Installing on Windows/de

The easiest way to install FreeCAD on Windows is to download the installer below.

After downloading the .msi (Microsoft Installer) file, just double-click on it to start the installation process.

Below is more information about technical options. If it looks daunting, don't worry! Most Windows users will not need anything more than the .msi to install FreeCAD and  Get started!

Simple Microsoft Installer Installation
The easiest way to install FreeCAD on Windows is by using the installer above. This page describes the usage and the features of the Microsoft Installer for more installation options.

If you would like to download either a 64 bit or unstable development version, see the Download page.

Command Line Installation
With the msiexec.exe command line utility, additional features are available, like non-interactive installation and administrative installation.

Non-interactive Installation
With the command line msiexec /i FreeCAD .msi installation can be initiated programmatically. Additional parameters can be passed at the end of this command line, like msiexec /i FreeCAD-2.5.msi TARGETDIR=r:\FreeCAD25

Limited user interface
The amount of user interface that installer displays can be controlled with /q options, in particular:


 * /qn - No interface
 * /qb - Basic interface - just a small progress dialog
 * /qb! - Like /qb, but hide the Cancel button
 * /qr - Reduced interface - display all dialogs that don't require user interaction (skip all modal dialogs)
 * /qn+ - Like /qn, but display "Completed" dialog at the end
 * /qb+ - Like /qb, but display "Completed" dialog at the end

Target directory
The property TARGETDIR determines the root directory of the FreeCAD installation. For example, a different installation drive can be specified with TARGETDIR=R:\FreeCAD25 The default TARGETDIR is [WindowsVolume\Programm Files\]FreeCAD.

Installation for All Users
Adding ALLUSERS=1 causes an installation for all users. By default, the non-interactive installation install the package just for the current user, and the interactive installation offers a dialog which defaults to "all users" if the user is sufficiently privileged.

Feature Selection
A number of properties allow selection of features to be installed, reinstalled, or removed. The set of features for the FreeCAD installer is


 * DefaultFeature - install the software proper, plus the core libraries
 * Documentation - install documentation
 * Source code - install the sources
 * ... ToDo

In addition, ALL specifies all features. All features depend on DefaultFeature, so installing any feature automatically installs the default feature as well. The following properties control features to be installed or removed


 * ADDLOCAL - list of feature to be installed on the local machine
 * REMOVE - list of features to be removed
 * ADDDEFAULT - list of features added in their default configuration (which is local for all FreeCAD features)
 * REINSTALL - list of features to be reinstalled/repaired
 * ADVERTISE - list of feature for which to perform an advertise installation

There are a few additional properties available; see the MSDN documentation for details.

With these options, adding ADDLOCAL=Extensions installs the interpreter itself and registers the extensions, but does not install anything else.

Uninstallation
With msiexec /x FreeCAD .msi FreeCAD can be uninstalled. It is not necessary to have the MSI file available for uninstallation; alternatively, the package or product code can also be specified. You can find the product code by looking at the properties of the Uninstall shortcut that FreeCAD installs in the start menu.

Administrative installation
With msiexec /a FreeCAD .msi an "administrative" (network) installation can be initiated. The files get unpacked into the target directory (which should be a network directory), but no other modification is made to the local system. In addition, another (smaller) msi file is generated in the target directory, which clients can then use to perform a local installation (future versions may also offer to keep some features on the network drive altogether).

Currently, there is no user interface for administrative installations, so the target directory must be passed on the command line.

There is no specific uninstall procedure for an administrative install - just delete the target directory if no client uses it anymore.

Advertisement
With msiexec /jm FreeCAD .msi it would be possible, in principle, to "advertise" FreeCAD to a machine (with /ju to a user). This would cause the icons to appear in the start menu, and the extensions to become registered, without the software actually being installed. The first usage of a feature would cause that feature to be installed.

The FreeCAD installer currently supports just advertisement of start menu entries, but no advertisement of shortcuts.

Automatische Installation auf einer Gruppe von Maschinen
Mit der Windows-Gruppenrichtlinie ist es möglich, FreeCAD auf eine Gruppe von Maschinen automatisch zu installieren. Um dies zu tun, führen Sie die folgenden Schritte durch:
 * Anmelden auf dem Domain controller
 * Kopieren der MSI Datei in ein Verzeichnis, auf das alle Zielmaschinen Zugangsberechtigt sind.
 * Öffnen des MMC snapin "Active Directory Benutzer und Computer"
 * Navigieren zur Gruppe von Computern die FreeCAD benötigen
 * Eigenschaften öffnen
 * Gruppenrichtlinien öffnen
 * Eine neue Richtlinie einfügen und diese bearbeiten
 * Unter Computer Konfiguration/Software Installation, wählen Sie Neu / Paket
 * Wählen Sie die .MSI Datei im entsprechenden Netzpfad
 * Optional wählen Sie aus, das Sie wollen, dass FreeCAD deinstalliert wird, wenn der Computer den Bereich der Richtlinie verlässt.

Gruppenrichtlinien Durchsetzung nimmt üblicherweise einige Zeit in Anspruch, um das Paket zuverlässig einzusetzen, sollten alle Maschinen neu gestartet werden.

Installation auf Linux mit Crossover Office
Sie können die Windows-version von FreeCAD auf einem Linux System installieren, das CXOffice 5.0.1 verwendet. Starten Sie msiexec in der CXOffice Befehlszeile, nehmen wir z.Beispiel an, das Paket liegt im "Software"-Verzeichnis, das sich im Laufwerk "Y:" befindet: msiexec /i Y:\\software\\FreeCAD .msi FreeCAD wird starten, es wurde aber schon berichtet, dass die OpenGL Anzeige nicht funktioniert, wie auch bei manchen anderen Programmen unter Wine z.B. Google SketchUp.