Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader is a free PDF viewer, available from https://www.foxitsoftware.com/products/pdf-reader/, distinguished from Adobe Reader by being smaller, more secure and easier to update. It is available in either a .exe installer or an MSI installer. This MSI installer was reinstated as-of November 2011 and is a choice you are given only when downloading via http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/. Foxit Reader is aimed at end users, licensed for personal use only and includes addons like the ask.com toolbar, which you generally don't want to roll out in your organisation.

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, such as lacking the Ask toolbar. It is only available as an MSI installer.

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 Reader for Enterprise MSI installer

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.

Registration also provides a number of deployment tools for IT admins, including an XML config editor, ADM files to manage settings using Group Policy and the Foxit Customisation Tool

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

Older MSI installer versions are available in this page's history ("View History" link is above).

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

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="uninstall" condition="versiongreaterorequal" path="Foxit Reader" value="%version%" />
			
	<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


Foxit Reader

I created this a while back, but it doenst work

Foxit Reader 5.4 Series (English)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<packages:packages
        xmlns:packages="http://www.wpkg.org/packages" xmlns:wpkg="http://www.wpkg.org/wpkg" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
        xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.wpkg.org/packages ../xsd/packages.xsd" >
<package 
  id="foxitreader" 
  name="Foxit Reader" 
  revision="%version%"
  reboot="false" 
  priority="10">
   
  <variable name="version" value="5.5.0.1227" />
  <variable name="filename" value="EnterpriseFoxitReader55.1227_enu.msi" />
  <variable name="PKG_DESTINATION" value="%ProgramFiles%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader"      architecture="x86"/>
  <variable name="PKG_DESTINATION" value="%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader" architecture="x64"/>
    
  <check type="file"      condition="versiongreaterorequal" path="%PKG_DESTINATION%\Foxit Reader.exe" value="%version%" />
      
  <install include="remove"/> 
	<install cmd='msiexec /i "%SOFTWARE%\PDF\FoxitReader\%filename%" DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="0" MAKEDEFAULT="1" VIEWINBROWSER="0" /passive /norestart /qn' />
   
  <upgrade include="install"/> 
  
  <remove cmd='MsiExec.exe /x {6EF953B4-DB16-4E59-87CF-B61783DE6988} /passive /norestart /qn'> <!-- 3.0.2008.1120 -->
    <exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>
	<remove cmd='MsiExec.exe /x {68205FFB-5918-43D4-B0D4-131DE9282046} /passive /norestart /qn'> <!-- 5.0.2.718 -->
		<exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>
  <remove cmd='MsiExec.exe /x {BB5B5E16-45EA-4F4E-9977-10BF95CBEA1C} /passive /norestart /qn'> <!-- 5.1.1.1111 -->
		<exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>
  <remove cmd='msiexec /x {9507C52B-E482-4914-85A6-D4786ADD3512} /passive /norestart /qn' > <!-- 5.1.4.104 -->
		<exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>
  <remove cmd='msiexec /x {9507C52B-E482-4914-85A6-D4786ADD3512} /passive /norestart /qn' > <!-- 5.1.4.104 -->
    <exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>
  <remove cmd='msiexec /x {BB5B5E16-45EA-4F4E-9977-10BF95CBEA1C} /passive /norestart /qn' > <!-- 5.3.1.0606 -->
    <exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>   
  <remove cmd='MsiExec.exe /x {B961CEE2-3519-424E-80C3-D7BB3DA2688F} /passive /norestart /qn' > <!-- 5.4.2.901 -->
    <exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>  
  <remove cmd='MsiExec.exe /x {EA49430C-24D1-44F3-8CAD-9B8FEC43703E} /passive /norestart /qn' > <!-- 5.4.3.920 -->
    <exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>
  <remove cmd='MsiExec.exe /x {784B9B80-303D-44C6-85D0-C23CF1CD3241} /passive /norestart /qn' > <!-- 5.5.0.1227 -->
    <exit code='0' /><exit code='1605' /></remove>

</package>
</packages: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.


Installer Command-line Switches

  • SAFEMODE
  • VIEWINBROWSER (depreciated) - 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 (depreciated) - 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
  • STARTMENU_SHORTCUT
  • LAUNCHCHECKDEFAULT
  • NORESTART
  • ALLUSERS


See 8.2 switches below for additional options

Uninstall Strings

  • 3.0.2009.1817: 62DC441E-0FD3-4606-9D9B-90FE325B29E5
  • 3.1.1.0901: A9355F41-AE6C-487C-A6A9-BC348D836F43
  • 3.1.4.1125: 4FEC0D0D-1279-4C46-B6F8-B73C5247A6A9
  • 3.1.?: 81EC4B5E-E735-43D2-985A-C675003BFBB6
  • 3.3.0.0430: 4FEC0D0D-1279-4C46-B6F8-B73C5247A6A9
  • 3.3.1.0518: 648AF8B5-9F79-4ABA-8D59-83998F7E3E3F
  • 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
  • 5.1.1.1111: BB5B5E16-45EA-4F4E-9977-10BF95CBEA1C
  • 5.1.4.1124: 1AE659B0-326E-464D-B5CB-C50B5781C39F
  • 5.3.1.0606: 27E3028E-06C8-4C09-8C3E-07F7F508304E and F2039701-72DE-499E-A464-15F3C9EEC3AA
  • 5.4.2.0901: B961CEE2-3519-424E-80C3-D7BB3DA2688F
  • 5.4.3.0920: EA49430C-24D1-44F3-8CAD-9B8FEC43703E
  • 5.5.0.1227: 784B9B80-303D-44C6-85D0-C23CF1CD3241
  • 6.0.2.413 - 15C64024-B27E-4102-889B-AFE50A7640D8 (at least for Foxit Enterprise Reader)
  • 6.1.1.1031 - 2A6BB1FD-9195-4544-8821-81F284DF9B1A (at least for Foxit Enterprise Reader)
  • 6.1.2.1224 - D7450D0A-A9F8-42C9-8FD6-007624C4259E (at least for Foxit Enterprise Reader)
  • 6.1.4.0217 - CB885D56-84C6-422E-8087-59A8616129B8 (at least for Foxit Enterprise Reader)
  • 6.2.0.0429 - FB89CB15-FB7B-44A6-8094-6BAF9B4D7A2E (at least for Foxit Enterprise Reader)
  • 6.2.1.618 - A1B560E5-1294-4C50-9E5C-07A01FADEFAF (at least for Foxit Enterprise Reader)
  • 7.0.3.916 - 2AB6432C-5B78-42FE-A9B5-D42A4FE403BB (at least for Foxit Enterprise Reader)
  • 7.3.0.1228 - E2B2DE31-C121-4E4E-8DE4-9DDD9A87A99E (MsiExec.exe /x{E2B2DE31-C121-4E4E-8DE4-9DDD9A87A99E})

Configuration

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


Foxit Enterprise Reader

Foxit Enterprise Reader 8.21

MSI Installer install options

Note values must include " quotes in order to work

ie "1"=true or "0"=false

Disable PDF browser integration

VIEW_IN_BROWSER="0"

Make Foxit the Default application for PDF files

MAKEDEFAULT="1"

Don't add a desktop shortcut

DESKTOP_SHORTCUT="0"

Do not create the start menu shortcut

STARTMENU_SHORTCUT="0"

Set Foxit Reader as the default system printer

SETDEFAULTPRINTER="1"

Don't check at application startup if Foxit is the default for PDF files

LAUNCHCHECKDEFAULT="0"

Disable automatic updates

AUTO_UPDATE="0"

Disable the Connected PDF features

CPDF_DISABLE="0"


Selecting Features

Use the ADDLOCAL parameter to select features in a comma delimited list

e.g. Basic install no application integration or cloud

ADDLOCAL="FX_PDFVIEWER,FX_SPELLCHECK,FX_SE,FX_CREATOR,FX_CONVERTEXT"


Possible components include:

 FX_PDFVIEWER - PDF viewer and components
 FX_FIREFOXPLUGIN - Plugin for Chrome, Firefox, Opera & Safari requires FX_PDFVIEWER
 FX_EALS - East Asian Language support
 FX_SPELLCHECK - Spelling
 FX_SE - Plugin for Windows Explorer and shell allows previewing PDFs in Win7 and Office 2007
 FX_CREATOR - Foxit Reader Creator a virtual printer
 FX_CONVERTEXT - Converts PDFs and combines supported files, requires FX_CREATOR
 FX_CREATORWORDADDIN - Word Plugin for Creator
 FX_CREATOREXCELADDIN - Excel Plugin for Creator
 FX_CREATORPPTADDIN - Powerpoint Plugin for Creator
 FX_CONNECTEDPDF - ConnectedPDF plugin used to manage ConnectedPDF documents

Disable the welcome dialog

As of version 5.4 there is no longer a Welcome Dialog

In version 5.1 you can disable the Welcome Dialog. The preference exists in two locations in the registry (though the latter may be for the start page which is actually a different thing, at least in 5.4):

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader 5.1\Preferences\Others\bShowWelcomeDlg=REG_SZ:0
HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader 5.1\Preferences\general\bShowStartPage=REG_SZ:0

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.4

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Foxit Enterprise Reader doesn't include the Update Manager (Help → Update) but it does include the auto updater feature (using %PROGRAMFILES%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\plugins\Updater.fpi). From Foxit Reader 5.3.0 changelog: "Provides users with three update options, allowing users selecting the most appropriate upgrade method according to their requirements".

GUI Configuration: Edit → Preferences → Updater → [*] Do not download or install updates automatically

Per-user automated configuration: HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader 5.0\plugins\Updater\UpdateMode=REG_SZ:0

(Note the reversion from 'HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader 5.1' back to 'HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader 5.0')

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.

(Note: not yet checked for version 5.4) There is an option in Edit → Preferences → File Associations → Display PDF in Browser. This option responds only to administrator accounts (not sure about Power Users), other users can alter it but doing so will make no difference, with that in Edit → Preferences reverting on next startup. Foxit acts upon the option set by an administrator, for all users.

There is no longer the option in the 'Welcome to Foxit Reader' dialog on initial startup to '[*] Display PDF in Browser'.

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

Foxit Reader 5.1

Turn Off Automatic Updates

Per-user automated configuration: ?

GUI: ?

Disable the welcome dialog

As of version 5.1.0.1021 you can disable the Welcome Dialog.

Per-user automated configuration:

HKCU\Software\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader 5.1\Preferences\Others\bShowWelcomeDlg=REG_SZ:0

Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.0

Turn Off Automatic Updates

GUI: Foxit Enterprise Reader doesn't include the Update Manager (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.

(Note: not yet checked for version 5.4) There is an option in Edit → Preferences → File Associations → Display PDF in Browser. This option responds only to administrator accounts (not sure about Power Users), other users can alter it but doing so will make no difference, with that in Edit → Preferences reverting on next startup. Foxit acts upon the option set by an administrator, for all users.

There is no longer the option in the 'Welcome to Foxit Reader' dialog on initial startup to '[*] Display PDF in Browser'.

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.

(Note: not yet checked for version 5.4) There is an option in Edit → Preferences → File Associations → Display PDF in Browser. This option responds only to administrator accounts (not sure about Power Users), other users can alter it but doing so will make no difference, with that in Edit → Preferences reverting on next startup. Foxit acts upon the option set by an administrator, for all users.

There is no longer the option in the 'Welcome to Foxit Reader' dialog on initial startup to '[*] Display PDF in Browser'.

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

Add-ons

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/Secure_PDF_Reader/addons.php provides add-ons that enable support for various functionality in PDFs. Currently these include JPEG2000/JBIG Decoder, Eastern Asian Language Support, JavaScript Support, Foxit Toolbar for browser, Firefox Plugins and Spell Checker. Some of these may be included in the default Foxit Reader, some not; some may be newer than those included in the most recent Foxit Reader, some may be older. Foxit Reader prompts you to install them when a PDF requires them.

Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader provides a means for add-ons to be installed (presumably by an administrator) using Help → Install Updates → Browse.

Foxit Enterprise Reader

From version Foxit Enterprise Reader 5.0 the JavaScript Support, JPEG2000/JBIG Decoder and GDI+ Module add-ons are already integrated into the program. Foxit Enterprise Reader has no user interface for displaying installed add-ons, nor a mechanism for installing them.