Revision as of 10:26, 3 November 2011

Foxit Reader is a free PDF viewer, available from http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/, distinguished from Adobe Reader by being smaller, more secure and easier to update.

Foxit Enterprise Reader, http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/enterprise.php, is a similar version of the same Foxit Reader but with some alterations for enterprise deployments.

These WPKG packages assume that Windows is localised in English. For Windows localised in other languages you will need to make changes accordingly.

At http://languages.foxitsoftware.com you can download language files for Foxit Reader and copy them in the same directory where Foxit Reader is installed. However the translations are usually in such a bad shape, that even a non-native English speaker is better off with the English version.

Downloading Foxit Enterprise Reader MSI installer

The installer here assumes you're using the MSI version of the installer rather than the regular .exe installer. It is strongly encouraged to use the MSI and not the .exe installer, because the latter is aimed at end users and includes addons like the ask.com toolbar, which you generally don't want to roll out in your organisation. The EXE version is licensed for personal use only, if you are deploying Foxit Reader, you must sign up for the free enterprise version that comes as an MSI, known as Foxit Enterprise Reader, at http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/enterprise_reg.php. Foxit Enterprise Reader remains free, you're registering with the Foxit Corporation sales team, who will then notify you each time a new version is released with a URL to download it from.

Recently it has become possible to select the MSI version of the installer from http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/.

Alternatively you may be able to download Foxit Enterprise Reader from a direct URL such as:

MSI installer for 4.1: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/4.x/4.1/enu/FoxitReader41_enu.msi
MSI installer for 4.1.1: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/4.x/4.1/enu/FoxitReader411_enu.msi
MSI installer for 4.2: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/4.x/4.2/enu/FoxitReader42_enu.msi
MSI installer for 4.3: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/4.x/4.3/enu/FoxitReader43_enu.msi
MSI installer for 4.3.1: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/4.x/4.3/enu/FoxitReader431_enu.msi
MSI installer for 5.0.1.0523: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/5.x/5.0/enu/FoxitReader501.0523_enu.msi
MSI installer for 5.0.2.718: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/5.x/5.0/enu/FoxitReader502.0718_enu.msi
MSI installer for 5.0.3.726: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/5.x/5.0/enu/EnterpriseFoxitReader503.0726_enu.msi (this version hasn't been announced on their web site, but it is the version Foxit Software give you when you sign up)
MSI installer for 5.1.0.1021: http://cdn01.foxitsoftware.com/pub/foxit/reader/desktop/win/5.x/5.1/enu/FoxitReader510.1021_enu.msi (not announced via their Enterprise system, but available from

etc...

Alternatively, if you have access to an old version of the MSI installer:

Grab the most recent EXE installer from the Foxit website
Run the EXE installer without actually installing the software
Browse to your local %TEMP% folder, search for "Foxit Reader.exe" and copy it somewhere else
Cancel the EXE installer
Create your WPKG install script that first installs Foxit Reader with the help of the old MSI installer and then overwrites "Foxit Reader.exe" in the installation directory with the copy that you acquired above.
Since Foxit Reader consists only of one executable, this procedure is equivalent to running the MSI installer of the most recent version (except that the uninstall GUID will be different)

WPKG Packages

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.1 Series (English)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> 
<packages
        xmlns:xsi="http://www.wpkg.org/packages"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../xsd/packages.xsd" > 
<package 
id="foxitreader" 
name="Foxit Reader" 
revision="%version%"
reboot="false" 
priority="5">

	<variable name="version" value="5.1.0.1021" />
		
	<check type="logical" condition="or">
		<check type='file' condition='versiongreaterorequal' path='%PROGRAMFILES%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe' value='%version%' />
		<check type='file' condition='versiongreaterorequal' path='%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe' value='%version%' />
	</check>
			
	<install cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\foxitreader\EnterpriseFoxitReader510.1021_enu.msi" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="0" MAKEDEFAULT="1" VIEWINBROWSER="0" /passive /norestart /qn' />
 
	<upgrade cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\foxitreader\EnterpriseFoxitReader510.1021_enu.msi" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="0" MAKEDEFAULT="1" VIEWINBROWSER="0" /passive /norestart /qn' />
 
	<remove cmd='msiexec /x {30734E04-E8D3-4D2E-8379-70DB6F0B793A} /passive /norestart /qn' />
	
</package>
</packages>

Note:

Installer options have been set to not create a desktop shortcut, not embed Foxit Reader in the browser window, and sets itself as the default PDF viewer. You can find the different installer options in the Foxit Reader forum in the FAQ
Upgrades have been tested to work OK with versions 3.3 and 4.2.
It still appears impossible to disable/dismiss the wizard that welcomes new users.

Installer Command-line Switches

SAFEMODE
VIEWINBROWSER - note that VIEWINBROWSER does not affect Internet Explorer integration, to disable that you have to uncheck "Internet -> Display PDF in Browser" through the Foxit Reader GUI or use the script below.
DISPLAYINBROWSER - Foxit Reader 4.3 introduced a new feature called "HTML embedded PDF support". It allows webdesigners to embed Foxit Reader into a website like for example Adobe Flash. If you don't want this, set the property DISPLAYINBROWSER to 0.
MAKEDEFAULT - Foxit Reader automatically makes itself the default PDF reader, hence the '-register' command-line switch used with earlier versions isn't used here. If you don't want this you can set the property MAKEDEFAULT=0 during installation.
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT
NORESTART
ALLUSERS

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.0 Series (English)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> 
<packages
        xmlns:xsi="http://www.wpkg.org/packages"
        xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="../xsd/packages.xsd" > 
<package 
id="foxitreader" 
name="Foxit Reader" 
revision="%version%"
reboot="false" 
priority="5">

	<variable name="version" value="5.0.3.726" />
		
	<check type="logical" condition="or">
		<check type='file' condition='versiongreaterorequal' path='%PROGRAMFILES%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe' value='%version%' />
		<check type='file' condition='versiongreaterorequal' path='%PROGRAMFILES(x86)%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe' value='%version%' />
	</check>
			
	<install cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\foxitreader\EnterpriseFoxitReader503.0726_enu.msi" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="0" MAKEDEFAULT="1" VIEWINBROWSER="0" /passive /norestart /qn' />
 
	<upgrade cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\foxitreader\EnterpriseFoxitReader503.0726_enu.msi" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="0" MAKEDEFAULT="1" VIEWINBROWSER="0" /passive /norestart /qn' />
 
	<remove cmd='msiexec /x {E6C1B140-AF5D-4956-BAC7-F5C84B7C90AE} /passive /norestart /qn' />
	
</package>
</packages>

Note:

Installer options have been set to not create a desktop shortcut, not embed Foxit Reader in the browser window, and sets itself as the default PDF viewer. You can find the different installer options in the Foxit Reader forum in the FAQ
Tested with Windows XP 32 Bit and Windows 7 64 Bit.
Upgrades have been tested to work OK with versions 3.3 and 4.2.

Installer Command-line Switches

SAFEMODE
VIEWINBROWSER - note that VIEWINBROWSER does not affect Internet Explorer integration, to disable that you have to uncheck "Internet -> Display PDF in Browser" through the Foxit Reader GUI or use the script below.
DISPLAYINBROWSER - Foxit Reader 4.3 introduced a new feature called "HTML embedded PDF support". It allows webdesigners to embed Foxit Reader into a website like for example Adobe Flash. If you don't want this, set the property DISPLAYINBROWSER to 0.
MAKEDEFAULT - Foxit Reader automatically makes itself the default PDF reader, hence the '-register' command-line switch used with earlier versions isn't used here. If you don't want this you can set the property MAKEDEFAULT=0 during installation.
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT
NORESTART
ALLUSERS

Program Command-line Switches

-register - make Foxit Reader the default PDF reader

Foxit Enterprise Reader 4.3 Series (English)

<package id="foxitreader" name="Foxit Reader" revision="4.3.1.323" reboot="false" priority="0">
	<check type="uninstall" condition="exists" path="Foxit Reader" />
	<check type='file' condition='versiongreaterorequal' path='%PROGRAMFILES%\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe' value='4.3.1.323' />
	<install cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\foxitreader\FoxitReader43_enu.msi" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=0 VIEWINBROWSER=0 DISPLAYINBROWSER=0 /passive /norestart' />

	<!-- Multiple versions of Foxit Reader were released under the same version number 4.3.1, hence the MSI upgrade procedure doesn't work and you have to uninstall the old version before installing the new one -->
	<remove cmd='msiexec /x{BEE120D0-AAA0-4835-8EDA-925F82CEB673} /passive /norestart' />
	<upgrade cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\foxitreader\FoxitReader43_enu.msi" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=0 VIEWINBROWSER=0 DISPLAYINBROWSER=0 /passive /norestart' />

	<remove cmd='msiexec /x{0C441730-85C7-4667-895B-6F7327D278EF} /passive /norestart' />
</package>

Installer Command-line Switches

VIEWINBROWSER - note that VIEWINBROWSER does not affect Internet Explorer integration, to disable that you have to uncheck "Internet -> Display PDF in Browser" through the Foxit Reader GUI or use the script below.
DISPLAYINBROWSER - Foxit Reader 4.3 introduced a new feature called "HTML embedded PDF support". It allows webdesigners to embed Foxit Reader into a website like for example Adobe Flash. If you don't want this, set the property DISPLAYINBROWSER to 0.
MAKEDEFAULT - Foxit Reader automatically makes itself the default PDF reader, hence the '-register' command-line switch used with earlier versions isn't used here. If you don't want this you can set the property MAKEDEFAULT=0 during installation.
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT
NORESTART
ALLUSERS

Program Command-line Switches

-register - make Foxit Reader the default PDF reader

Uninstall Strings

3.3.1.0518: 648AF8B5-9F79-4ABA-8D59-83998F7E3E3F
3.3.0.0430: 4FEC0D0D-1279-4C46-B6F8-B73C5247A6A9
3.1.4.1125: 4FEC0D0D-1279-4C46-B6F8-B73C5247A6A9
3.1.1.0901: A9355F41-AE6C-487C-A6A9-BC348D836F43
3.1.?: 81EC4B5E-E735-43D2-985A-C675003BFBB6
4.1.1: 139D9AF8-5562-47BD-AA85-F3AD63681EDB
4.2: 549197A2-8484-426C-814F-81A6535A24D6
4.3: 35E93AC6-D7E0-4F32-BEF3-FFBA011B0861
4.3.1: BEE120D0-AAA0-4835-8EDA-925F82CEB673 and D60F533D-0CBF-475F-8300-8B13799775D0 and 0C441730-85C7-4667-895B-6F7327D278EF (someone at Foxit thinks it's a good idea to repeatedly release multiple versions under the same version number)
5.0.1: 98E780FC-920D-4CC0-B780-5A272C4915FE
5.0.1.523: C5307DF8-9370-4646-9034-C28E2B44992C
5.0.3.726: E6C1B140-AF5D-4956-BAC7-F5C84B7C90AE
5.1.0.1021: 30734E04-E8D3-4D2E-8379-70DB6F0B793A

Configuration

For details on how to use these registry settings to script changes using WPKG see http://wpkg.org/Adding_Registry_Settings#Reg.

Foxit Reader 5.1

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Per-user automated configuration: ?

GUI: ?

Disable the welcome dialog

As of version 5.10.1021 you can disable the Welcome Dialog.

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader 5.0\Preferences\Others\bShowWelcomeDlg="0"

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.0

Turn Off Automatic Updates

GUI: Foxit Enterprise Reader doesn't include Help → Update and the associated Preferences, but it may or may not include the auto updater feature.

Automated configuration: ?

Display PDF In Browser

This determines whether or not PDFs open in an embedded Foxit Reader within the browser, or open separately into a full Foxit Reader.

On startup, each user gets a 'Welcome to Foxit Reader' dialog, in which there is a '[*] Display PDF in Browser' option that is selected. The same option is in Tools → Preferences → File Associations → Display PDF in Browser. These options respond only to administrator accounts (not sure about Power Users), other users can alter them but doing so will make no difference, with that in Tools → Preferences reverting on next startup. Foxit acts upon the option set by an administrator, for all users. The installer option VIEWINBROWSER=0 doesn't cause this option to be turned off. The registry option ...MainFrame\DisplayInBrowser=0 described in Configiuration Scripts - Foxit Reader 4.3 doesn't seem to be able to be used to turn this off.

Foxit Reader 5.0

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Per-user automated configuration: ?

GUI: ?

Display PDF In Browser

This determines whether or not PDFs open in an embedded Foxit Reader within the browser, or open separately into a full Foxit Reader.

On startup, each user gets a 'Welcome to Foxit Reader' dialog, in which there is a '[*] Display PDF in Browser' option that is selected. The same option is in Tools → Preferences → File Associations → Display PDF in Browser. These options respond only to administrator accounts (not sure about Power Users), other users can alter them but doing so will make no difference, with that in Tools → Preferences reverting on next startup. Foxit acts upon the option set by an administrator, for all users. The installer option VIEWINBROWSER=0 doesn't cause this option to be turned off. The registry option ...MainFrame\DisplayInBrowser=0 described in Configiuration Scripts - Foxit Reader 4.3 doesn't seem to be able to be used to turn this off.

Foxit Reader 4.3

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\AutoUpdate Info\IsAutoUpdate="0"
HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\AutoUpdate Info\AutoUpdateCycle="0"

GUI: Help → Check for updates now → Preferences → Updater → Automatically check for Foxit updates []

Remove Internet Explorer integration

System-wide automated configuration:

Add the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\EditFlags=REG_DWORD:00000002

Delete the following:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}

Remove adverts

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\MainFrame\ShowAd="0"

Remove Ask button

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\MainFrame\RemoveAskBtn="1"

Remove registration dialog

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\MainFrame\ShowRegisterDlg="0"

No Firefox / Internet Explorer integration (just for Display in browser check box)

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\MainFrame\DisplayInBrowser=REG_DWORD:00000000

Foxit Reader 3.1

Turn Off Automatic Updates

System-wide automated configuration: IsAutoUpdate=0 in %PROGRAMFILES%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader_Preferences.ini. I don't know the purpose of this file in version 3.1 as each user has their own configuration setting.

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\AutoUpdate Info\IsAutoUpdate="0"

GUI: Help → Check for updates now → Preferences → Updater → Automatically check for Foxit updates []

Foxit Reader 3.0

Turn Off Automatic Updates

System-wide automated configuration: IsAutoUpdate=0 in %PROGRAMFILES%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\FoxitReader_Preferences.ini. This setting isn't present unless the menu option has been run to turn it off. If you add an additional 'IsAutoUpdate' line to this file then only the first instance of it is adhered to.

GUI: Help → Check for updates now → Preferences → Updater → Automatically check for Foxit updates []

@@ Line 232: / Line 232: @@
 Per-user automated configuration:
   HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\AutoUpdate Info\IsAutoUpdate="0"
+ HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\AutoUpdate Info\AutoUpdateCycle="0"
 GUI: Help &rarr; Check for updates now &rarr; Preferences &rarr; Updater &rarr; Automatically check for Foxit updates []

Difference between revisions of "Foxit Reader"

Revision as of 10:26, 3 November 2011

Contents

Downloading Foxit Enterprise Reader MSI installer

WPKG Packages

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.1 Series (English)

Installer Command-line Switches

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.0 Series (English)

Installer Command-line Switches

Program Command-line Switches

Foxit Enterprise Reader 4.3 Series (English)

Installer Command-line Switches

Program Command-line Switches

Uninstall Strings

Configuration

Foxit Reader 5.1

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Disable the welcome dialog

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.0

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Display PDF In Browser

Foxit Reader 5.0

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Display PDF In Browser

Foxit Reader 4.3

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Remove Internet Explorer integration

Remove adverts

Remove Ask button

Remove registration dialog

No Firefox / Internet Explorer integration (just for Display in browser check box)

Foxit Reader 3.1

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Foxit Reader 3.0

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Navigation menu

Search