No Installation Deployment strategy?

[JasonCurebanas]

In version 370 and older, it was possible to launch ArcGIS for AutoCAD via a NETLOAD command and choosing the arcgisforautocad.dll. However, in both 400 and 410 attempting this gets the app running but the "sign in" button is unresponsive when clicked. I see in the documentation for 410 it is stated:

Installation location
Due to the restrictions of AutoCAD, the ArcGIS for AutoCAD application must be installed in the ApplicationPlugins folder at the AutoCAD installation location:
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins
Moving the application outside of this installation folder is not supported and prevents ArcGIS for AutoCAD from loading properly.

I would prefer a deployment in my organization where we aren't reliant on IT to manage handle installation. Can anyone explain why this is limited NOW and not previously? Any suggestions to work around this?

thanks!

[Randy_Garcia · Accepted solution]

Hey Jason!

Yup you are right, NETLOAD-ing is an issue with AFA 400 & up. We are no longer reliant on just one .dll so it makes it difficult to netload. If you did want to netload you would need to netload all of the .dlls in ArcGIS for AutoCAD. 

While you can go the netload route I do not suggest it. A better method if you want to deploy this yourself to your cad users is to:

1. install ArcGIS for AutoCAD yourself.
2. Navigate to the install location: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins

3. Copy the "ArcGISforAutoCAD.Bundle" Folder (note: everything needed for ArcGIS for AutoCAD is contained in this folder)

4. Deploy that folder to all the machines you want ArcGIS for AutoCAD on by copying the ArcGISforAutoCAD.Bundle on those machines. Here is some info from Autodesk on the supported locations for the "Bundle" 

A plug-in can be deployed by placing it in one of the ApplicationPlugins or ApplicationAddins folders on a local drive.

• General Installation folder
  • Windows 8.1 and later versions: %PROGRAMFILES%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins
• All Users Profile folders
  • Windows 8.1 and later versions: %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins
• User Profile folders
  • Windows 8.1 and later versions: %APPDATA%\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins

The user install locations will not need admin access to copy to that location. It will prompt AutoCAD for you to specify "Trust All" when loading AFA the first time. 

Let me know if you have any questions. Hope this helps!

[GCWLicense]

As an IT guy trying to deploy software to our users, how do we deploy 410 silently to out ~200 workstations? 

[Randy_Garcia]

You can install ArcGIS for AutoCAD one one machine and then copy the entire installation located at C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\ArcGISForAutoCAD.Bundle

Copy the entire ArcGISForAutoCAD.Bundle over to each of the 200 machines to the C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins\ location.

Copying that folder over to that location is the same and only action the installer performs.

Let me know if you need any other help with this.

[GCWLicense]

Thanks; we figured it out.

If anyone else is looking for the proper way to deploy this, the command is:

"\\server\sharedInstallLocation\Setup.exe ACCEPTEULA=yes /qn /l C:\Temp\logfile.log"