Customize and Deploy Adobe CS3 Easily

The graphical user interface is a fine way to install Adobe CS3. But imagine having to install Adobe CS3 on multiple computers. Sure one is manageable, and so is 10, or even 20. But what if you have more systems that you need to deploy Adobe CS3 to? This is a problem that I encountered at work and sought after a better solution than touching every computer and running the install with the install DVD.

Adobe provides a document which illustrates using a technique called a silent install to deploy Adobe CS3 to multiple systems. This document was not so clear and easy to understand. Here's the solution if you don't wish to think very much more about deployment techniques for this product.

Copy the contents of the DVD onto your desktop. We then need to create an XML file that contains information regarding the install process. This information includes a serial number, as well as the ability to suppress registration, EULA, and updates. To do this, launch TextEdit and type in or copy and paste the following lines.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <Configuration> <Payload> <Data key="Serial" protected="0">XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX</Data> <Data key="Registration">Suppress</Data> <Data key="EULA">Suppress</Data> <Data key="Updates">Suppress</Data> </Payload> </Configuration>

Replace XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX with your serial and save this file as "application.xml.override". This file is going to go into the following location

/Adobe CS3 Design Premium/payloads/AdobeDesignSuitePremiumen_US_Volume/

The next step would be to execute the silent install. To do this, we will run the following command.

sudo [Path to setup.app]/Contents/MacOS/Setup --mode=silent --deploymentFile=[Path to deployment.xml]

The command that I run looks like this:

sudo /Users/spencerkam.com/Desktop/Adobe CS3 Design Premium/Setup.app/Contents/MacOS/Setup.app --mode=silent --deploymentFile=/Users/spencerkam.com/Desktop/Adobe CS3 Design Premium/deployment/install.xml

After running this command, you will need to sit back and relax for 30minutes to an hour depending on the speed of the computer that you are deploying to. If you are successful, you will receive an exit code of 0.

Here are a few tips that may help point you in the right direction in the event that you receive any exit codes other than 0.

6: Most likely a problem with your "application.xml.override" file. Double check for missing <, >, or ".

7: Clear out anything in /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Installers

Once you have the silent install process exiting with code 0, you can begin deploying CS3 to your client computers. My deployment strategy is simply to push out the Adobe CS3 Design Premium package to my client desktops. I complete the push out using Apple Remote Desktop. Once the clients have the install package copied onto their desktops, you can then begin the silent install with the command similar to this.

sudo [Path to setup.app]/Contents/MacOS/Setup --mode=silent --deploymentFile=[Path to deployment.xml]

**UPDATE**
You can add dock icons to a user's dock by following this article.