Table of Contents

This page provides information about the command-line or silent installation of Anima.

Overview

A silent installation allows a complete Anima installation to be performed without any user input during the process, using either the default options or, if desired, a predefined set of options. To set up a silent installation, follow the instructions below.

The simplest way to setup a silent installation is to run the installer file from the command prompt with the -auto argument. This option forces the installer to run without a user interface, and also automatically selects all the default answers to the installation questions.

Another option is to use the -gui=0 argument, which indicates the installer that no visual dialog shows and all the interactions happen through the console. After that, you can answer each one of the installation questions directly on the console when they come up.

After each installation is finished, a config.xml file is created. Inspect that XML file with a text editor and modify the options listed there to adapt them to your needs.

For example, using the command below, Anima will be installed with the values by default without questions asked:

anima_installer_6_1_1_b472f545f1.exe  -auto


A config.xml file is created in the same folder where the installer is placed. Open that config.xml file with your preferred text editor, and modify any of the values listed there (refer to the details below to learn more about all the values).

Once the config.xml file is customized, use the -configFile option to force the installer to use the values specified:

anima_installer_6_1_1_b472f545f1.exe -configFile="config.xml"

Arguments

The following table contains a list of arguments and a description of the different values. When an argument has a possible value of 0 or 1, the values should be considered as 1 = true and 0 = false.

-debug

Specifies the level of debug logging by the installer [0-3]. Defaults to 0 and assumes a value of 1, if argument is provided with no value. Then, it creates a log file of the installation in the Temp folder of the current user.

Sample path: C:\Users\<your_user_here>\AppData\Local\Temp\installer_debug_AAAA_MM_DD_hh_mm_ss.log

-gui

Specifies if a Graphic User Interface or a command line one is used during installation. Defaults to 1.

0 – No Graphic User Interface is visible, so all the interactions happen through the command line.

1 – A Graphic User Interface is provided and the user can easily select the installation options.

-quiet

Specifies whether the output of all the actions performed by the installer should be shown or not. Defaults to 1, which means that the "quiet" option is enabled, so the output info is minimal.

0 – Disabled, all the actions are shown in the console.

1 – Enabled, most actions are hidden from the console.

-configFile

Specifies a path to an installation configuration file (i.e. "config.xml"). When used a -gui=0 argument is applied automatically, so no UI is shown.

-backup

Specifies whether the installer performs backup on previous installation.

0 – Previous installation is not backed up.

1 – Previous installation is backed up.

-auto

Assumes the param -gui=0 and automatically selects the default answers and values to all the questions asked.


If errors are encountered with quiet installation, -ignoreErrors specifies what further actions are taken.
The installer automatically generates an uninstaller shortcut in the installation directory and registers it in the system's uninstaller registry.


Configuration File

The config file can be used for easier console or script installations. The configuration file specifies the values of the variables used by the installer directly. The config file has a strict XML format, and will be rejected by the installer if it could not be parsed as such. All the variables specified by the configuration file will OVERWRITE default and registry loaded values of variables the installer has initialized previously. Generally the configuration file has to contain the following tags and attributes (here the VARIABLE_NAME and VARIABLE_VALUE refer to the variable name and value we wish to control in the installation).

<DefValues>
	<Value Name="VARIABLE_NAME" DataType="value">VARIABLE_VALUE</Value>
</DefValues>

A configuration file is automatically created by the installer whenever it runs with gui=0 (console mode). The file is created in the directory of the installer.

Variables


The following is the list of variables that can be used in the configuration file:

Variable Name

Description

Default Value

STDROOT

Specifies the standard root directory for Anima installation. [path]

C:\Program Files\Chaos\Anima

INSTALL_TYPE

Defines the type of installation. [0/1]

- 0: Workstation

- 1: Render node

0 (Workstation)

INSTALL_MS_CPP

Indicates if the Microsoft C++ Redistributable should be installed. [0/1] 

NOTE: Only recommended for use if automatic detection fails.

autodetect

INSTALL_MS_NET

Indicates if .NET features should be installed. [0/1] 

NOTE: Only recommended for use if automatic detection fails.

autodetect

CREATE_DESKTOP_SHORTCUT

Controls if a desktop shortcut for Anima 6 should be created. [0/1]

1 (create)

LAUNCH_ANIMA

Controls if Anima 6 should be launched after installation. [0/1]

1 (launch)

PLUGIN_PPP_VVVV_INSTALL

Controls the installation of the plugin. [0/1] 

- PPP: target plugin (CIM, 3DS, UNR, PIX)

- VVVV: version (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, etc.)

autodetect

PLUGIN_PPP_VVVV_PATH

Path of the target program of the plugin. [path] 

- PPP: target plugin (CIM, 3DS, UNR, PIX)

- VVVV: version (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, etc.)

autodetect


Plugin Variables

The following is a list of all possible variable names for plugins in the current version of Anima (the "X" at the end should be changed to "INSTALL" or "PATH"):

Autodesk 3ds Max:

  • PLUGIN_3DS_2026_X
  • PLUGIN_3DS_2025_X
  • PLUGIN_3DS_2024_X
  • PLUGIN_3DS_2023_X

Cinema 4D:

  • PLUGIN_CIN_2025_X
  • PLUGIN_CIN_2024_X
  • PLUGIN_CIN_2023_X
  • PLUGIN_CIN_R26_X

Unreal Engine:

  • PLUGIN_UNR_5.6_X
  • PLUGIN_UNR_5.5_X
  • PLUGIN_UNR_5.4_X
  • PLUGIN_UNR_4.27_X

Pixotope:

  • PLUGIN_PIX_P23.1_X
  • PLUGIN_PIX_P23.4_X


Console Installation Examples

  • Simple example of an automatic installation without GUI and interactive EULA acceptance:
anima_installer_6_1_1_XXXXXX.exe -auto
  • Silent install example command that:
    • runs without GUI
    • selects the options provided thorugh a config XML file placed in the same folder as the installer
    • outputs a detailed log of the whole install process in the user temp folder (i.e. "C:\Users\admin\AppData\Local\Temp\installer_debug_2025_05_19_10_32_08.log")
anima_installer_6_1_1_XXXXXX.exe -configFile="config.xml" -debug=3
  • Example of a config XML file that could be used in the silent install example command shown above, and will:
    • install Anima in Workstation mode (INSTALL_TYPE) on the specified path (STDROOT)
    • will not install any third-party libs (INSTALL_MS_CPP, INSTALL_MS_NET)
    • will not create a desktop shortcut (CREATE_DESKTOP_SHORTCUT)
    • will automatically install all plugins (autodetect which ones can be installed and in which path)
    • and will not launch Anima after the installation is finished (LAUNCH_ANIMA):


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DefValues>
    <Value Name="STDROOT" DataType="value">C:\xxx\...\xxx</Value>
    <Value Name="INSTALL_TYPE" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="CREATE_DESKTOP_SHORTCUT" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="LAUNCH_ANIMA" DataType="value">0</Value>
</DefValues>
  • Similar config XML example as before, but now installing the Render Node mode and specifying whether each plugin should be installed or not:
    • install Anima in Render Node mode (INSTALL_TYPE) on the specified path (STDROOT)
    • will not create a desktop shortcut (CREATE_DESKTOP_SHORTCUT)
    • and will not launch Anima after the installation is finished (LAUNCH_ANIMA):
    • Installs the plugin for 3dsMax 2023 in the specified path
    • Does not install any other plugins


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DefValues>
    <Value Name="STDROOT" DataType="value">C:\xxx\...\xxx</Value>
    <Value Name="INSTALL_TYPE" DataType="value">1</Value>
    <Value Name="INSTALL_MS_CPP" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="INSTALL_MS_NET" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="CREATE_DESKTOP_SHORTCUT" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="LAUNCH_ANIMA" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_3DS_2023_INSTALL" DataType="value">1</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_3DS_2023_PATH" DataType="value">C:\xxx\...\3ds Max 2023</Value>
	<Value Name="PLUGIN_3DS_2024_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_3DS_2025_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_3DS_2026_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_CIN_R26_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_CIN_2023_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_CIN_2024_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_CIN_2025_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_UNR_4.27_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_UNR_5.4_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_UNR_5.5_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_UNR_5.6_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_PIX_P23.1_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
    <Value Name="PLUGIN_PIX_P23.4_INSTALL" DataType="value">0</Value>
</DefValues>