Stop Foxit Reader trying to register (Alternatively: Automatic registration?)

[3s-gtech]

I keep feeling like I'm making this too difficult. It took me a little while to sort, but your best bet will be to try my setup.

 

I'm using an unmodified Foxit 830 MSI, which I'm installing via a startup script rather than GP Software installation.

My script is:

 

msiexec /i \\server\install\Foxit\FoxitReader83_enu_Setup.msi TRANSFORMS=\\server\install\Foxit\FoxitReader83.mst DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="0" MAKEDEFAULT="1" VIEWINBROWSER="1" DISPLAYINBROWSER="0" /passive /norestart /qn

 

My MST is below (don't think it contains anything specific to us). You can only generate the MST with the tool, it won't let you edit an existing one.

 

FoxitReader83.zip

Edited June 23, 2017 by 3s-gtech

[Garacesh]

Y'know.. I'm not entirely sure we're barking up the right tree, here..

 

So I made an MST with Foxit's tool, opened the MSI with Orca, applied that MST and saved the modified file as its own MSI. This MSI now works.

I have checked by running the install interactively, and going to 'Custom', that everything is disabled except Spellcheck.

 

If I launch Foxit on my test PC, I don't get the 'Tracker', 'Check In', 'Check Out', 'Discard Check Out' and 'Document Properties' options on the Share tab like I get on my admin PC (which was installed via the vanilla MSI). I assume these are the ConnectedPDF options.

 

My test pc still gets the UAC prompt from "C:\Program Files (x86)\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader.exe" -register

Edited June 23, 2017 by Garacesh

[3s-gtech]

Tried making a new shortcut file which points directly at the Foxit exe?

[Garacesh]

The current shortcut file only points to the .exe.. -register is definitely not part of the path. I've checked and double-checked that one.

At this point, I'll try anything though. I'll give it a bash on Monday (and feel like a right pillock if it works!)

[Garacesh]

Tried making a new shortcut file which points directly at the Foxit exe?

 

Definitely didn't work.

 

Foxit Support finally got back to me and advised I do away with the Browser plugin. So I created a new MST with 'Set as the default PDF viewer' and 'Disable Auto Update' ticked; and 'Show PDF files in browsers.' and 'Install as the default system printer' unticked.. I also set 'Browser Plug-in' and 'ConnectedPDF' to 'Entire feature will be unavailable' in the Features menu.

 

I'm no longer getting the UAC prompt from "C:\Program Files (x86)\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe" -register

Yay!

 

I'm getting it from "C:\Program Files (x86)\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe" -displayinbrowserregister instead

[Garacesh]

Solution has been found (Updating this for anybody that might have this issue in future)

 

Through further digging, it appears the issue is with the Administrative Templates\Foxit Reader 8\Preferences\Default PDF Viewer policy.

 

I took this setting to mean it would modify the related registry value to configure .pdf association with Foxit for all users of the machine (as SYSTEM), but this appears to not be the case. The Default PDF Viewer policy setting appears to attempt to set Foxit as the default PDF viewer when the program is launched. This is an important distinction to make as the software will be launched under the users context and most users in an enterprise setting will not have the administrative privileges to change file-software associations.

 

Launching Foxit with the Default PDF Viewer setting enabled (System PDF Viewer ticked, Web Browser PDF Viewer unticked) checked produces the -register UAC prompt despite the fact that Forbid Checking of the Default PDF Viewer is Enabled. Launching with both options ticked (despite the MST disabling browser features) produces the -displayinbrowserregister prompt.

 

Solution(ish)? A combo of 'Don't use the Default PDF Viewer policy' and 'Don't install any other PDF software' (for us, that means no Acrobat DC and no Acrobat X as part of the Adobe Suite, which is fine by me) and Foxit automatically is given .pdf association by Windows.

[3s-gtech]

Makes perfect sense, never realised it did that. I have the GP templates installed but haven't selected that option so never saw this behaviour. Hopefully you'll find it does the job well for you now.

[Garacesh]

Hooray, necrobumping my own thread!

 

So hitting the same problem again.

Foxit throws a -register UAC prompt if you include the Default PDF Viewer policy because it still wants to do it under the user context.

 

The same solution still works.. Don't set that policy, and Foxit loads fine.

 

BUT! Edge.

Edge exists, don't it? And now it wants to be the default PDF viewer.

And given all the faff with switching Edge to Chromium and whatnot, I think it's just going to cause more aggro than it's worth to give users a third web browser to use. They already get confused enough between IE and Chrome.

 

So. With Edge Applocker'd, it appears to a normal user like they're not allowed to open .pdf files anymore, because when they try they get the 'This program has been blocked by your administrator' error.

 

Does anybody perchance have the strings to hand to add to the Default Associations Configuration File to force Windows to use Foxit rather than Edge?

[Arthur]

Does anybody perchance have the strings to hand to add to the Default Associations Configuration File to force Windows to use Foxit rather than Edge?

This is for the latest version (v9.6).

 

[Garacesh]

Bangin'! That's sorted it. Thank you!

[3s-gtech]

Been meaning to sort that too - thanks @Arthur, saves me messing around with DISM.

[Arthur]

Glad it helped.