Windows 10-defaultassociations.xml and multiple version of reader and acrobat

[cwseagle]

We have multiple users with different versions of Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Professional in our environment.  We are currently using Windows 10 Enterprise  and are setting the group policies so Adobe opens a PDF file by default instead of Edge

Some users in the environment have reader, some of Professional.  All users with different versions of each.

Is there a solution perhaps a wild card entry or using multiple versions within the defaultassociaions.xml file that will tie the version installed onto the workstation as the default pdf viewer?

This is getting really frustrating.  We don't have a list of what users have what versions of PDF viewers, then having to create groups with separate GPO's and groups would be way to painful.  Is there an easy solution for this?

Thank you

[Test Screen Name]

I have never seen a resolution of this. Worse, Acrobat Pro is pervasive and offers much more than an app; every user has the potential to make use of Pro, so it's not clear to me how to handle this from a licensing view.

[cwseagle]

There is no worry about licensing with Adobe Reader.  It is a free download and available to all.  I am just looking for an easy way to manage the different versions without having to implement multiple GPO's in the environment.  I guess there is no way around it.  Microsoft really does make it impossible to manage an environment these days. Thank you for your response.

[Test Screen Name]

A minor correction: Reader is subject to a strict license which does not allow redistribution or installing for other users. Perhaps you know this already. Organisations who want to deploy Reader but apply for a redistribution license. This is also free, where granted.

[cwseagle]

Understood, But this still does not help me in what i am trying to accomplish with the group policy. It would be nice to just use a wild card for adobe reader or acrobat pro.

Thank you for your responses, I am going to consider this case closed since it is an un-manageable part of the GPO with multiple versions.

[Test Screen Name]

My original point is that separating the apps is about much more than file associations. For example, Acrobat adds a ribbon to Word to create PDF files. Presumably all your users will now see that ribbon. But they are not licensed to use it. There are many things like this.

[cwseagle · Accepted solution]

I think you are going off topic on my original question.  My issue is with the default PDF reader, which WIndows 10 sets Microsoft Edge browser as the default.  Yes, you can set Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat Pro to be the default within the default association XML file, but the users need the same version across the board or you need to implement multiple GPO's.  This has nothing to do with licensing, or features, or add ins.  This was not that type of question.  This was a simple question to find out if there was a wild card option for the default app XML.  Apparently there is not.

I am considering this closed now.  Thank you!!!

[Test Screen Name]

If your question is about the workings of defaultassociations.xml (defaultappassociations.xml) this is a Microsoft thing. Adobe don't control it or see it, they just get their app run (or not). Some documentation here. Export or Import Default Application Associations | Microsoft Docs