New feature: Self-installing packages...

[Former Member]

One of the features that customers asked for was the ability to create a single file self-installing archive. So, here it is!

This feature allows you to:

1. Create a single-file self-installing exe-package via NWSAPSetupAdmin.exe.
2. It contains only those files that belong to the components that are a part of the package - so, reduces your network load in certain distribution scenarios where you previously had to make local copies of your installation source before installing.
3. This single-file self-installer can also install silently i.e. without user interaction.

Pre-requisites for using this feature:

1. You have created a SAP installation server using NWCreateInstServer.exe available with your SAP GUI CD, or inside the SETUP folder of any other SAP software installed using SAP Installer.
2. You have SAP GUI Patch Level 8 or higher available.

Creating a self-installing package:

1. If you haven't already, apply the latest SAP GUI patch (PL8 or higher) to your installation server using NWSAPSetupAdmin.
2. After the patch has been applied, start NWSAPSetupAdmin.exe (you will need .NET 2.0 to use this version).
3. If you have not already created a package that contains your desired components, now is the time to do it.
4. Once the package has been created, right-click the package(in the ‘Packages’ tree) and select menu option “Compress Package To Self Extractor”.
5. Follow the wizard and you should get a single exe-self-extractor at the end of the process.
6. Close NWSAPSetupAdmin.exe.

Deploying this package:

1. Now, this singe self-extracting installer can be executed on any workstation to install your package.
2. Follow the installation wizard. 
3. This self-installing package can be installed silently (i.e. without user-interaction) when invoked with the command-line parameter /silent.

How to analyse a problem: 

1. If you face problems with installing the self-installable package, use our Video Demo: Checking the health of SAP software installation on a Workstation.
2. If you face problems with creating one, check first that your server has no missing files - via the Check-Server feature.

You can report problems by writing to this post. Remember to tell us when stuff works - that interests me too!.