| Applies To | |||
| Product(s): | Structural Products (RAM and STAAD) | ||
| Version(s): | v8i | ||
| Environment: | N/A | ||
| Area: | Installation | ||
| Original Author: | Bentley Technical Support Group |
Non-interactive installation overview
Most RAM and STAAD products are now packaged as Microsoft Installer Packages. This installer type allows network administrators to install a product on multiple machines without running the interactive installer on each one by hand. Following are instructions for installing a product in a non-interactive manner which can be automated.
All products downloaded from Bentley's MySELECT CD software service are packaged as either an InstallShield Wizard extractor or a Win32 Cabinet extractor:
- To expand InstallWizard extractors, open it, and expand the files to a specified location (C:\BentleyDownloads by default). Then cancel the interactive installer that automatically starts. Finally navigate to C:\BentleyDownloads and locate the MSI installer for the product.
- To expand Win32 Cabinet extractors, execute the following command from a Command Prompt or the Run window:
"name of extractor" /c /t:"extraction directory"
Note: When specifying the extraction directory, be sure to specify a directory that is empty or that doesn't exist yet. Once the files have been extracted, navigate to the extraction directory, and locate the MSI installer for the product.
To install a product without any graphical feedback, known as a silent or quiet installation, run the following command as an administrator:
msiexec /i "path to MSI installer" /quiet
Windows Vista and 7 users must explicitly run the Command Prompt as an administrator, or the quiet installation will silently fail.
Determining the progress of a quiet installation can be difficult since there is no feedback. To install a product with only the display of a progress indicator, known as an unattended or passive installation, run the following command:
msiexec /i "path to MSI installer" /passive
Windows Vista and 7 users must explicitly run the Command Prompt as an administrator, or the unattended installation will prompt for administrator access before continuing.
Prerequisites for structural products
The following Microsoft components must also be installed if not already present either via Windows Update or via the links below:
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=en
Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30653
Following are specific instructions for non-interactive installations of RAM and STAAD products.
RAM Structural System V8i
To uninstall previous versions of RAM Structural System and install 15.05.xx along with any dependencies, run the installer with the "/silent" flag like below:
rss6415050041en.exe /silent
If a RamIS.ini file does not exist, the RAM Structural System installer will use default locations for all directories. Otherwise, it will use the locations specified in the INI file. The INI file resides in one of two locations depending on the operating system:
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System
Windows Vista /7 - C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System
The INI file outlines the directory structure of the program, which the program uses to find program files, tables, reports, etc. It also is the file where user defaults are saved. It is common to push a common INI file to all machines during the installation process, so all users use the same defaults. If this is done, it is important to check the following:
1. Beginning with v14.06.00, RAM Structural System can be installed as a 32-bit or 64-bit program. The program files for the 32-bit version are saved in C:\Program Files (x86). The program files for the 64-bit version are saved in C:\Program Files. If an INI file for a 32-bit installation is saved on a machine on which the 64-bit version is installed, the program will search for the program files in the wrong location and the program will not function. Be sure that the lines in bold correspond to the locations where the 32-bit or 64-bit version files will be placed.
[Directories]
tutorial=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Tutorial\
cimsteel=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\CimSteel\
data=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\
tables=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Tables\
reports=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Reports\
dxf=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\DXF\
manuals=C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\manuals\
program=C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Prog\
root=C:\Program Files\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\
working=C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Working
2. The INI files defines the location of the working directory. The sole purpose of this directory is to serve as a temporary save location for component files of the .rss file when the file is in use. It is strongly recommend that the default paths below be used for the working directory. The working directory should never be saved on a network drive, and .rss files should never be saved in this directory. Problems can also occur if the working directory is saved to the C:\Program Files or a user directory.
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Working
Windows Vista /7 - C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Structural System\Data\Working
3. If an INI file is not found on the machine and one is created during the installation, the user will be asked to define the path of the working directory the first time the program is launched. If this is the case, it is important that the same recommendations for the working directory location discussed in Point 2 above are followed when setting the location.
RAM Concept V8i
Microsoft DirectX 9 or later must be installed for this program to function properly.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en
An installer for DirectX is included with the RAM Concept installer.
For RAM Concept CONNECT Edition (English) 32-bit 06.00.xx.xx, please use the following commands:
To display help, run
rct06000106en.exe /?
To install with no UI, run
rct06000106en.exe /install /passive
RAM Concept silent installation rebooting the machine
STAAD.Pro V8i
A non-interactive installation of this program creates a program shortcut on the desktop, but no shortcuts for the program and supporting files in the Windows Start menu. To create the STAAD.Pro V8i folder in the Windows Start menu, copy the shortcut folder from a workstation that used the interactive installer.
STAAD(X) V8i
This program provides a prerequisite pack containing a number of Microsoft components that must be installed first. The prerequisite pack contains the following Microsoft components that must be installed:
Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 Language Pack (for non-English versions only)
http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=39C8B63B-F64B-4B68-A774-B64ED0C32AE7
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition (also known as version 3.5)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=%2085E0C3CE-3FA1-453A-8CE9-AF6CA20946C3&displaylang=en
Microsoft DirectX 9 or later
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2DA43D38-DB71-4C1B-BC6A-9B6652CD92A3&displaylang=en