The Office Deployment Tool (ODT) is a command-line tool which you can use to download and install Click-to-Run versions of Office, such as WPS Microsoft 365 Apps for business, to your client PCs. You can do this by using the Office Deployment Tool (ODT).
What is an Office Deployment Tool?
In simple terms, ODT is a command line tool Microsoft users utilize to get a click-to-run version of Office utility apps. An ODT gives you control over the Office configuration file. With the ODT, you can define the installed property elements, how the products are updated, whether or not to display the installation experience to the user, etc.
The ODT package has two files ─ a setup.exe file and a configuration.xml file. The former is what you use to install the tool, while the latter is what you use to make necessary configurations. However, it is worth noting that you need a license key to activate the ODT package after downloading it.
An ODT is quite a useful tool, but it is only suitable for computers needing to download and install old versions of office software, which is a bit troublesome. However, you can negate the challenges of using an ODT when using WPS Office. You don’t have to worry about configuration and compatibility issues with WPS Office.
How To Download Office Deployment Tool?
The ODT is a useful utility tool to download the installation files for Microsoft 365 apps. You can choose which Office software you want, modifying the configuration files in a web-based interface. However, if you find downloading the Office Deployment Tool – Microsoft 365 confusing, follow the step-by-step guide below:
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Download Center
Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=49117 (Microsoft Download Center). You will find the download link to get the Office Deployment Tool on this site.
Step 2: Download ODT from the Microsoft Download Center
Scroll down to find the download link to get the Office Deployment Tool. But before you click the Download button, select a preferred language. After setting the appropriate language for you, click the Download button and choose a location to save the package. The download package size is about 3.5 MB. Hence, it shouldn’t take time to complete the download.
Step 3: Run the executable file you downloaded
When the download is complete, locate the executable file and click on it to open it. From the prompt, select Yes to run the file.
Step 4: Read the license terms and continue
You will be presented with Microsoft Software License Terms on the next screen. Read the terms, and at the bottom of the page, you will see a box you must tick that you accept the License Terms to continue the installation. At the right side of the screen, you will see a continue button; click on it to proceed.
Step 5: Select a location to extract the ODT
Finally, a window will pop up asking you to select a location where you wish to save the extracted Microsoft Office Deployment Tool package. Select a folder, or make a new folder and name it accordingly. When you are satisfied with the location to extract the ODT, click on OK to save the file.
How To Install Office 365 with Office Deployment Tool?
Installing the Office Deployment Tool configuration can be a bit technical. You’ll need to execute a couple of Office deployment tool commands, which we will provide. But ease your mind as we will break the process of installing Office 365 with ODT into an easy-to-follow guide.
Step 1: Open the Office Configuration Tool page
You’ll need a configuration file to install Office 365 with the Office Deployment Tool. You can get this configuration file from the Microsoft Office Customization Tool page. Visit this webpage https://config.office.com/deploymentsettings to create a customization. You can also use this page to import and reset a configuration file.
Step 2: Enter all required information in the Office Configuration Tool
When the Microsoft Office Customization Tool Page loads up, you will have to provide information about the architecture of the PC and the products and apps you want to deploy. Also, you can use this customization tool to select the update channel. When you are done making all the necessary selections, click the Export button on the right side of your screen.
Step 3: Export Office Deployment Tool configuration file
On clicking the Export button, a prompt asks you to choose a default file format for the configuration. You can Keep Current Settings, Office Open XML, or OpenDocument formats. Choose the Keep Current Settings option, and click on OK to proceed.
On the next page, read and accept the license agreement terms and enter a filename to proceed. Then, select the Export button to start the download. You may get a prompt that downloading the configuration may harm your computer, but download it anyway. When the download is complete, move the configuration file to the same folder as the Office Deployment Tool you downloaded earlier.
Step 4: Open CMD
In the search bar of your Windows PC, search for CMD and run it as administrator. A screen will pop up asking if you want to allow this app to make changes to your device. Click on Yes to proceed.
Step 5: Navigate to the ODT directory in CMD
In the command prompt, use cd to change the directory. Change it to the folder where you copied and pasted the configuration and ODT files. For example, if you created a new folder titled Office 2019 where you copied the ODT and configuration to your computer’s c: root folder, then the command you will use is cd c:\Office 2019, then hit enter to run.
Step 6: Execute the ODT utility
You can execute the ODT utility in either download or configuration mode. To run the ODT utility in download mode, enter the command setup.exe /download Configuration.xml. To run the ODT utility in configuration mode, enter the command setup.exe /configure Configuration.xml.
Note that the setup.exe depicts the name of the file in the directory. The /download or /configure depicts the mode that you are running. While the Configuration.xml depicts the configuration settings.
Step 7: Wait for the Office installation to complete
When you run the appropriate command, wait for the Office installation to complete. It may take a few minutes or longer, depending on your internet speed. But when the download is complete, you should see a folder in the ODT named Office. Also, you can verify the folder size; if the folder size has not increased, the download process is yet to complete.
Free Office Suite for Word, Excel, PPT – WPS Office
Using the Office Deployment Tools to get the Microsoft Office 365 apps offers more flexibility than downloading the software through conventional means. However, it’s undeniable that using the method above can be complex for many users.
You don’t have to go through the trouble of going through a series of steps to get an Office Suite. With WPS, you can skip the daunting process of using the Office Deployment Tool.
WPS offers a simple download option of the latest version of Office Suite for free. Also, WPS supports low-configuration computers and offers diverse other benefits. Below are reasons why WPS is the best alternative to the Office Deployment Tool.
Price
If you’re searching for a free Office Suite you can use for most day-to-day tasks, then WPS is the solution. Most of its tools are available to users for free. And even if you want to upgrade to the WPS Pro version, it costs $29.99 a year, significantly lower than the Microsoft 365 License.
Compatibility
Also, the WPS Office Suite is supported by most computers. Whether you have a low-end or old computer, you can run the WPS without experiencing any lag. It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems as well.
Features
WPS has many features, particularly its Writer, Spreadsheet, Slides, and PDF tools. With this Office Suite, you can access an OCR tool to extract text from pictures, smart forms, an excellent library of templates, and more.
User-Friendly Interface
The user interface of WPS software is intuitive. It uses a modern, sleek, tab-like interface that makes it easy for users to navigate between documents seamlessly.
FAQ About Office Deployment Tool
What is an Office deployment tool?
ODT is a command-line tool that users can use to get Office utility apps. It offers users diverse flexibility, such as choosing the Microsoft app they want, language, installation, update and upgrade, etc.
Which three tools can you use to deploy Office 365 ProPlus?
To deploy the Office 365 ProPlus, you can use Configuration Manager, Microsoft InTune, and the Office Deployment Tool. Also worth mentioning, you can install the software directly from the Office 365 portal.
Is the Office deployment tool legal?
Using the Office Deployment Tool is legal as it is a tool designed by Microsoft. Remember that even though you use the Office Deployment Tool, you still need an activation key to activate the software you downloaded.
Summary
The Office Deployment Tool is a useful option for users who want the flexibility of choosing their installation software. However, it is a complex option only a few users will want to take on. However, a simpler alternative is the WPS Office Suite.
WPS offers a click to install Office Suite, where all users have to do is download and install the software. Moreover, WPS is packed full of diverse features that make it alluring. It’s free to download and offers all the necessary tools you require from an Office Suite.
