Customizing Setup by Using Batch Files and Switches

The Internet Explorer Customization wizard enables you to control user experience during Windows Update Setup. You can further control the setup process by using a batch file. You can use this method whether Internet Explorer is installed alone or with Microsoft Office.

When installing Internet Explorer, you can further control the setup process by using command-line switches. This method is also supported in Internet Explorer 5, and some new switches are available. To include switches, you typically use the IExpress wizard or another program to package your setup files.

In most cases, the batch-file method gives you more control over the installation of individual components and involves fewer steps. The command-line switches are provided for backwards compatibility and to support custom solutions.

Using Batch Files

You can create a batch file and place it in the same installation location as Windows Desktop Update (IE5Setup.exe), such as in the same download server folder or in the same folder on the installation CD-ROM.

You can also call a batch file by using command-line switches.

To create a batch file

• Use a text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad, and name the file IEBatch.txt. If you are using command-line switches, it is not necessary to name the file IEBatch.txt, providing the name you specify in the syntax matches the name of the batch file.

Modifying Setup by Using a Batch File

If you distribute Internet Explorer over the Internet or an intranet, you can post the batch file to the site where users download Internet Explorer. If you distribute Internet Explorer on other media, such as a compact disc or floppy disk, you can add the batch file to the media. Place it in the same folder as the IE5Setup.exe file.

Caution If you use a batch file to suppress restarting, you should make sure that your custom program restarts Internet Explorer after installation. Setup will not be complete until the computer has been restarted.

For information about batch-file syntax, see Appendix C, "Batch-Mode File Syntax and Command-Line Switches."

Using Command-Line Switches

You may want to control the way that the setup program is run. You can use command-line switches to choose the installation mode, specify a quiet mode (which removes or reduces the prompts the user receives), or control whether the computer is restarted after installation.

You can have users include command-line switches when they run Windows Update Setup, but a more typical scenario is packaging Internet Explorer with the switches by creating a custom setup program.

One tool for creating custom setup programs is the IExpress wizard (IExpress.exe), which is included with the IEAK. You can also use your own setup program.

A common use of command-line switches is to suppress user feedback and prompts from Internet Explorer if you are redistributing Internet Explorer as part of a custom program.

Caution If you use command-line switches to suppress restarting, you should make sure that your custom program restarts Internet Explorer after installation. Setup will not be complete until the computer has been restarted.

Command-line switches take precedence over similar settings in batch files and IEAK packages. You can use this precedence to your advantage if you need to change the settings you specified in the IEAK temporarily without rebuilding your IEAK package.

Scenarios for Using Command-Line Switches

Here are some scenarios that illustrate the use of command-line switches:

• You could specify a silent, or quiet, installation and specify that the third option in the list of setup options is run. An example installation type is "typical," but it depends on which types you specify when you run the IEAK. You could also specify that the computer is not restarted after installation, providing your custom solution takes care of restarting the computer.
• You could specify that a batch file is run and include the name and location of the batch file.
• You could override the download sites that you specified in the IEAK and install Internet Explorer from a location you specify. This might be helpful, for example, if you need to change the download site temporarily for troubleshooting reasons without rebuilding your IEAK package.