Phase 1: Downloading the Source Files (Optional but Recommended)

Run the self-extracting executable ( officedeploymenttool.exe ).

Which specific Office suites or individual applications to install. The architecture of the software (32-bit or 64-bit). The language packs required by the target users. The update channel and source path for future patches.

This file is the executable engine of the Microsoft Office Deployment Tool . It does not contain any product payload itself. Instead, it acts as a command-line utility capable of reading instructions from an external XML file to either download deployment binaries or install the application suite onto client systems. 2. The Blueprint ( configuration-office2021enterprise.xml )

For a large-scale deployment, you can combine the two-step process or push the installation using a management tool:

If you use a MAK key, you can embed it directly into the XML file inside the tag to automate activation during deployment:

The XML file is where the magic happens. It is a simple text file that uses a specific schema to communicate your preferences to setup.exe . You have two primary methods for creating it, ranging from simple to more advanced.

cd C:\ODT setup.exe /download configuration-office2021enterprise.xml

Setup.exe Configure. Configuration-office2021enterprise.xml

Phase 1: Downloading the Source Files (Optional but Recommended)

Run the self-extracting executable ( officedeploymenttool.exe ).

Which specific Office suites or individual applications to install. The architecture of the software (32-bit or 64-bit). The language packs required by the target users. The update channel and source path for future patches.

This file is the executable engine of the Microsoft Office Deployment Tool . It does not contain any product payload itself. Instead, it acts as a command-line utility capable of reading instructions from an external XML file to either download deployment binaries or install the application suite onto client systems. 2. The Blueprint ( configuration-office2021enterprise.xml )

For a large-scale deployment, you can combine the two-step process or push the installation using a management tool:

If you use a MAK key, you can embed it directly into the XML file inside the tag to automate activation during deployment:

The XML file is where the magic happens. It is a simple text file that uses a specific schema to communicate your preferences to setup.exe . You have two primary methods for creating it, ranging from simple to more advanced.

cd C:\ODT setup.exe /download configuration-office2021enterprise.xml