How to use a Specfile with NIVisaRuntime.msi

[LaF]

I try to use a specfile when I install NIVISARuntime 3.6 silently. It always popup the Windows Installer Help Window.

The command srting is executed from a batch file:

NIVISAruntime.msi specfile.txt /qb-! REBOOT=ReallySuppress

When I use the command "NIVISAruntime.msi /qb-! REBOOT=ReallySuppress", it works fine. But when I specify a specfile, the Windows Installer help window pop up (Win Installer version V 3.01.4000.1823) and nothing install.

Here is my specfile:

[Features]
Serial.VSARU=Local
NIVISA.VSARU=Local
Run_Time_Support.VSARU=Local
NIMUFeature=Local
PXI.VSARU=Absent
Tulip.VSARU=Absent
GPIB_VXI.VSARU=Absent
API.VSARU=Absent
GPIB.VSARU=Absent
VISA_core.VSARU=Absent
Enet_Serial.VSARU=Absent
Ethernet.VSARU=Absent
Remote.VSARU=Absent
COM_Support.VSARU=Absent
FireWire.VSARU=Absent
USB.VSARU=Absent
VISA_support.VSARU=Absent

[Directories]
=C:\VISA

The specfile is next to the NIVISARuntime.msi

Is there a problem with my specfile definition, the command line or the version of the windows installer on this PC?

Configuration:

Windows XP Prof SP2

NIVISARuntime 3.6

Thanks

LaF

[Jason W]

Hey LaF,

Thank you for contacting National Instruments.  One thing you can try is upgrading Windows Installer to versions 3.1.  Here is a link to the website for the upgrade.  Let me know if this helps.

Regards,
Jason W
Application Engineer
National Instruments

[PaulGoldberg]

Was a solution ever reached. It seems that the parameters are being applied to the msiexec and not the nivisaruntime.msi. I also tried to use a specfile and am getting the same result. I believe this is because msiexec does not understand the nivisaruntime options.

How can you supply command line arguments, such a the specfile to the nivisaruntime.msi installer?

Thanks

Paul

[Raj_V]

Hi Paul,

I don't think there's even an option to install an MSI package from a spec file. If you do "NIVISAruntime /h", you'll see there isn't anywhere in the help that pops up that mentions a spec file. Why are you attempting to install the .msi instead of the .exe. If you use setup.exe, then you can use a specfile. The knowledge base article below identifies how this can be done.

http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/websearch/878FC4C374013ADF8625733D00688F67

[PaulGoldberg]

We are trying install NI VISA Runtime for Ethernet and USB only, since these are the only valid options our customers will need for our instruments. I now realize that the command line options are only applied to the msiexec.exe program. We were hoping to be able to limit the products installed but now realize this is not possible with the current implementation. If you can offer any other solutions that would be helpful.

Thanks.

[Raj_V]

Hi Paul,

I'm not quite sure I understand why you want to point it to the MSI for the runtime. Based on the specfile instructions that I see, it simply says that the command line argument should be to point to the setup.exe for the runtime. You can set all the values in the spec file to "Absent" except for the Ethernet, and USB to make sure only those 2 get installed. (As seen below) Is this not an option?

 PXI.VSARU=Absent
      GPIB.VSARU=Absent
      Serial.VSARU=Absent
      GPIB_VXI.VSARU=Absent
      Ethernet.VSARU=Default
      Remote.VSARU=Absent
      Enet_Serial.VSARU=Absent
      USB.VSARU=Default
      FireWire.VSARU=Absent
      Tulip.VSARU=Absent
      COM_Support.VSARU=Absent

[PaulGoldberg]

Hi Raj,

I have noticed the Setup.Exe has many more items than I need, including Setup.EXE. I wish to only install the NIVISARuntime USB and Ethernet. Also this I am using a Click Once installer which somewhat limits the files I specify as a prequisite when I am using a Third party installer (NI). If you could tell me how to just use the Setup.EXE with the correct config.ini settings that might work as well. As it stands it does work nicely using NIVisaRuntime.

Can you please tell me any pitfalls I will encounter If I use this technique, just loading the nivisaruntime.msi. I do not need any kind of lanugage support or 64 bit support it not required yet. When I use this approach it works and have not any ill effects even when loaded on a brand new machine.

Thanks

Paul Goldberg

Anritsu Company

[Raj_V]

Hi Paul,

I'm a little confused. What exact setup.exe are we talking about here? Is it that can be seen after you unzip the exe from the link below?

http://joule.ni.com/nidu/cds/view/p/id/1606/lang/en

If it is this one, you will notice another setup.exe file within the  C:\National Instruments Downloads\NI-VISA Runtime\4.6.2 directory, along with the spec file. If you simply navigate to the download folder and run setup.exe with the following command,

setup.exe "C:\National Instruments Downloads\NI-VISA Runtime\4.6.2" /q /AcceptLicenses yes

you will be able to run the installer for ONLY the runtime engine. You can modify the spec file in that same folder before doing this to make sure that only support for the interfaces you need are added.

I hope this is what you are looking for.