties
This section might be invalid for OOo 3. See the Specification Document http://specs.openoffice.org/installation/filetyperegistration/foreign_file_type_registration.odt
The example installation above does not allow to change default settings like the installation path for Apache OpenOffice. To use other than the default settings you can use MSI properties that are specified when msiexec is called on the command line:
start /wait msiexec /qn /norestart /i openofficeorg20.msi PROPERTY1=Value1 PROPERTY2=Value2
The following overview lists the available properties.
Property | Description and allowed values |
---|---|
SELECT_WORD | Use Apache OpenOffice as default application for MS Word files?
|
SELECT_EXCEL | Use Apache OpenOffice as default application for MS Excel files?
|
SELECT_POWERPOINT | Use Apache OpenOffice as default application for MS Powerpoint files?
|
INSTALLLOCATION | Installation path for Apache OpenOffice, enclosed in double quotes ("). If the path does not exist it will be created. |
COMPANYNAME | Name of the company that Apache OpenOffice should be registered to, enclosed in double quotes ("). Can stay empty. |
USERNAME | Name of the user that Apache OpenOffice should be registered to, enclosed in double quotes ("). Can stay empty. |
ADDLOCAL and REMOVE |
This pair of properties controls which software components are to be installed.
ALL: Installs all Apache OpenOffice components (ADDLOCAL=ALL) If ALL is not used, the core components have to be specified manually, as ADDLOCAL=gm_Root, gm_Prg, gm_r_Files_2, gm_r_Files_3, gm_r_Files_4, gm_r_Files_5, gm_r_Files_6, gm_r_Files_7, gm_r_Files_8, gm_r_Files_9, gm_r_Fonts_OOo_Hidden in addition to non-core modules that are to be installed. The following list shows the components that need to be installed to install a given module:
If multiple modules are installed that require a common component, the component only needs to be specified once, for example: To install the Quick starter and ActiveX Control Element, the components would be: gm_Optional,gm_o_Quickstart,gm_o_Activexcontrol and not gm_Optional,gm_o_Quickstart,gm_Optional,gm_o_Activexcontrol Always use ADDLOCAL=ALL and then specify the unwanted components using REMOVE to avoid missing required components. |
Examples
Example 1
To install Apache OpenOffice with the following options
- use Apache OpenOffice as the default application for DOC, XLS and PPT files (recommended if you want to open MS Office files with Apache OpenOffice seamlessly)
- use C:\Open Office as the target installation folder
- install all components except for the Database module (Base)
you have to issue the following command:
start /wait msiexec /qn /norestart /i openofficeorg20.msi SELECT_WORD=1 SELECT_EXCEL=1 SELECT_POWERPOINT=1 INSTALLLOCATION="C:\Open Office" ADDLOCAL=ALL REMOVE=gm_p_Base,gm_p_Base_Bin,gm_p_Base_Help
Example 2
To install Apache OpenOffice with the following options
- do not use Apache OpenOffice as the default application for DOC, XLS and PPT files (for example, if you have MS Office already installed on your system)
- use C:\OOo as the target installation folder
- only install the Writer component
you have to issue the following command:
start /wait msiexec /qn /norestart /i openofficeorg20.msi SELECT_WORD=0 SELECT_EXCEL=0 SELECT_POWERPOINT=0 INSTALLLOCATION="C:\OOo" ADDLOCAL=gm_Root, gm_Prg, gm_r_Files_2, gm_r_Files_3, gm_r_Files_4, gm_r_Files_5, gm_r_Files_6, gm_r_Files_7, gm_r_Files_8, gm_r_Files_9, gm_r_Fonts_OOo_Hidden, gm_p_Wrt, gm_p_Wrt_Bin, gm_p_Wrt_Help
Content on this page is licensed under the Public Documentation License (PDL). |