Adobe Reader X (Disable check for Updates from content without using GUI)

[Sonuw]

Need Guidance,

For disabling the Check auto Updates for Adobe Reader X from contents.
I know i can using Adobe Reader >> Preferences >> Categories >> Updates >> Check for Updates.
I need to select Do not download and install updates automatically for all my users.
I dont wants to use this above path.
Is there a way to disable this from Contents or from other resources like Plits or from any inside script.

Regards,
Sonu W

[mm2270 · Accepted solution]

This is a little tricky to do I think. That setting is inside the users com.adobe.Reader.plist file in their Preferences folder. There is a line in an array like this:

CheckForUpdatesAtStartup =             (
                0,
                1
            );

When its Off, that last line is a "0", and when its On, it shows "1". I'm just not sure how you'd programmatically write into that other than perhaps with PlistBuddy. I don't think the usual defaults command will work here.

You might be better off just packaging up the plist and deploying it to users with the FEU and FUT options checked. Course for that you have to use a .dmg, not a pkg.

[Sonuw]

Experts !!!

Kindly help me finding path for disabling Updater (Adobe Reader X) using other methods, not from the preferences.

[mm2270 · Accepted solution]

This is a little tricky to do I think. That setting is inside the users com.adobe.Reader.plist file in their Preferences folder. There is a line in an array like this:

CheckForUpdatesAtStartup =             (
                0,
                1
            );

When its Off, that last line is a "0", and when its On, it shows "1". I'm just not sure how you'd programmatically write into that other than perhaps with PlistBuddy. I don't think the usual defaults command will work here.

You might be better off just packaging up the plist and deploying it to users with the FEU and FUT options checked. Course for that you have to use a .dmg, not a pkg.

[bentoms]

This would be a perfect use for MCX.

[Kumarasinghe · Accepted solution]

Disable auto-update system wide and lock it down
1. Navigate to /Library/Preferences/
2. Create a new file com.adobe.Reader.plist (Tip: This file does not exist by default)
3. Open the plist file you created with an editor (TextWrangler)
4. Add the entries shown in here.

<dict>
 <key>10</key>
  <dict>
   <key>FeatureLockdown</key>
    <dict>
     <key>bUpdater</key>
    <false/>
  </dict>
 </dict>
</dict>

http://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/AdminGuide/mac.html#disabling-updates

If it is version XI, please change the <key> value to 11.

You can create a MCX or custom Configuration Profile and push it to machines.

[Sonuw]

Thanks for Guidance @ mm2270 & @ Kumarasinghe

[vipin_johney]

I have created this plist file. But how will I know whether the auto update is blocked or not. Please reply

[Sonuw]

@ Vipin.johney If is solution implemented successfully. You can find this out using 1. Adobe Reader >> Preferences >> Categories Look for Updater on left side if its there, it means that the solution is not implemented successfully.
If you can't find it on left side, it means Updater is removed / disabled. 2. Look for Adobe Reader >> Help >> check for Updates...
If you are able to see it, It means solution is not implemented.
If Implemented successfully you will not see Check for Updates from Adobe Reader >> Help.

Regards,
SonuW

[joshbuddy]

Why I don't check JamfNation first every time for anything Mac related is beyond me... this helped tremendously, thanks er'body!

[tkimpton]

SonuW forum etiquette please, don't bust our balls if we don't reply to one of your posts within 30 seconds!

Ta

[tkimpton]

@ Kumarasinghe

Unfortunately this doesnt work on Acrobat Pro 10.1.1 that got installed as part of CS6.

I cant use Acrobat Customization wizard because of this and Adobe do not provide updates to 11 on our CLP!

[Mauricio]

@ tkimpton Hi Tim
You can disable the updates for Acrobat Pro 10.1.1

From Adobe:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/AdminGuide/mac.html
"
16.6.1 Disabling and locking the Updater

With version 10.1.1 and later, it is possible for IT to disable and lock the Updater settings so that 1) updates won’t happen and 2) users can’t change the setting.
"

Hope helps
Regards
Mauricio

[donmontalvo]

@tkimpton wrote:

SonuW forum etiquette please, don't bust our balls if we don't reply to one of your posts within 30 seconds! Ta

Makes you woder if SonuW is putting any effort into working through these issues? ;)

[markpell]

This may work. Throw this in a script and run after. It will loop through all existing user accounts and run a specified command.

for dir in `ls /Users`
do
defaults write /path/plist file
done

note: the ` is a backtick.

[donmontalvo]

nm

[msnowdon]

I know this is an old thread but Ive been looking at the different ways to disable the Adobe Reader updater and the easiest way for me was to add the "Adobe Reader and Acrobat Updater" process to Restricted Software. Seems to be working fine.

[donmontalvo]

I wish Adobe Acrobat Reader XI would die...but until it does, this might help.

If the plist doesn't exist, can echo out the file using a simple script:

#!/bin/sh

# Echo out plist
echo "<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>11</key>
    <dict>
        <key>FeatureLockdown</key>
        <dict>
            <key>bUpdater</key>
            <false/>
        </dict>
    </dict>
</dict>
</plist>" > /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Reader.plist

# Set owner:group and permissions.
/usr/sbin/chown root:wheel /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Reader.plist
/bin/chmod 644 /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Reader.plist

exit 0

To confirm:

$ defaults read /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Reader.plist 
{
    11 =     {
        FeatureLockdown =         {
            bUpdater = 0;
        };
    };
}

If the file exists, you'll stomp it with the above. But I'm not going to waste my time adding arrays to a file that should have been taken out back and buried along with it's application. :)

Switch the value to 10 if you're suppressing Reader X...although someone posted that it doesn't work with the earliest patch levels.

Don