Anyone have any luck packaging Adobe Air?

[rseide]

I'm having some difficulty figuring out how to package the Adobe Air installer with a silent install to bypass the EULA and other install dialog screens.

I got the installer from Adobe's "distribution" site that doesn't have the normal installer that people download from the public site. I did a "Show package contents" on the installer but the installer I found is a Unix executable one.

I tried packaging the Air installer by dragging and dropping it into Composer and then installing the dmg created by Composer on a test Mac. According to the log, it installed fine but when I checked the version of Air on the test Mac, it still had the older version installed.

According to the documentation, there is a script to run to install it silently : ```
-silent {-eulaAccepted -pingbackAllowed ( -location <loc> ) -desktopShortcut -programMenu} path
``` but i can't tell if this is a bash script or what. Also, would this be run before or after installation? Sorry, I am not versed in scripting.

Do I need to make scripts to have this install?

Oh, another thing... I am not installing Air with any other Adobe product. One of my tasks is to ensure patching is up-to-date and Air is one thing that keeps falling behind, along with Flash and Java.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[cvgs]

You can install Adobe AIR on a clean development machine and then use Composer to create a PKG. Your package should then contain only those folders:

• /Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Application Installer.app
• /Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Uninstaller.app
• /Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework
• /Applications/Adobe/Flash Player

That works to install AIR for me (at least for version 2.6.0.19140). The EULA has to be accepted by each user, so you would have to create some kind of login policy to disable that.

[rseide]

Thanks, cvgs. I'll give your suggestion a shot.

Question about the EULA being disabled by a login policy: How would that work, exactly? I would like to install this silently in the background if, or while, the user is still logged in.

Thanks again.

[RobertHammen]

I have been able to package it either component-level (as above) or to drag the installer into /tmp, package that, and use a postflight script to run the Adobe command-line installer.

However, this didn't work in a non-Casper imaging workflow.

Greg Neagle has an installer template on his blog at: http://managingosx.wordpress.com/2010/09/03/updating-adobe-help-for-cs5/

I used that to successfully deploy AIR and Adobe Help.

[rseide]

Thanks, Robert.

When you say you drag the installer into /tmp and package that, how did you do that? Sorry, I'm still a little new with Casper.

I'm checking out that link now, thanks for that.

[SeanA]

Other threads show some signs of success:

http://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/discussion.html?id=2782
http://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/discussion.html?id=5110

[RobertHammen]

1) Copy installer into /tmp
2) Drag installer into Composer to create a new package
3) use the Adobe command-line method to run the installer from /tmp - set this up as a postflight script in the package you just created in Composer

[G-Lo]

There are several ways you can deploy AIR silently. Like Robert, we use a Postflight script. We first use Composer to create a .DMG that holds the Adobe AIR Installer.app. We place it in /Users/Shared to allow manual install if necessary. But you could just as easily place it in /tmp if you don't want your users to see it.

Then we apply this postflight script:

#!/bin/bash
/Users/Shared/Adobe AIR Installer.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe AIR Installer -silent -eulaAccepted

We check for AIR updates every month and repeat the process. Usually we overwrite the previous Adobe AIR Install.app in /Users/Shared.

[rseide]

Thanks everyone for the tips and help. I appreciate it. I think I have enough to go by now. :)

[donmontalvo]

Greg Neagle has a wrapper package that you can download, drop the Adobe Air and Adobe Help components into a folder, rename one line in a script, and deploy (no dependancy on logged in user).

http://managingosx.wordpress.com/2011/05/02/more-help-from-adobe/

I should mention his wrapper has been used successfully in the previous multimedia environment I supported, to push AAMEE generated CS6 packages to 1,000+ users (no proxy server). In the environment I'm helping to support now, we're in the midst of a deployment to a few dozen users, same success rate.

Don

[rseide]

Thanks, Don! :)

[donmontalvo]

@rsiede Depending on your packaging workflow, you may want to wrap Greg's package in your own package. This way your Casper receipts show your receipt, while Installer receipts show Greg's receipt (as well as preserves; note Greg's instruction to change version string in his wrapper).

[rseide]

From one of the links above (http://jamfnation.jamfsoftware.com/discussion.html?id=2782) I did what the poster suggested below:

You can run AIR installer silently in the background. I had to do this for some Yearbook plug-in stuff last for one of the schools. I just deployed "Adobe AIR Installer.app" and did the following in an AFTER script. Resolved a lot of errors I was getting with versions etc.

#!/bin/bash

"/Adobe AIR Installer.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe AIR Installer" -silent
-eulaAccepted

rm -rf "/Adobe AIR Installer.app"

This seems to work. I created an EA that detects the version of Adobe Air and ran it before and after the install and the version was updated. I used Apple Remote Desktop to find a couple of computer to test the installation. They were 2 computers that were idle. It didn't seem like anyone was logged in and pushing out the Air package (via Remote) I made following the instructions from the link I posted worked. The last person that commented in the thread I posted above said that it only worked if the user was logged in, but I don't know if that's entirely correct because, like I said, I successfully pushed it out.

When I created the Air package in Composer, I didn't put the installer in any directory. I made it from dragging the Air installer from the Desktop to Composer (i guess Desktop is technically a directory). What I did do was remove the parent folders and left the Adobe Air Installer.app in the main window and changed the Owner to root and the Group to admin and applied it to all enclosed items.

So far, so good, it seems.

[chris_kemp]

Did the same this evening, except I dropped the script into the installer dmg I created. The AIR installer app and the script both go to a (semi-)hidden folder, and then I invoked the script with the Run Command: feature in Casper Remote.

Yet another way to skin the proverbial cat. :)

[gregneagle]

Check out AutoPkg: http://github.com/autopkg/autopkg

One of the available recipes can download and repackage the latest Adobe AIR:

autopkg run AdobeAIR.pkg

-Greg

[axnessj]

I used AutoPkg to create AdobeAIR-3.9.0.1030.pkg but when I push it to machines with remote it stalls at the "installing…" portion (wish Remote told you more). Anyone had any luck creating this package? I also tried using the package wrapper and I am getting the same thing.

[donmontalvo]

Proxy?

What does /private/var/log/installer.log say?

[axnessj]

Oct 30 10:22:36 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Component package /Library/Application Support/JAMF/Downloads/AdobeAIR-3.9.0.1030.pkg trustLevel=100
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: -[IFPKGDerivedDocument sortedPackageLocations]: result = ( "file://localhost" )
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: -[IFDInstallController(Private) _buildInstallPlan]: location = file://localhost
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: -[IFDInstallController(Private) _buildInstallPlan]: file://localhost/Library/Application%20Support/JAMF/Downloads/AdobeAIR-3.9.0.1030.pkg
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Set authorization level to root for session
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername runner[62954]: Administrator authorization granted.
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Will use PK session
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Starting installation:
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Configuring volume "Macintosh HD"
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Preparing disk for local booted install.
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Free space on "Macintosh HD": 658.01 GB (658008145920 bytes).
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Create temporary directory "/var/folders/zz/zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000000000000/T//Install.62951narHRp"
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: IFPKInstallElement (1 packages)
Oct 30 10:22:37 testmaccomputername installer[62951]: Using authorization level of root for IFPKInstallElement

[axnessj]

Yes, we are behind a proxy.

This is with the AutoPkg version.

[gregneagle]

autopkg repackage of AdobeAIR installs fine on all our machines here.

[donmontalvo]

@gregneagle wrote:

autopkg repackage of AdobeAIR installs fine on all our machines here.

Here's the link, it's a great tool:

https://github.com/autopkg/autopkg

[axnessj]

That is the AutoPkg I used. I used a no-proxy line. Here is my terminal output:

[macadmin@testmaccomputername] [/usr/bin] Wed Oct 30 09:25:48 $ autopkg run -v AdobeAIR.pkg Processing AdobeAIR.pkg... URLDownloader URLDownloader: Storing new Last-Modified header: Sun, 29 Sep 2013 06:29:19 GMT URLDownloader: Storing new ETag header: "10b8f8-1a4d824-4e77fd6e46dc0" URLDownloader: Downloaded /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/downloads/AdobeAIR.dmg EndOfCheckPhase PkgRootCreator PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Adobe PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Adobe/Flash Player PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Adobe/Flash Player/AddIns PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Adobe/Flash Player/AddIns/airappinstaller PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Utilities PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library PkgRootCreator: Created /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library/Frameworks Copier Copier: Mounted disk image /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/downloads/AdobeAIR.dmg Copier: Copied /private/tmp/dmg.sAV4vb/Adobe AIR Installer.app to /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Uninstaller.app Copier Copier: Copied /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Uninstaller.app/Contents/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework to /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework PathDeleter PathDeleter: Deleted /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Uninstaller.app/Contents/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework/Versions/Current/Adobe AIR Application Installer.app Copier Copier: Copied /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework/Versions/Current/Adobe AIR Application Installer.app to /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Application Installer.app Copier Copier: Copied /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework/Resources/airappinstaller to /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Adobe/Flash Player/AddIns/airappinstaller/airappinstaller Copier Copier: Copied /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework/Resources/airappinstaller.rsrc to /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Adobe/Flash Player/AddIns/airappinstaller/airappinstaller/..namedfork/rsrc Copier Copier: Copied /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework/Resources/digest.s to /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Adobe/Flash Player/AddIns/airappinstaller/digest.s PlistEditor PlistEditor: Updated plist at /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Applications/Utilities/Adobe AIR Application Installer.app/Contents/Info.plist Versioner Versioner: Found version 3.9.0.1030 in file /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR/Library/Frameworks/Adobe AIR.framework/Resources/Info.plist PkgInfoCreator PkgCreator PkgCreator: Connecting PkgCreator: Sending packaging request PkgCreator: Disconnecting Receipt written to /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/receipts/AdobeAIR-receipt-20131030-092922.plist The following new items were downloaded: /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/downloads/AdobeAIR.dmg The following packages were built: Identifier Version Pkg path ---------- ------- -------- com.adobe.pkg.AIR 3.9.0.1030 /Users/macadmin/Library/AutoPkg/Cache/com.github.autopkg.pkg.AdobeAIR/AdobeAIR-3.9.0.1030.pkg

Looks to me like everything went well in the package creation or did I do something wrong? It installs fine if I run the pkg but stalls at "installing AdobeAIR-3.9.0.1030.pkg…" when I push it to any of my test machines connected to our JSS 9.12 server.

[gregneagle]

Since all the repackaged AdobeAIR package does is install files -- that is, there is no pre- or post- scripting in the package, it's hard to see how it could fail unless there is something else wrong with the machine. Very perplexing.

[axnessj]

Got it to work. With AutoPkg created the AdobeAIR-3.9.0.1030.pkg, opened it with Composer and built as DMG.

[gregneagle]

Do you just mean the package is wrapped in a disk image, or that you had to use Composer to convert the package to Casper's proprietary DMG installer format?

[axnessj]

Do you just mean the package is wrapped in a disk image, or that you had to use Composer to convert the package to Casper's proprietary DMG installer format?

Greg,

The latter, opened Composer, dragged the .pkg into it, converted it to source and then chose create as DMG.

[donmontalvo]

Jody Rodgers would be proud. :)