Check if full Acrobat is installed and not only Acrobat reader?

[Pirre001]

How can I check if the user have full acrobat installed and not only Acrobat Reader?

[jemidiah]

I have only the reader, and it would seem to me that this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Reader

should exist on computers with the reader installed. You should probably use the key that the full version uses, though, just in case they are both installed.

[James Stanich]

I have the full package. You could see if under the UNINSTALL folder in the registry if DISTILLER is installed...

[Pirre001]

Thanks,

But how can I check in the registry if the key exist?

[jemidiah]

Search for Registry or similar. You'll find thousands of posts on it

[Pirre001]

Yepp, I found many of them, but not any code there I could check
if the registry key exist.
Something like this:

If HKEY_CURRENT_USER, "SOFTWARE\Adobe\Acrobat Distiller\"= True Then ...

[NotLKH]

Just found this code: {I tweaked it a hair}

Const MAX_FILENAME_LEN = 260
Private Declare Function FindExecutable Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "FindExecutableA" (ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal lpResult As String) As Long
Private Sub Form_Load()
 'KPD-Team 1999
 'URL: [url]http://www.allapi.net/[/url]
 'E-Mail: [email][email protected][/email]
 'Tweaked by Lou
 
    Dim i As Integer
    Dim s2 As String
    Dim MyFile As String
    
    MyFile = App.Path & "asdftemp.pdf"
    Dim MyF As Integer
    MyF = FreeFile
    Open MyFile For Output As #MyF
    Close MyF
     
    'Check if the file exists
    If Dir(MyFile) = "" Or MyFile = "" Then
         MsgBox "File not found!", vbCritical
         Exit Sub
    End If
    'Create a buffer
    s2 = String(MAX_FILENAME_LEN, 32)
    'Retrieve the name and handle of the executable, associated with this file
    i = FindExecutable(MyFile, vbNullString, s2)
    If i > 32 Then
       MsgBox Left$(s2, InStr(s2, Chr$(0)) - 1)
    Else
       MsgBox "No association found !"
    End If
End Sub

It returns:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

Now, looking up reader on my machine, its exe is:

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

Therefore, if the string ends with Acrobat.exe, then its not the reader.

Of course, if ".pdf" is not registered to either Acrobat or Reader, then the return won't be either.


-Lou

[RobDog888]

That will not work for determining if the workstation has Acrobat
Approval installed. Approval is a limited version of the full version
Acrobat. They both use the same name for their executables.
So, with this method you cannot determine if the user has
Acrobat Approval or Acrobat full version.

[jemidiah]

Do you know whether the registry key is the same for Approval as it is for either of the other two versions?

[NotLKH]

Originally posted by RobDog888
That will not work for determining if the workstation has Acrobat
Approval installed. Approval is a limited version of the full version
Acrobat. They both use the same name for their executables.
So, with this method you cannot determine if the user has
Acrobat Approval or Acrobat full version.

True. However, besidesn the 30 days, whats the diff between Approval and regular Acrobat?

-Lou

[RobDog888]

The difference between Approval and Reader is that you can save
forms in pdf format. The difference between Approval and Full
Acrobat is Approval does not have the JavaScript console and
some other features. I can't do it justice so look here.

[Pirre001]

And how can I check if the user have Full Acrobat installed?

[RobDog888]

You will probably have to check the registry still. That code
posted above can not distinguish between Full and Approval
since the default install path is the same.
"Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe" for either one.

Let me check the registry and see if there is a difference.

[Pirre001]

Ok, RobDog888!
I guess you can solve this for me...

[RobDog888]

It looks like the only way is to enumerate the registry sub keys
under the Adobe key - [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe

If Distiller found then = full version and if Approval also found
then Approval was overwritten by full version.
If Approval is found and no Distiller found then only Approval.
If Reader is found then Reader version in addition to either case above.

Also, there is another version that Adobe calls "Business Tools".
I don't know what it is but may need to allow for this fourth case.

HTH.

[Pirre001]

Ok Thanks again!

How does the code, to enumerate the registry sub keys
under the Adobe key - [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe if destiller exist, look like?

[RobDog888]

Here is a sample on enumerating the registry keys.

Const ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS = 259&
Const HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG = &H80000005
Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
Private Declare Function RegCloseKey Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hKey As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegOpenKey Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegOpenKeyA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, phkResult As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function RegEnumKeyEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegEnumKeyExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal dwIndex As Long, ByVal lpName As String, lpcbName As Long, ByVal lpReserved As Long, ByVal lpClass As String, lpcbClass As Long, lpftLastWriteTime As Any) As Long
Private Declare Function RegEnumValue Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegEnumValueA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal dwIndex As Long, ByVal lpValueName As String, lpcbValueName As Long, ByVal lpReserved As Long, lpType As Long, lpData As Any, lpcbData As Long) As Long
Private Sub Form_Load()
    'KPD-Team 2001
    'URL: [url]http://www.allapi.net/[/url]
    'E-Mail: [email][email protected][/email]
    Dim hKey As Long, Cnt As Long, sName As String, sData As String, Ret As Long, RetData As Long
    Const BUFFER_SIZE As Long = 255
    'Set the forms graphics mode to persistent
    Me.AutoRedraw = True
    Me.Print "RegEnumKeyEx"
    Ret = BUFFER_SIZE
    'Open the registry key
    If RegOpenKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "Hardware", hKey) = 0 Then
        'Create a buffer
        sName = Space(BUFFER_SIZE)
        'Enumerate the keys
        While RegEnumKeyEx(hKey, Cnt, sName, Ret, ByVal 0&, vbNullString, ByVal 0&, ByVal 0& <> ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS
            'Show the enumerated key
            Me.Print "  " + Left$(sName, Ret)
            'prepare for the next key
            Cnt = Cnt + 1
            sName = Space(BUFFER_SIZE)
            Ret = BUFFER_SIZE
        Wend
        'close the registry key
        RegCloseKey hKey
    Else
        Me.Print "  Error while calling RegOpenKey"
    End If
    Me.Print vbCrLf + "RegEnumValue"
    Cnt = 0
    'Open a registry key
    If RegOpenKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion", hKey) = 0 Then
        'initialize
        sName = Space(BUFFER_SIZE)
        sData = Space(BUFFER_SIZE)
        Ret = BUFFER_SIZE
        RetData = BUFFER_SIZE
        'enumerate the values
        While RegEnumValue(hKey, Cnt, sName, Ret, 0, ByVal 0&, ByVal sData, RetData) <> ERROR_NO_MORE_ITEMS
            'show data
            If RetData > 0 Then Me.Print "  " + Left$(sName, Ret) + "=" + Left$(sData, RetData - 1)
            'prepare for next value
            Cnt = Cnt + 1
            sName = Space(BUFFER_SIZE)
            sData = Space(BUFFER_SIZE)
            Ret = BUFFER_SIZE
            RetData = BUFFER_SIZE
        Wend
        'Close the registry key
        RegCloseKey hKey
    Else
        Me.Print "  Error while calling RegOpenKey"
    End If
End Sub

Just modify it to enumerate the hive you need.

[NotLKH]

Originally posted by RobDog888
If Distiller found then = full version and if Approval also found
then Approval was overwritten by full version.
If Approval is found and no Distiller found then only Approval.
If Reader is found then Reader version in addition to either case above.

Are you sure Approval is a seperate from Full Acrobat?
It seems to be only a patch, and if so, does it matter if you have approval patched into Acrobat?

It surely doesn't destroy the existing functionality of the parent program, does it?

I mean, Acrobat.exe is still the full Acrobat, wether it has this patch or not?

If its not a patch, then why does the install screens title say "Patch".

-Just wondering
-Lou

[RobDog888]

Because what you have IS the patch for Approval. It patches Approval version 5.0.5.

Attached is the splash screen for Approval 5 that I have installed
on my laptop.

[NotLKH]

If you had the Full Acrobat at:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

Where does approvals exe install itself?

If its the same install path, then what happens to Your full Acrobat?

-Lou

BTW, the Screenshot came from partially running the download from:

http://www.versiontracker.com/php/dl...x/A505AFP1.exe

[RobDog888]

Approval has a check in it to determine if Full Acrobat is installed
or not. If it is then Approval aborts the installation, since Adobe
thinks that you would not want to downgrade your Acrobat.

They both install to the same path and exe name.

[NotLKH]

Gotcha!
Thanks!

[RobDog888]

No prob. Glad to help.

[Pirre001]

RobDog888,

I tried your sample on enumerating the registry keys but I can't understand how I can do a function as Boolean of it.
If it's true, then full acrobat is installed. Can you show me that?

[RobDog888]

Ya, but I don't have time until tonight.

[Pirre001]

Ok, I'll wait...

[Pirre001]

RobDog888...where are you...

[RobDog888]

Here I am. I had a busy weekend.

'Put this code into a module.
Option Explicit
 
Public Const HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT = &H80000000
Public Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
Public Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
Public Const HKEY_USERS = &H80000003
Public Const HKEY_PERFORMANCE_DATA = &H80000004
Public Const HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG = &H80000005
Public Const HKEY_DYN_DATA = &H80000006
Public Const REG_SZ = 1                         ' Unicode nul terminated string
Public Const REG_BINARY = 3                     ' Free form binary
Public Const REG_DWORD = 4                      ' 32-bit number
Public Const ERROR_SUCCESS = 0&
 
Public Declare Function RegOpenKey Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegOpenKeyA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal lpSubKey As String, _
phkResult As Long) As Long
 
Public Declare Function RegCloseKey Lib "advapi32.dll" (ByVal hKey As Long) As Long
 
Public Declare Function RegEnumKey Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegEnumKeyA" (ByVal hKey As Long, ByVal dwIndex As Long, _
ByVal lpName As String, ByVal cbName As Long) As Long
 
Public Declare Function RegQueryValueEx Lib "advapi32.dll" Alias "RegQueryValueExA" (ByVal hKey As Long, _
ByVal lpValueName As String, ByVal lpReserved As Long, lpType As Long, lpData As Any, lpcbData As Long) As Long
 
Public Function GetAllKeys(hKey As Long, strPath As String) As Variant
    ' Returns: an array in a variant of strings
    
    Dim lRegResult As Long
    Dim lCounter As Long
    Dim hCurKey As Long
    Dim strBuffer As String
    Dim lDataBufferSize As Long
    Dim strNames() As String
    Dim intZeroPos As Integer
    
    lCounter = 0
    lRegResult = RegOpenKey(hKey, strPath, hCurKey)
    Do
        'initialise buffers (longest possible length=255)
        lDataBufferSize = 255
        strBuffer = String(lDataBufferSize, " ")
        lRegResult = RegEnumKey(hCurKey, lCounter, strBuffer, lDataBufferSize)
        If lRegResult = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
            'tidy up string and save it
            ReDim Preserve strNames(lCounter) As String
            intZeroPos = InStr(strBuffer, Chr$(0))
            If intZeroPos > 0 Then
                strNames(UBound(strNames)) = Left$(strBuffer, intZeroPos - 1)
            Else
                strNames(UBound(strNames)) = strBuffer
            End If
            lCounter = lCounter + 1
        Else
            Exit Do
        End If
    Loop
    GetAllKeys = strNames
 
End Function
 
Public Function GetSettingString(hKey As Long, strPath As String, strValue As String, Optional Default As String) As String
 
    Dim hCurKey As Long
    Dim lValueType As Long
    Dim strBuffer As String
    Dim lDataBufferSize As Long
    Dim intZeroPos As Integer
    Dim lRegResult As Long
    
    ' Set up default value
    If Not IsEmpty(Default) Then
        GetSettingString = Default
    Else
        GetSettingString = ""
    End If
    
    ' Open the key and get length of string
    lRegResult = RegOpenKey(hKey, strPath, hCurKey)
    lRegResult = RegQueryValueEx(hCurKey, strValue, 0&, lValueType, ByVal 0&, lDataBufferSize)
    
    If lRegResult = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
        If lValueType = [color=red]REG_SZ[/color] Then 'change to the type of value you are looking for (REG_SZ,REG_DWORD,REG_BINARY)
        ' initialise string buffer and retrieve string
            strBuffer = String(lDataBufferSize, " ")
            lRegResult = RegQueryValueEx(hCurKey, strValue, 0&, 0&, ByVal strBuffer, lDataBufferSize)
        
            ' format string
            intZeroPos = InStr(strBuffer, Chr$(0))
            If intZeroPos > 0 Then
                GetSettingString = Left$(strBuffer, intZeroPos - 1)
            Else
                GetSettingString = strBuffer
            End If
        End If
    Else
        ' there is a problem
    End If
    lRegResult = RegCloseKey(hCurKey)
 
End Function

You will need to loop through the array of sub keys (from GetAllKeys function) to determine if the Distiller key is present or not.
Then you can use the second function to get the value if you need it.

[Pirre001]

Thanks again RobDog888!

I can still not get it working. What exactly do you mean that I should do?