The Soda PDF 8 application contains a variety of modules to be installed as part of the installation process, based on which modules are unlocked by the license key. If you are budgeting bandwidth allocation or system resources, you may not want to install the entire application. This guide will explain to Windows administrators how to use your SCCM Software to install Soda PDF 8 either in its entirety or specific modules only.
Step 1: Creating the source
The first step is to create the “source.” When entering your command lines, the installation packages will reference the source files. For demonstration purposes, we created a folder called Source for our MSIs. You can name this folder anything you want. Be sure to use your folder name instead of “source” when entering your command lines later on.
Click here to download the individual MSI files. Unzip them into your “Source” folder.
The zip file will contain a folder with the version number of Soda PDF. This contains two folders. There are both X64 and X86 options available.
In each folder, you will find MSI installers for each module specific to the OS type.
You now have the source files in place.
Step 2: Creating a shared folder
Open the Windows Explorer and right-click on the source folder, then open the Properties.
Click on Sharing and then Advanced Sharing.
Check the box next to Share this folder.
Click on Permissions.
Under the Everyone section, we recommend you only leave the Read option checked. However, you can use any permission level based on your operational needs.
While you are here, you can always create different permission levels for different administrator groups. Click on Add… and then choose the new permissions.
When you are ready, click OK.
Click OK again.
It is important to take note of the Network Path for the shared folder you have just configured. We will reference this later on.
Click on the Apply option and then Close. If Apply is greyed out, simply click on Close.
Step 3: Creating the MSI application
Open your SCCM Software. In the Software Library, click on Applications and then press Create Application.
The Create Application Wizard will open. In the General section, click on Browse…
This will open a Browse Window. Go to the Source folder created earlier. Look for the “Startup” MSI. This should always be the first MSI that is installed for Soda PDF 8. Click on Open.
Then choose Next.
The SCCM Software will now convert the MSI into an application. Click on Next when it is finished.
If you have any administrator comments you would like to add, you can do so here.
You will need to add a Command Line which will add the license key activating the command line. Add the following after the Installation Program path:
PRODKEY=”xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxx”
Click here for a list of additional commands you can use.
When you are ready, click on Next.
In the screen that appears, you will have a chance to verify all your settings. It’s important to double-check everything is correct here or there may be an error. Click on Next to proceed.
When the application is created correctly, you will see the screen below. Click on Close.
The application will now be created. You will see it appear under your Applications list.
To install the additional modules, proceed to repeat the process outlined in Step 3. Do not add the license key or additional parameters for the other modules. This is only meant to be linked to the startup module.
Step 4: Deploying Soda PDF 8.
You can now deploy each module to the local machines. Click on the View Module (the Startup MSI) and click Deploy.
Click on Browse… next to Collection.
You will now choose where to deploy the software. Click on the dropdown on the left and choose Device Collections. You should then choose which group of computers best applies.
Click on OK.
Click on Next.
It is time to add the distribution point. Click on Add.
Select the Distribution Point from the list. Check the box next to the list and click on OK.
Then click on Next.
Click on Next again.
Click on the Summary option on the left. Verify everything is ok, then click Next.
Then click Close.
Repeat these instructions for each module you’d like to install.
Soda PDF 8 should be successfully deployed.
Additional Installation Parameters for Soda PDF 8.
The following command lines can also be set during the installation process:
“CREATE_DESKTOP_SHORTCUT” – This will create a desktop shortcut for Soda PDF 8 for all users.
“CREATE_QUICK_LAUNCH_SHORTCUT” – This will create a shortcut for Soda PDF 8 in the QuickLaunch directory for all users.
“SET_AS_DEFAULT_APPLICATION” – This will set Soda PDF 8 as the default application for the PDF file format for the current user.
“APPLICATION_LANGUAGE” – This will let you specify which language you want to use for Soda PDF 8 for all users.
The example below will describe the process of deploying parameters.
Scenario:
You need to install Soda PDF 8 in a silent mode while creating a desktop shortcut and setting the default language to German.
The command line should be as follows:
Msiexec.exe /a “soda8-startup-8.0.51.26506.msi” /quiet CREATE_DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=1 APPLICATION_LANGUAGE=de
All parameters use 1 = true and 0 = false with the exception of the language selection. Below you can find each language with its corresponding parameter code:
English – en
French – fr
German – de
Spanish – es
Italian – it
Japanese – ja
Russian – ru
Portuguese – pt