Abaqus takes forever to install and has so many GUI options to click through! Let’s script it!

First step is to install as normal. Than find the file UserIntentions_CODE.xml files located here C:\SIMULIA\EstProducts\2020\InstallData and here C:\SIMULIA\Isight\2020\InstallData.

You will also need the UserIntentions_CAA_Additional_422.xml file located in C:\SIMULIA\EstProducts\2020\InstallData

These files contains the settings (well most of the settings) from a previous install and can be used to install again.

As a side note, if you want to install with a menu drive CLI instead of the GUI, run StartTUI.exe in the CLI instead of launching setup.exe

abaqus install

StartTUI.exe with “-silent UserIntentions_CODE.xml” handle will install with the settings saved in UserIntentions_CODE.xml

StartTUI.exe -silent UserIntentions_CODE.xml

The first attempt produced this error:

Error
Failed to continue.
Cannot find item EXALEAD_CloudView.Windows64_1.1 for variable SelectProduct in UserIntentions
Cannot find item Search_Doc.Windows64_2.1 for variable SelectProduct in UserIntentions
Cannot find item DOC_SIM_EstPrd.AllOS_3.1 for variable SelectProduct in UserIntentions
Cannot find item SIMULIA_Flexnet.Windows64_4.1 for variable SelectProduct in UserIntentions
Cannot find item SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_5.1 for variable SelectProduct in UserIntentions
Cannot find item CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_6.1 for variable SelectProduct in UserIntentions
Cannot find item SIMULIA_Isight.Windows64_7.1 for variable SelectProduct in UserIntentions

OK, so let’s add those lines in the UserIntentions section in the .xml.

<SetVariable item="EXALEAD_CloudView.Windows64_1.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
<SetVariable item="Search_Doc.Windows64_2.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
<SetVariable item="DOC_SIM_EstPrd.AllOS_3.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
<SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Flexnet.Windows64_4.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
<SetVariable item="SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_5.1" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
<SetVariable item="CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_6.1" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
<SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Isight.Windows64_7.1" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>

This will fix, but it turns out we need to make three different .xml files from the three different templates and add these lines near the end of each. Set one of the three products to true and the other two to false in each file. Like this for “SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_5.1” in C:\SIMULIA\EstProducts\2020\InstallData\UserIntentions_CODE.xml:

<SetVariable item="SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_5.1" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
<SetVariable item="CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_6.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
<SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Isight.Windows64_7.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>

Set “CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_6.1” to true and the other two procuts to false in the file from C:\SIMULIA\EstProducts\2020\InstallData\UserIntentions_CAA_Additional_422.xml. Repeat for “SIMULIA_Isight.Windows64_7.1” using the file C:\SIMULIA\Isight\2020\InstallData\UserIntentions_CODE.xml

The result is these three files. .xml file names here are arbitrary.

  • 1_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
  • 2_UserIntentions_CODE_CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
  • 3_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_Isight.xml

The contents of each file are below. Note the commented “Added Lines.” If you use a flexnet license server, you can use the below by adding the server port and server hostname in this key in files 1 and 3:

<SetVariable name="flexServer1" value="SERVER_PORT@SERVER_HOSTNAME"/>.

Modify as needed for your environment, but keep in mind that the order of keys matters. Changes may require some trial and error.

1_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<UserIntentions mediaName="CODE\win_b64\SIMULIA_EstPrd.media" mediaVersion="422">
  <SetVariable item="flex" name="serverType_radioButton" value="true"/>
  <SetVariable name="flexServer1" value="SERVER_PORT@SERVER_HOSTNAME"/>
  <SetVariable name="flexServer2" value=""/>
  <SetVariable name="flexServer3" value=""/>
  <SetVariable name="workingDir" value="C:\temp"/>
  <SetVariable name="commandsDir" value="C:\SIMULIA\Commands"/>
  <SetVariable name="pluginsDir" value="C:\SIMULIA\CAE\plugins\2020"/>
  <SetVariable item="solverAbaqus" name="checkSolverInterfaces" value="true"/>
  <SetVariable item="solverMscNastran" name="checkSolverInterfaces" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="solverAnsys" name="checkSolverInterfaces" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="solverFemfat" name="checkSolverInterfaces" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="interfaceAnsa" name="checkSolverInterfaces" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable name="solverCcmpDir" value=""/>
  <SetVariable name="solverCcmpPodkey" value=""/>
  <SetVariable name="solverFluentDir" value=""/>
  <SetVariable name="DSYWelcomePanel"/>
  <SetVariable name="TARGET_PATH" value="C:\SIMULIA\EstProducts\2020"/>
  <!--Abaqus/Standard Solver-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMAQSL_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus/Explicit Solver-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMAQXL_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Cosimulation Services-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMCSS_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus ODB API Services-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMODB_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus CAE-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMCAE_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus Samples-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMSAMP_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Tosca Structure-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMTOSE_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Tosca Fluid-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMTOFE_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFESD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2019 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFS19_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2018 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFS18_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2017 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFS17_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2016 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFS16_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe materials and surface finish specifications-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFSMD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Material database server for fe-safe-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFSMS_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial and sample data-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFSTD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for Abaqus-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFSAD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for I-DEAS-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFSID_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for Ansys-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFSRD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for NASTRAN-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMFSND_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus/CFD Solver-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMAQF_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Added Lines Start-->
  <SetVariable item="EXALEAD_CloudView.Windows64_1.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="Search_Doc.Windows64_2.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="DOC_SIM_EstPrd.AllOS_3.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Flexnet.Windows64_4.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_5.1" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <SetVariable item="CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_6.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Isight.Windows64_7.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <!--Added Lines End-->
  <SetVariable name="FinishPanel"/>
</UserIntentions>

2_UserIntentions_CODE_CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<UserIntentions mediaName="CAA\win_b64\SIMULIA_EstPrd.media" mediaVersion="422">
  <SetVariable name="DSYWelcomePanel"/>
  <SetVariable name="TARGET_PATH" value="C:\SIMULIA\EstProducts\2020"/>
  <!--Abaqus/Standard Solver-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMAQSL_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus/Explicit Solver-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMAQXL_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Cosimulation Services-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMCSS_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus ODB API Services-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMODB_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus CAE-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMCAE_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus Samples-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMSAMP_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Tosca Structure-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMTOSE_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Tosca Fluid-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMTOFE_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFESD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2019 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFS19_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2018 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFS18_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2017 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFS17_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe interface to Abaqus 2016 ODBs-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFS16_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe materials and surface finish specifications-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFSMD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Material database server for fe-safe-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFSMS_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial and sample data-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFSTD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for Abaqus-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFSAD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for I-DEAS-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFSID_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for Ansys-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFSRD_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--fe-safe tutorial models for NASTRAN-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMFSND_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Abaqus/CFD Solver-->
  <SetVariable item="CAA\win_b64\SIMAQF_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Added Lines Start--> 
  <SetVariable item="EXALEAD_CloudView.Windows64_1.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="Search_Doc.Windows64_2.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="DOC_SIM_EstPrd.AllOS_3.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Flexnet.Windows64_4.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_5.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_6.1" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Isight.Windows64_7.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <!--Added Lines End-->
  <SetVariable name="FinishPanel"/>
</UserIntentions>

3_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_Isight.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<UserIntentions mediaName="CODE\win_b64\SIMULIA_Isight.media" mediaVersion="422">
  <SetVariable item="flex" name="serverType_radioButton" value="true"/>
  <SetVariable name="flexServer1" value="SERVER_PORT@SERVER_HOSTNAME"/>
  <SetVariable name="flexServer2" value=""/>
  <SetVariable name="flexServer3" value=""/>
  <SetVariable name="Boolean_TomEE_Config" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="RButton_CPRSkip" name="RButton_AppServer_cpr_SEE" value="true"/>
  <SetVariable item="docConfigType_none" name="docConfigType" value="true"/>
  <SetVariable name="DSYWelcomePanel"/>
  <SetVariable name="TARGET_PATH" value="C:\SIMULIA\Isight\2020"/>
  <!--Isight Desktop-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMISDT_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--SIMULIA Execution Engine-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMISEE_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--SIMULIA Execution Engine Station-->
  <SetVariable item="CODE\win_b64\SIMISTA_TP.prd" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Added Lines Start--> 
  <SetVariable item="EXALEAD_CloudView.Windows64_1.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="Search_Doc.Windows64_2.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="DOC_SIM_EstPrd.AllOS_3.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Flexnet.Windows64_4.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_5.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.Windows64_6.1" name="SelectProduct" value="false"/>
  <SetVariable item="SIMULIA_Isight.Windows64_7.1" name="SelectProduct" value="true"/>
  <!--Added Lines End-->
  <SetVariable name="FinishPanel"/>
</UserIntentions>

Products need to be installed in this order:

  • 1_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
  • 2_UserIntentions_CODE_CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
  • 3_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_Isight.xml

Combine with the ‘IOError: abaqus.rpy: Permission denied’ fix and do both in a PowerShell script.

#IOError abaqus.rpy Permission denied fix
$Folders = "C:\SIMULIA", "C:\temp" 
Foreach ($Folder in $folders){ 
	New-Item -Path "$folder" -ItemType "directory"
	$acl = Get-Acl -Path $folder 
	$AccessRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule("users", "Modify", "ContainerInherit,ObjectInherit", "None", "Allow")
	$acl.SetAccessRule($AccessRule)
	$acl.SetAccessRuleProtection($True, $True)
	$acl | Set-Acl -Path $folder 
}
$Folders = "C:\SIMULIA\EstProducts\2020", "C:\SIMULIA\CAE\plugins\2020", "C:\SIMULIA\Commands" 
	Foreach ($Folder in $folders){ 
	New-Item -Path "$folder" -ItemType "directory"
}
#Start Abaqus Install
.\StartTUI.exe --silent .\1_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
.\StartTUI.exe --silent .\2_UserIntentions_CODE_CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
.\StartTUI.exe --silent .\3_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_Isight.xml

1_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
2_UserIntentions_CODE_CAA_SIMULIA_EstPrd.xml
3_UserIntentions_CODE_SIMULIA_Isight.xml
abaqus_silent_installer.ps1

Further Reading:
https://abaqus-docs.mit.edu/2017/English/X1eInstallWSMap/x1e-t-StationSilentInstallWin.htm

https://hull1.com/fixit/2020/08/06/abaqus-ioerror.html