How to Edit an Office 2000 Windows Installer Package to Automatically Push the CD Key Number

ID: Q224334

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SUMMARY

When you assign a Windows Installer (MSI) package to be deployed with Basic User Interface (UI), you may want make changes to the package. With Basic UI deployment, the user has no control over installation options. In this case, it is necessary for the administrator to add a transform (.mst file) or manually edit the package (.msi file). The CD Key number is an important consideration.

MORE INFORMATION

There are 3 entries you need to make in the Office 2000 package to push the CD Key number with the installation.

NOTE: This takes effect regardless of whether the package is pushed with a Basic UI or Maximum UI installation. With a Basic UI installation, the user never sees the CD Key number or installation options. With a Maximum UI installation, the user receives the standard registration screen, but the CD Key number is already specified.

WARNING: If you improperly edit a program's original .msi file, you may receive error messages when you publish or assign the program. Microsoft recommends that you use the original .msi file as a template and save the new .msi file using a different file name.

Add the following entries to the .msi file to push the CD Key number with a program installation:

Tables Action Type Source Target

CustomAction OCW_SET_PIDKEY 51 PIDKEY type CD Key

Tables Action Condition Sequence

InstallExecuteSequence OCW_SET_PIDKEY leave blank 799

Tables Action Condition Sequence

InstallUISequence OCW_SET_PIDKEY leave blank 999

You can use the technique to modify any of the common variables such as USERNAME, COMPANYNAME, USERINITIALS.

For information about assigning a Windows Installer package to be deployed with Basic UI, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q224330 Assigning a Windows Installer Package with Minimal Interaction

For more information about how to edit .msi files, please see the Microsoft Windows Installer Software Development Kit (SDK).

Additional query words: darwin

Keywords : kbsetup kbMSI
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto