Autodesk Design Review 2008 and Autodesk DWF Writer 2008 MSI files

We had and still have many requests to provide access to the Autodesk Design Review 2008 MSI file. During the Nile Beta we decided not to share it on a large scale but did provide access on a “per request basis” – that seemed to have worked well.

Now with the Autodesk Design Review 2008 product having been released, there is no further reason to stop distributing the MSI file on a larger scale. You will also find a link to the DWF Writer MSI file.

Download DesignReview2008.msi (37321.0K)
Download DWFWriter2008.msi (19642.5K)

These MSI files contain the exact same versions of the applications that you would get if you installed them using the EXE-based installers. We also take the opportunity to share some tips with you that should make the whole deployment experience easier for you.

To create the MST file and deploy the program:

1. Download orca (In the Windows SDK)
   http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa370557.aspx.
2. Read Autodesk instructions for a silent install http://dwf.blogs.com/beyond_the_paper/2007/02/free_autodesk_d.html.
3. Watch this introduction to creating MST's with Orca
   http://www.software-repackaging.com/files/flash/orca.htm.
4. Open the MSI file, create a MST, and add the two required parameters.
5. Create a group policy object to deploy the program, making sure you choose advanced and add the transform file you just created.

Happy Deployment!

--Volker

Comments

[Mike Perry]

Hi Volker and Scott
Quick question if I may...
Is the above DWFWriter2008.msi the *same* DWFWriter as DWFWriter3.5Setup.exe (currently available via http://www.autodesk.com/dwfwriter - just distributed in a different format?
Take care, Mike

[Scott Sheppard]

The MSI for these installers contains the same components as those for the released versions of these products. So DWFWriter2008.msi is the same as SetupDWFWriter3.5.exe. DWF Writer 3.5 is an update from the previous DWF Writer 3.0; however many of our applications are flying under their 2008 names now.

[Mike Perry]

Hi Scott
Thanks for the prompt and helpful reply :)
Just a suggestion: To help prevent any confusion would it not make more sense to distribute both packages under the same name e.g.
DWFWriter2008.msi & DWFWriter2008Setup.exe
OR
DWFWriter3.5.msi & DWFWriter3.5Setup.exe
OR
...
Take care, Mike

[Scott Sheppard]

Yes it would make more sense. I believe we listen to Talking Heads music quite frequently and had their _Stop Making Sense_ album in heavy rotation. It would take an act of God to get files renamed at this point. I will update the blog article that these items are the same. Thanks for the idea.

[Ross]

Gaaah, none of those steps are necessary, and I should know, I wrote them!

As I explained during the Beta, I discovered that Design Review will install fine without needing any of those extra steps.

You can install DR2008 via Group Policy by simply assigning the MSI file to computers.

Of course, disabling update checking is another matter... I'm still working on that one.