What's new in Answer File Generator

Answer File Generator 2.2 (2025-05-08)

Add an option to specify a password for the built-in local Administrator account. This account is disabled if no password is provided.

You can now generate computer names containing a random number, by using the # character in the name you provide.
Improved error messages for certain kinds of invalid JSON input.

The -DomainAccount argument now allows you to specify users from different domains than the one you're joining.
The -LocalAccount and -DomainAccount arguments now allow you to customize which groups the account is added to.
You can join a domain using provisioning with the new -JoinDomainProvisioningFile argument, and do it during the offlineServicing pass with the new -JoinDomainOffline argument.
The -CmdKeyUser and -CmdKeyPassword arguments have been removed; this was a bad security practice that I don't wish to promote. You can still get identical behavior using the -FirstLogonCommand argument if desired.
You can specify options using a custom JSON file format, as an alternative to using command line arguments.
If no output file name is provided, the answer file is now written to the console.
The -SetupScript argument has been renamed to -FirstLogonScript, for consistency with the -FirstLogonCommand argument. A -SetupScript alias is provided for compatibility.
The Answer File Generator is now available in standalone single-file versions, that do not require you to install the .Net Runtime.
There are some breaking changes to the Ookii.AnswerFile library.

Apply a workaround for a known issue with the LogonCount element, so that the -AutoLogonCount argument is accurate.
Add the -Partition argument, which adds the ability to specify a custom partition layout when using the CleanEfi or CleanBios installation method.
Add the -FirstLogonCommand argument to run commands that are not PowerShell scripts.
Add the -DisableServerManager option to disable the automatic launching of Server Manager on Windows Server SKUs.
The -JoinDomainUser argument allows the use of a user from a different domain than the one being joined.
Using the -SetupScript argument no longer changes the global execution policy for Windows PowerShell.
The local and online account screens are no longer skipped if you do not specify either the -LocalAccount or the -JoinDomain arguments.
Source Link support for the Ookii.AnswerFile library.