This is a guide to silent (non-interactive) installation of ADINA. Similar routines apply to most Bentley desktop applications. Refences to specific file names or paths are based on ADINA 2025.
Step 1. Download Windows installation files, e.g. Setup_Adinax64_25.00.00.634.exe from Software Downloads.
For the purpose of this document the path to the saved file is:
"C:\Users\User.Name\Downloads\Bentley Downloads\Setup_Adinax64_25.00.00.634.exe"
The path needs to be enclosed in double quotes if it includes any space.
Step 2. Open Command prompt (with admin rights)
Step 3. Execute the file using the full path and any of these options. (executing the installer with the -h option brings up these same details).
-q, -quiet, -s, -silent
the installation will proceed without displaying any prompts or notifications
-passive
display only the progress bar in the UI, no user interaction will be required
-norestart
prevents the system from initiating any restarts during the installation
-forcerestart
the installer forces computer restart after the installation
-layout
create a local image of the bootstrapper (i.e. download files so they can be burned to DVD)
-l
enables logging to a specific file, the file path needs to be defined,
e.g. -l FILE_PATH, -log FILE_PATH (default is controlled by bundle developer)
-uninstall
uninstall the program
-repair
enables the installer to restore or fix any issues within the installation, if the software is not yet installed, this option will trigger an installation process instead
-package -update
install (default if no -uninstall or -repair)
InstallDirectory
specifies the installation folder.
Example: InstallDirectory=C:\Program Files\MyProduct
ExportFeaturesProperties
exports feature properties to a file.
Example: ExportFeaturesProperties=C:\path\to\file\export.json
ImportFeaturesProperties
imports feature properties from a file.
Example: ImportFeaturesProperties=C:\path\to\file\export.json
By default, the program will be installed to:
“C:\Program Files\Bentley\Adina\25.00”
A quiet install has no user interface but takes more than a few seconds to complete. If the command prompt was not run as administrator you will all see a User Access Control dialog requesting permission for the app to make changes to your device. You may see a momentary flash or spinning cursor. It will only work if there is no active installation process or required reboot pending.
The installation path can be altered with the InstallDirectory feature noted above. As with the path to the executable, use double quotes around any path that includes a space.
For example, this string will quietly install ADINA to a modified directory Adina\2025:
"C:\Users\User.Name\Downloads\Bentley Downloads\Setup_Adinax64_25.00.00.634.exe" -q InstallDirectory="C:\Program Files\Bentley\Adina\2025"
An adina2025.json file can be used to disable the creation of desktop shortcut or to include the FEMAP Transor. You can edit the adina.json file if you want to change the installation directory and then run:
"C:\Users\User.Name\Downloads\Bentley Downloads\Setup_Adinax64_25.00.00.634.exe" -q ImportFeaturesProperties="C:\...\adina2025.json"
A sample is provided here.
Other Notes:
- A quiet installation is listed in Control Panel – Programs and Features.
- A quiet installation includes dependencies, namely Bentley CONNECTION Client.
- A quiet installation does not include the FEMAP Transor unless a .json file is created supplying the path.
- Uninstalling can also be accomplished silently with the -uninstall option, but uninstalling the program, either actively or silently, does NOT uninstall the Connection Client. It can be separately uninstalled, actively or silently.
- With ADINA it is important to run the AUI once to set the license tier (Standard, Advanced or Ultimate).