Unified Installer Reader Mode

Hi @Matthew22812294hdsk,

Hope you are doing well. Thanks for writing in, and sorry for the delayed response.

To ensure your unified Acrobat installation is correctly set to operate in Reader mode for unlicensed users:

1. Review MST File Settings:

   • Open the MST file you created using the Adobe Customization Wizard.
   • Navigate to the Personalization Options section.
   • Confirm the following settings:
     • Suppress Licensing: Ensure that the option to suppress activation and licensing dialogs is enabled.
     • Run in Reader Mode: Verify that the configuration explicitly enables Reader mode when no license is detected.

2. Test the Configuration:

   • Open Acrobat directly (not via the web app) on a system without an Acrobat license.
   • It should open in Reader mode. Look for visual indicators, such as the "Acrobat Reader" branding, instead of "Adobe Acrobat."

3. Check the Registry Entries:

   • Open the Windows Registry Editor and verify the following keys:
     • For 64-bit installations:
       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\Activation
       • Look for a value like bUpdater set to 0 (if updates are disabled) and other relevant keys for Reader mode.
     • For unified mode:
       HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown
       • Check the key bUseLowRightsForReader or similar values to ensure Reader mode is enforced.

4. Validate Transform Application:

   • Confirm that the MST file is properly applied during installation. The syntax for the installer should include the TRANSFORMS switch:

     msiexec /i AcroPro.msi TRANSFORMS=custom.mst /qn
     

5. Inspect Adobe Customization Wizard Documentation:

   • Refer to the documentation to confirm the MST configurations align with the latest standards.
   • Also, usage of the transforms property can be reviewed through Microsoft's help page.

If everything checks out but the issue persists, the configuration may not be propagating correctly to the web app context. Further investigation into the integration between the app and Acrobat would be necessary.