Upgrade Reader with msi patch and transform

Question

I am trying to create an MSI package to upgrade any previous versions (8x, 9x, 10x) of Adobe Reader to version 10.1.3 using an MSP patch and a transform but it's not working as expected. When I run the package on a machine that has a previous version (10.1.1), the task history shows that the install completed successfully, but Reader is not updated on the machine. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

As a template, I used the Solarwinds package "Adobe Reader 10.1.3 (Full) and changed the settings on the Select Package screen:

Type: Windows installer file (.msi)

Package: AcroRead.msi (this is the 10.1.0 installer)

Download URL: <the path to the .msi on my file server>

Additional files: 6 files, packageboot.xml, packageboot.exe, AcroRead.msi, AdbeRdr.mst, AdbeRdrUpd1013.msp, Data1.cab

Command Line: PATCH=AdbeRdrUpd1013.msp TRANSFORMS=AdbeRdr.mst

The command line arguments are based on information in the Acrobat Enterprise Administration guide (http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/enterprise-administration-acrobat-products.html), section 5.2.6.3 (pg 65):

Example 5.2: msiexec: Updating 10.x products

msiexec.exe /i "[UNC PATH]\AdbeRdr1000_lang_ID.msi" PATCH="[UNCPATH]\AdbeRdrUpd1010_en_US.msp" TRANSFORMS="1036.mst"

I also added an applicability rule to check that AcroRd32.exe exists, since I don't want to install reader on machines that don't have a previous version installed.

bottleneck · Accepted Answer

There has been some changes to the packages since the original .mst video that is in the support files. That video demonstrates how to use an msi to create your mst and package. The new package files contain an .exe.

I was successful to convert and deploy a package the way your wanting to with a fewsteps outlined below. In this example I am using adobe reader 10.1.2 After some testing it is possible to do this.

The original exe file does need to be extracted via the command as described here:

AdbeRdr1012_en_US.exe -sfx_o"<extraction path>" -sfx_ne

For example if you are wanting to extract to the “C:\adobe_extracted” folder you previously created it would be:

AdbeRdr1012_en_US.exe -sfx_o"C:\adobe_extracted " -sfx_ne

Then after building the mst with the customization wizard pointed at the associated Acroread.msi you can deploy the package.

You must point the package at the setup.exe from the extraction (not the original) and upload to server.
You must include all the additional 6 files from the directory where you extracted the exe.
It should contain ABCPY.INI, AcroRead.msi, adbeRdrUpd1012.msp,Data1.cab,setup.ini, and the created :”yourmstfile.mst”
The setup.ini file will have all references to the .mst and .msp required for the update
You do not need a transform rule as the setup.ini contains all the appropriate information.
The transform deployment was successful on the machine with all requested changes.

Please follow as described here and follow up with any questions. Hope this helps!

Upgrade Reader with msi patch and transform

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