Response Files

InstallAnywhere 2017

Response files are installer properties files that are generated by capturing the default variable values and user responses from the execution of an installer. The record of these responses can be used to control subsequent installer executions. Typically, response files use the default name installer.properties and provide settings to support an installer running in silent mode. Response files are essentially just text files that can provide settings for an installer.

Generating Response Files

You can choose to generate a response file by selecting an option in the Advanced Designer or by using the -r command-line switch.

If you generate a response file by selecting this option, the response file is always named installer.properties or [installername].properties and will be created in the same directory as the installer.

install.exe -r "/Users/MyName/myresponse.properties"

If you do not specify the path and file name of the response file, it will be named installer.properties or [installername].properties and will be created in the same directory as the installer.

Important • A response file must be saved with the appropriate encoding.

For Windows-based target systems, the response file must be saved in one of the following encodings:

For Linux-based and macOS or OS X–based target systems, the response file must be UTF-8 without a BOM.

If an unsupported encoding is used, the installer is unable to read the file properly.

Using Response Files

Response files can be used to drive an installer in one of two ways:

Choose Install Sets Variables

The Choose Install Set panel/console variables are recorded in response files. Here is an example:

#Choose Product Features

#----------------------

CHOSEN_FEATURE_LIST=Application,Help

CHOSEN_INSTALL_FEATURE_LIST=Application,Help

CHOSEN_INSTALL_SET=Typical

Sample Response File

The following is a sample installer.properties file:

# Mon Jul 14 17:45:12 CDT 2010

# Replay feature output

# ---------------------

# This file was built by the Replay feature of InstallAnywhere.

# It contains variables that were set by Panels, Consoles or Custom Code.

#Choose Install Folder

#---------------------

USER_INSTALL_DIR=C:\\Program Files\\OfficeSuite

#Choose Shortcut Folder

#----------------------

USER_SHORTCUTS=C:\\Program Files\\OfficeSuite\\OfficeSuite

#Choose Product Features

#----------------------

CHOSEN_FEATURE_LIST=Application,Help

CHOSEN_INSTALL_FEATURE_LIST=Application,Help

CHOSEN_INSTALL_SET=Typical

#Set Eclipse Location

#--------------------

USER_INPUT_RESULT_0=C:\\Eclipse

#Install

#--------------------

-fileOverwrite_c\:\\progfile.txt=Yes

Recording User Response to File Overwrite Prompts in Response File

If you set a file’s If the file already exists on the end user’s system option in the Install File customizer of the Install view on the Sequence page to Always prompt user, the overwrite choice that the user makes is recorded in the response file using the -fileOverwrite command.

When the Always prompt user option is selected and a file overwrite situation occurs during installation, the user is then prompted to select one of the following options: Yes, Yes to All, No, or No to All.

The selection that the user makes in response to being prompted for file overwrite behavior is recorded in the response file by the -fileOverwrite command using the following syntax:

-fileOverwrite_<name of file>=value

where value would be one of the following:

For example:

-fileOverwrite_c\:\\abc.txt=Yes

When an application is installed for the first time, the -fileOverwrite command for each file is set to Yes.

See Also

About Response Files and Silent Installers

Generating Response Files

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