Revit 2012 Network Deployment Utility: Custom Revit.ini Settings and Content Supression

The Revit 2012 Deployment Utility has just been released to the Data & Downloads > Updates section for each of the 2012 Revit products. Here's some information on the tool from the Readme: 

 

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Revit 2012 Deployment Utility

Affected Products                           

• Autodesk® Revit® Architecture 2012
• Autodesk® Revit® MEP 2012
• Autodesk® Revit® Structure 2012

When you create a Revit 2012 deployment, use the Revit 2012 Deployment Utility to include custom Revit.ini settings, and to suppress the paths that locate Autodesk content. When it executes, this utility runs against the image before it deploys to the client systems.

This utility has 2 tabs:

1. Custom Revit.ini – This creates a custom output inifile.xml by merging the custom Revit.ini file with the original inifile.xml file.
2. Suppress Content - This communicates with the AdminImage and removes the URLs that are used to locate Autodesk content. This ensures that content is not downloaded. 

Using the Revit 2012 Deployment Utility

The RevitDeploymentUtility.zip contains 2 files you will use:

• CustomControls.dll
• RevitDeploymentUtility.exe
• en-US
• EULA

1. Locate the RevitDeploymentUtility.zip.
2. Save the utility to your hard drive.
3. Extract its files to the same location as the deployment.
4. Run the EXE to display the Revit 2012 Deployment Utility dialog. 

Creating Custom Revit.ini File

1. Create a backup of the inifile.xml. In the deployment folders, the inifile.xml can be found in a location similar to …<deploymentlocation>\AdminImage\x64\RAC2012. This path may vary depending on the Revit product being deployed and if it is 32-bit or 64-bit.
2. On the Revit 2012 Deployment Utility dialog, select Custom Revit.ini.
3. Click License Agreement, read and accept the license agreement.
4. In the Custom Revit.ini field, browse to the custom Revit.ini.
5. In the Original inifile.xml field, browse to the inifile.xml backup.
6. In the Output inifile.xml field, browse to the deployment output located in the location similar to …<deploymentlocation>\AdminImage\x64\RAC2012. This path may vary depending on the Revit product being deployed, and whether or not it is 32-bit or 64-bit.
7. Click Execute.

Suppressing Content Download

1. On the Revit 2012 Deployment Utility dialog, select Suppress Content.
2. In the Master document field, browse to the AdminImage\content\Revit directory.
3. Select the RAC, RME, or RST XML file you want to deploy.
4. Click Execute. This action removes the URL paths that locate content, and renames content cabinets to prevent them from being installed.

FAQ

What is inifile.xml?

The inifile.xml file is a data file from which revit.ini is constructed. Deploying custom modifications to the Revit.ini file requires the modification of the XML file.

The Revit 2012 Deployment Utility integrates your custom revit.ini with inifile.xml, and creates a copy that can then be used with your deployment. 

How do I prevent shared content from installing when deploying to a workstation?

The Revit 2012 Deployment Utility can be used to prevent a workstation rollout from writing content back up to the server location. 

Why does the Revit 2012 installation process appear to be suspended?

The Revit 2012 installation process appears halted when content cabinets are downloaded from the internet. The length of the delay varies with available bandwidth, and the amount of requested content. Please allow time for this process to complete. If the msiexec.exe process is aborted, the Revit 2012 installation will need to be restarted again from the beginning.

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Comments

[Jason Bailly]

Hey Ryan, I was struggling with this until I realized that the inifile.xml buried in the AdminImage folder is set to be read only. Kept getting a warning 'Failed to copy IniFile.xml to new location: Access to the path '******\******\********\inifile.xml' is denied.
Checked all three flavors and the file was always set to be read only. Maybe the readme and the WikiHelp entry would benefit from this tip.

[Jason Bailly]

Looking at the content files I am somewhat baffled. The only thing that the utility does is remove the 4th line of code that is a URL to the revit.downloads.autodesk.com......
The solution that I had found in the past was to remove everything between the fourth line and the third to last line. This removes both the URL and the individual media paths. Seems like that makes a lot more sense.
Also, why are there master.r**.xml files for all three flavors in each deployment?

[Thejame.wordpress.com]

Hey guys,

Just thought I'd share a video a made a few weeks ago demonstrating the revit 2012 deployment tool. Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xPJiVRLZJ4&feature=channel_video_title