Adobe Reader Version For Mac How To Determine The Version



It is sometimes necessary to obtain a clear and concise report showing the versions of Adobe applications which are installed on a Mac OS or Windows computer. This can be done manually, but it may also be necessary to obtain this information in a text-based format for processing via a script or collecting centrally. As per the description above, you want to know about the version installed of Acrobat Reader and issue with the Duplex printing on Mac OS, Is that correct? To identify the version of Acrobat Reader installed navigate to HelpAbout Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Identifying versions by GUID¶

In enterprise settings, administrators often need to know application what’s already installed prior to deploying or updating new applications. Certainly information such as product version and license type will be part of many update and patch workflows. Adobe provides this data as part of the application’s preferences; for example, in the registry on Windows and in similar locations on other platforms.

Adobe reader version for mac how to determine the version 64-bit

This document provides the product identifier information. The methodology for gathering this information via scripted registry queries, server-based client management software, and other 3rd party methods is outside the scope of this document.

The following methodologies are possible:

  • Acrobat 10.0 and later products: Use the GUID or MSI APIs.
  • Acrobat 9.x and earlier: Use both the GUID and VersionMin/VersionMax
  • Adobe Reader 9.x and earlier: Use the GUID.

Decoding a GUID¶

Administrators can determine what’s already deployed by using asset management tools or scripts to query for the product’s GUID. The Windows Installer Service initially creates this key automatically when the product is properly installed, but it may also update when the product is patched.

For the Acrobat family of products, the GUID indicates the following:

  • Product family: Acrobat.
  • Version: For example, version 9.
  • Language: For example, English versus English/French/German.
  • Additional languages: Other languages included in the package.
  • Product type: Adobe Reader, Standard, Professional, 3D, etc.
  • License type: Whether the retail or license product is installed.
  • Major version: For example, 8 or 9. For releases every one to two years.
  • Minor version: For example .1 or .2. Typically for quarterly releases.
  • Minor-minor version: For example .1. Typically for patches.

During installation, the product GUID is created as a Value/Data pair in the registry. Each GUID section represents information using a combination of hexadecimal and telephone keypad indicators. Each release and language group receives a unique product code. In the InstallShield project, this code is specified in the Product Configuration panel for the release type. Installers update the GUID though patches do not. Patches (.msp files) target the originating GUID for patch transformation, and thus do not change the GUID.

Note that the value’s actual name is always ENU_GUID even when other languages are also present (for example, FRA, DEU, ESP). As shown in , the GUID for Reader indicates the major, minor, and minor-minor version. However, for 9.x versions of Acrobat and earlier, the GUID does not identify the minor-minor version.

Note

The only time the GUID is updated is when the product is installed with a new MSI installer. The GUID is not updated for patches that don’t use an MSI installer. Thus, VersionMin should also be checked when trying to verify the product version.

GUID construction

The basic formula for constructing and decoding the GUID is as follows:

  • Acrobat: Example: AC76BA86-1033-F400-7760-100000000002
  • Reader: Example: AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70500000002

GUID deconstruction

Using the formula above, the example below translates to: Acrobat 9.0 Professional, English/French/German, volume license.

GUID components
IDDescription
product family

Identifies an Acrobat product. The first section of the product code spells “Acrobat” using a combination of hexadecimal and telephone keypad indicators. For example:

  • AC: The first two letters of Acrobat using hexadecimal indicators
  • 76: The letters RO using telephone keypad indicators
  • BA: Two more letters of Acrobat using hexadecimal indicators
  • 8: The letter T using a telephone keypad indicator
  • 6 : The number 6, indicating product version. The last digit is no longer used to determine version. A better indicator of version is noted below.
Reader IDReader only: 7AD7
language codeThis second section of the product code contains the four-letter default language code (as defined by Microsoft and used by legacy InstallShield and MSI installers). For Microsoft details, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/goglobal/bb964664.aspx.
additional languages

A hexadecimal representation of extra languages (ex. “DF60” DFN Danish Finnish Norwegian). Use the first letter of the language’s country code if it is between A-F. (D = Danish); Otherwise, use a telephone keypad indicator to represent the language. (ex. 6 = Norwegian). For example:

  • F: French, using a hexadecimal indicator
  • 4: German, using a telephone keypad indicator
  • 00: No other languages
product type

The product using hexadecimal and telephone keypad indicators as follows:

  • 7760: Acrobat Pro (PRO using telephone Keypad indicators, followed by a zero)
  • BA7E: Acrobat Standard
  • 7B44: ReaderBig
  • 7761: 3D
license typeAcrobat only: The first digit in the last number series indicates volume or retail use. For example, in 100000000002, the leading1 indicates volume licensing. 0 indicates retail licensing. This series is always preceded by an “A” for Reader.
Acrobat 11.x and earlier

In the last number series, the last digit indicates the major version as follows:

  • 1: version 6
  • 2: version 7
  • 3: version 8
  • 4: version 9
  • 5: version 10
Reader 11.x and earlier

The last number series is always preceded by an A and the actual Major.MajorMinor version number. The last digit indicates the minor version. Thus, the formula is: {A}+{Major #}+{MajorMinor # if any}+{zeros}+{MinorMinor version if any}. For example:

  • Reader 9.2 = A920000000001 (1 = 0)
  • Acrobat 10.1 = {AC76BA86-1033-F400-7760-000000000005}

GUID registry location

The GUID is written to a variety of locations. However, Adobe recommends you use the following:

Adobe Reader Version For Mac How To Determine The Version
  • 32 bit Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAdobe{application}{version}Installer
  • 64 bit Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeAdobe{application}{version}Installer

GUID installer package location

Administrators interested in dissecting installer packages prior to deployment can find the GUID in the installer msi package. To find the GUID in an installer, go to Property > ProductCode, and look in the Value column.

Note

The only time the GUID is updated is when the product is installed with a new MSI installer. The GUID is not updated for patches that don’t use an MSI installer. Thus, VersionMin should also be checked when trying to verify the product version.

Installer MSI: GUID

Example GUIDs
ProductGUID
Acrobat 11.0 (each installer supports all languages)AC76BA86-1033-FFFF-7760-000000000006
Reader 10.0.0 en_USAC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA0000000001
Reader 10.0.0 MUIAC76BA86-7AD7-FFFF-7B44-AA0000000001
Reader 10.1.0 en_USAC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AA1000000001
Acrobat 10.1AC76BA86-1033-F400-7760-000000000005
Acrobat Std 10.0.0 en_USAC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-000000000005
Acrobat Pro 10.0.0 en_USAC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000005
Adobe Reader 9.2AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70500000002
Acrobat Professional 8.0AC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000003
Acrobat Standard 8.0AC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-000000000003
Reader 8.0AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A80000000002
Acrobat Professional 7.0 retail editionAC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-000000000002
Acrobat Professional 7.0 volume license editionAC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-100000000002
Acrobat Standard 7.0 retailAC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-000000000002
Acrobat Standard 7.0 volume license editionAC76BA86-1033-0000-BA7E-100000000002
Acrobat 3D retailAC76BA86-1033-F400-7760–000003D0002
Acrobat 3D volume license editionAC76BA86-1033-F400-7760-1000003D0002
Reader 7.0AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70000000000
Reader 7.0.5AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A70500000002
Acrobat 7.0.1 and Reader 7.0.1 UpdateAC76BA86-0000-7EC8-7489-000000000702
Acrobat 7.0.2 and Reader 7.0.2 UpdateAC76BA86-0000-7EC8-7489-000000000703
Acrobat 7.0.3 and Reader 7.0.3 UpdateAC76BA86-0000-7EC8-7489-000000000704
Acrobat 7.0.5 and Reader 7.0.5 UpdateUse the product ID 7.0 listed above
Adobe Acrobat 7.0.7 and Reader 7.0.7 updateAC76BA86-1033-F400-7760-100000000002
Adobe Acrobat 7.0.8 and Reader 7.0.8 updateAC76BA86-1033-0000-7760-100000000002

VersionMax-VersionMin (9.x and earlier)¶

This method is deprecated and is not used for X products.

The installer creates keys during installation which identifies the product version. Administrators can use those keys to automatically query which version of the application is installed and therefore ensure patch status.

  • VersionMax: Identifies the major version and any major dot release. For example, 9.3 would be 90003. Thus, VersionMax is a 4 digit representation of major version (first number before the dot) with an appended integer value indicating the major dot release, if any.
  • VersionMin: Identifies the minor dot release which is appended to VersionMax, if any. For example, 9.3.0 would be 0 and 9.3.1 would be 1). Thus, VersionMin is the integer value of the number after the second dot.

Note

VersionMin must be used in conjunction with the GUID to identify the minor-minor version of Acrobat.

VersionMax-Min location

These preferences reside in the following locations:

Adobe Reader Version For Mac How To Determine The Version 64-bit

  • 32 bit Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAdobe{application}{version}Installer
  • 64 bit Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeAdobe{application}{version}Installer

MSI API¶

For 10.0 and later product versions, you can use the MSI API to determine the product version. To use the MSI API, use the MsiEnumRelatedProducts() and MsiGetProductInfo(). For more information about these APIs, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa370130(VS.85).aspx.

Product version via MSI API

It is sometimes necessary to obtain a clear and concise report showing the versions of Adobe applications which are installed on a Mac OS or Windows computer. This can be done manually, but it may also be necessary to obtain this information in a text-based format for processing via a script or collecting centrally. This article describes ways in which the data can be collected.

Run the following command in the PowerShell to display a list of Adobe applications and their version numbers:

Get-ItemProperty HKLM:SoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionUninstall* | Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher, InstallDate | Format-Table –AutoSize | findstr Adobe

Run the following command in the terminal to display a list; it can be redirected to a file, or piped to another application for further processing; it is also possible to output in XML format:

Adobe Reader Version For Mac How To Determine The Version Using

system_profiler SPApplicationsDataType