How do I run a Silent Install for Macro Express 3?
Silent Install
A silent install means Macro Express will be installed without the user having to answer any questions during the installation process. This is useful if you want to install Macro Express from within another setup program or when installing from a server on a network.
Note: Because it requires command line parameters, a Silent Install cannot be run by clicking on the installation filename in Explorer. You may execute it from the Start | Run command or from a batch file that contains the proper command.
The /S command line parameter tells the Macro Express installer to do a Silent Install. For example: macex3.exe /S
Note: The Macro Express installation file can be named setup.exe or macex3.exe depending on where you obtained the file. In the examples shown, substitute the actual name of your Macro Express installation file. If you downloaded an installation file in zip format, you must unzip setup.exe or macex3.exe from the zip file before running a Silent Install.
Installation options
The Macro Express Install program allows you to use a text file to automatically respond to the install questions during the installation process. By putting entries in the text file, you can choose things such as where to install the program, whether Macro Express should be put in the Startup folder so it is automatically launched when Windows starts, or whether the Quick Start Guide should be displayed after Macro Express is installed.
To do this you need to create a text file with a name of your choosing and use the /M= command line parameter. For this example, we will name the file ME3Setup.txt.
macex3.exe /M=c:\ME3Setup.txt
These are the options you can put in the setup file:
INSTALLPATH=c:\myprograms\Macro Express
STARTUP=Y puts Macro Express in Windows StartUp folder.
STARTUP=N does not put Macro Express in Windows StartUp folder.
LAUNCHNOW=Y Launches Macro Express after installation is completed.
LAUNCHNOW=N does not Launch Macro Express after installation is completed.
NOQUICKSTART=Y the Quick Start Guide will not be installed.
NOQUICKSTART=N the Quick Start Guide will be installed (default).
QUICKSTARTNOW=Y displays Quick Start Guide after installation is completed or when Macro Express starts (default).
QUICKSTARTNOW=N does not display Quick Start Guide at the end of the installation.
QUICKSTARTNOW=P Prevents the Quick Start Guide from being displayed when Macro Express starts.
QUICKSTARTNOW=NP does not display Quick Start Guide at the end of the installation and also prevents the Quick Start Guide from being displayed when Macro Express starts.
Note: NOQUICKSTART prevents the Quick Start Guide from even being installed. QUICKSTARTNOW just prevents the Quick Start Guide from being displayed. When using QUICKSTARTNOW the Quick Start Guide can be installed but not automatically displayed.
WHATSNEWNOW=Y Displays What’s New in this version after install
WHATSNEWNOW=N does not display What’s New in this version after install
REBOOT=N suppresses the dialog suggesting a reboot after installation is completed, even if the installer has determined that one is needed.
LICENSENAME and LICENSECODE are used to license the software during install:
LICENSENAME=Name used when Macro Express was licensed
LICENSECODE=Code received when Macro Express was licensed
CONFIGFILEPATH= path to optional configuration file. This allows you to set a specific configuration for Macro Express at the time you install Macro Express.
To do this, install Macro Express on a computer and set all the preferences the way you want them. Then, click Tools | Export Program Configuration to create a file containing the preferences you desire. Then add CONFIGFILEPATH=c:\macexp.mcf to the MESetup.txt file.
This example assumes the preference information has been saved in the file c:\macexp.mcf.
NOEDITOR=Y the Macro Express Editor will not be installed
NOEDITOR=N the Macro Express Editor will be installed (default)
NOHELP=Y the Help file will not be installed.
NOHELP=N the Help file will be installed (default).
NOICONS=Y the sample icons will not be installed.
NOICONS=N the sample icons will be installed (default).
INSTALLOLDER=Y all files will be installed even if they are older than files already in the destination folder.
INSTALLOLDER=N newer files in the destination folder will not be overwritten (default).
MACROFILEDEST=Path and filename of where to install the macro file macexinstall.mex, if it exists
Follow these rules for installing a macro (.mex) file.
1. The macro file macexinstall.mex must exist in the same directory as the install file.
2. If the MACROFILEDEST silent install option does not exist, then a) the macro file will be installed in the same folder as the program and b) the name of the macro file is the default name for that program (macex.mex).
3. If the MACROFILEDEST silent install option is used, then the macro file will be installed in the folder and filename specified.
Sample Options Text File
Using Notepad, or some other text editor, create the file ME3Setup.txt containing the following:
INSTALLPATH=c:\Program Files\Mac Exp 3
STARTUP=N
LAUNCHNOW=N
QUICKSTARTNOW=N
REBOOT=N
LICENSENAME=Jason Jones
LICENSECODE=MCB3E-4M15F-1Q200-3W4CC-2NAJ4
Note: The License Information is for demonstration purposes only. You should use the License Information you received when you purchased Macro Express 3.
This example will cause Macro Express to be installed in the c:\Program Files\Mac Exp 3 folder. The start menu will be Mac Exp 3. Macro Express will not be launched when Windows is started. Macro Express will not run at the end of the install. The Quick Start Guide will not be displayed at the end of the install. The setup will not reboot the computer. After the installation is complete, the program will be licensed to Jason Lunt.
Note: Only insert valid options into the ME3Setup.txt file. Do not include comments.
Silent Install with Options
You may combine the Silent Install with the Installation Options listed above. After creating ME3Setup.txt you would install Macro Express 3 with the following command:
macex3.exe /S /M=c:\ME3Setup.txt
This information is also available in the Advanced Installation topic in the Macro Express Help.
– Applies to: Macro Express 3
