<Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="SemiAnnualPreview"> Does not install correct channel

Memory 421 Reputation points
2020-09-24T15:46:50.68+00:00

Has anyone seen where the XML being used with the entry for SemiAnnualPreview is not working correctly? We have started seeing and issue where using the XML to deploy the Preview version. Initially when we first began deploying this entry in the XML did work and installed the correct version. Now though all of a sudden it is only installing the Semi Annual Channel and not the preview regardless of the line in the XML being <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="SemiAnnualPreview"> or <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="SemiAnnual">

Office Management
Office Management
Office: A suite of Microsoft productivity software that supports common business tasks, including word processing, email, presentations, and data management and analysis.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Memory 421 Reputation points
    2020-09-28T12:04:34.623+00:00

    Ultimately what this came down to for us is that the latest version of the ODT was not used when using the XML to deploy. The "SemiAnnualPreview" entry was too new for the version of ODT/setup.exe we were using to deploy.

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  1. Erin Ding-MSFT 4,456 Reputation points
    2020-09-25T07:40:01.033+00:00

    @Memory ,

    > Initially when we first began deploying this entry in the XML did work

    << How did you deploy this entry in the XML initially? Is the computer that you deploy the XML this time the same with that the first time?

    Do you install other products like Visio, Project on your computer? Check if you specified the version number of Office in the XML or could you please give me your XML file? Please cover any sensitive information if there is.

    I run the ODT executable in configure mode and successfully deploy it.
    If you use ODT, I suggest you to do as below:

    1. Download the latest version of Office Deployment Tool.
    2. Enter ‘cmd’ in the search bar, right click Command Prompt and select ‘Run as administrator’. Type cd+ the save path of ODT, Enter. On my test environment, the save path of ODT is C:\ODT. Then enter setup.exe /configure config2.xml where the config2 is the file name of configuration.xml file, Enter.
      Make sure the path and command are correct.

    Please check your group policy whether you set the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel as your default update channel.
    Enter ‘Run’ in the search bar, open it, Computer Configuration>Administrative Templates>Microsoft Office 2016(Machine)>Updates>Update Channel, check if you enabled the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. If yes, set it ‘Not Configured’.

    For more information, you can refer to Overview of the Office Deployment Tool and Overview of update channels for Microsoft 365 Apps.

    Regards,
    Erin

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