[XhmikosR]

New version for testing. Please test it thoroughly and report any problems you may encounter.

Changes since v9.1.0.6:
* Removed _TEMP_MeasurementFiles, AdobeCollabSyncExe, EULA stuff, IDTemplates, Optional_English, rt3d.dll
* Removed "Create PDF using Acrobat.com" from the toolbar
* Changed BrandName and ProductName to Adobe Reader 9.1 Lite

Download @ first post. The tutorial would be updated if everything goes well with the latest release.

I have some more ideas for AR Lite, but I need some time first to do some testing.
Thanks everyone for your help.

[Shark007]

RogerDB, on Mar 16 2009, 06:58 AM, said:

Hi.

I would just like to add to the sentiments stated by Provolino, namely appreciation and gratitude to both XhmikosR and Shark007 for their work (both current and previous) on creating a Lite version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Thanks again to both of you!

I understand completely that Provolino might be wondering if the Lite version is still useful. I, however, completely believe that your repackaging work is still COMPLETELY valid.

The main benefit of the Lite version would be the removal of the AcroRd32Info process. This alone is of immense benefit, since the process is a resource consumer and in most cases, completely unwanted - leading to quite a number of complaints regard it as a security risk or even be called malware itself. Note that even in the 9.0 Lite version, the PDFShell.dll explorer hook is still registered, but without the AcroRd32Info process, system impact is non-existent to minimal.

I believe Shark007 made very wise decisions for removing plugins that are not used by a large majority of Adobe Acrobat Reader users. I congratulate XhmikosR for keeping with these decisions, including the removal of all Adobe updater components. A lot of these components are simply not needed. The updater alone causes irresponsible resource use. If I need to update, I'm more than happy to uninstall the older version and install a newer one.

All in all, the Lite series for Adobe Acrobat Reader is an excellent product. It works just the way most people would want it to work. Adobe should be ashamed for not providing the option to install lighter versions of it software. However, its completely natural that once a company gets a certain measure of success, it assumes its smarter than its users. This leads to a great degree of arrogance in installing bloated software that just ignores the needs of users.

As for the suggestion to use Foxit Reader... well, is it really a good replacement?

The answer is completely dependent on the individual using it. I have installed and used Foxit. Its a very good piece of software. However, there are drawbacks. My main issue with Foxit is that it doesn't render certain documents correctly. By this I mean that the document is still readable, but there are formatting errors (elements moved out of place), and even fonts being displayed differently (slightly lower quality).

So in summary, the reason I'm posting this is simply to state that I truly strongly believe that there is a place in this world for the Adobe Acrobat Reader Lite repackagings. In a perfect world, software would be light on resources, fast and work perfectly. However, this is not a perfect world... but having people who are willing to spend their time and effort to do something about it, makes things all that little bit better.

So thanks once again to both XhmikosR and Shark007. Your contributions are immensely appreciated!


PS: IMHO, rt3d.dll can be removed. If users REALLY needed 3D in their PDF, they can use the full version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Alternatively, perhaps an archive file can be provided with the necessary files that can be copied in to add 3D support and provided as an optional download to add on to the Lite version.

RogerDB, thanks for sharing your opinion. i agree with everything you have said here.
Also, the fact that your post is well thought out and presented shows, you care about this project.
to add, you went through the hassle of registering on this forum simply to share you opinion.

My hat is off to you, I truly appreciated reading your post.


shark

[Skywarrior74]

Thanks XhmikosR, I'll give .15 a shot. Shark your confidence in his Lite is good enough for me, thanks

[XhmikosR]

New version for testing. Please test it thoroughly and report any problems you may encounter.

9.1.0.17
* When uninstalling, remove the following keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Synchronizer\9.0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\9.0\DiskCabs
* Removed Enterprise, Import3D_A3DUtility.exe, PDFSigQFormalRep.pdf and Resource_English

Download @ first post.

The only thing I'm not able to find, is the registry key for the toolbar options when someone views a pdf via FF or IE. If someone else knows about it, let me know in order to remove the "Create PDF using Acrobat.com" from there also.

[batia]

I made silent install- can use for WPI or addons for Windows XP-working-thanks

[darks0ul]

XhmikosR: I'd greatly thank you for the updated tutorial (and the create pdf using acrobat.com registry key).

rt3d.dll I tried opening a 3d PDF with JUST this file, and it doesn't work. You also need the .x3d files. Hands up those who say rt3d.dll is the only file needed for 3d pdf viewing.

[XhmikosR]

darks0ul, on Mar 16 2009, 10:32 PM, said:

XhmikosR: I'd greatly thank you for the updated tutorial (and the create pdf using acrobat.com registry key).

rt3d.dll I tried opening a 3d PDF with JUST this file, and it doesn't work. You also need the .x3d files. Hands up those who say rt3d.dll is the only file needed for 3d pdf viewing.

I've actually haven't updated yet. I'll wait until it is tested be a lot of people and then I'll update the tutorial.
I removed rt3d.dll since I don't see any reason to include it.

[TronBoRG]

XhmikosR, you can further customize the MSI using Adobe's own 'Adobe Customization Wizard 9'. With the tool, you can remove all Acrobat.com integration. Good work on your release.

Also, I noticed your SFX module is 400kb. If you use the original installers icon (i've attached it), it will be about 130kb. I also advise you add GUIFlags=8 to your config file, as it gives the extract dialog nice shell themes

cybpsych, on Mar 15 2009, 01:25 AM, said:

I've done a quick comparison between Shark007's v9.0 (Sep'08) vs XhmikosR's v9.1 (Mar'09) ...

files differences aside, i focused on the AcroRead.msi itself.

Shark007: 1.68 MB (1,763,840 bytes)
XhmikosR: 3.75 MB (3,936,256 bytes)

this is interesting because Shark007 may have done much more on the MSI itself.

maybe v9.1 Lite can still be reduced further?

The increase in size is because the program icons have been put inside the MSI

Attached File(s)

•  ar9installer.ico (45.77K)
  Number of downloads: 17

This post has been edited by TronBoRG: 16 March 2009 - 04:32 PM

[darks0ul]

Tronborg: I already tried the CustomWizard and that does not work. Acrobat.com buttons are a new feature in 9.1, it seems.

[TronBoRG]

Where do you find the Acrobat.com buttons, is it in the main toolbar/menu drop downs?

[cybpsych]

TronBoRG, on Mar 17 2009, 05:43 AM, said:

cybpsych, on Mar 15 2009, 01:25 AM, said:

I've done a quick comparison between Shark007's v9.0 (Sep'08) vs XhmikosR's v9.1 (Mar'09) ...

files differences aside, i focused on the AcroRead.msi itself.

Shark007: 1.68 MB (1,763,840 bytes)
XhmikosR: 3.75 MB (3,936,256 bytes)

this is interesting because Shark007 may have done much more on the MSI itself.

maybe v9.1 Lite can still be reduced further?

The increase in size is because the program icons have been put inside the MSI

that's interesting ... is it possible to do a lipo to carve out the icons off MSI itself?

[TronBoRG]

I tested your theory by creating a 7z archive of the 9.0 MSI & Icons then one of the 9.1 MSI, and the file sizes are 606kb & 555kb respectively... so its smaller with the icons in the MSI (but i'm discounting any other changes in the MSI other than the icons). If you manage to lipo them out, let me know, but I won't bother trying - too much effort

[cybpsych]

LOL i'll leave the operation to experts i have no idea on MSI editing, btw ...

[XhmikosR]

TronBoRG, on Mar 16 2009, 11:43 PM, said:

XhmikosR, you can further customize the MSI using Adobe's own 'Adobe Customization Wizard 9'. With the tool, you can remove all Acrobat.com integration. Good work on your release.

Also, I noticed your SFX module is 400kb. If you use the original installers icon (i've attached it), it will be about 130kb. I also advise you add GUIFlags=8 to your config file, as it gives the extract dialog nice shell themes

I'll take a look at the Customization Wizard 9 tomorrow. I changed the GUIFlags=8 and the installer icon in v.18.

[Yorn]

XhmikosR, I use a batch file to remove older versions of Adobe Reader with my version (it just works better for our corporate installs):
http://gravito.com/f...hp?topic=1571.0

You can download the above and try that. I used Sharky's method as he listed on his page and used a 7zip installation package so that anyone can just right-click and extract to folder to get the install.cmd and see it, but otherwise here's the code I've been using:

@echo off & cls
Rem List all Installation subkeys from uninstall key.
echo Searching Registry for Adobe Reader Installs
for /f %%I in ('reg query HKLM\SOFTWARE\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall') do echo %%I | find "{" > nul && call :All-Installations %%I
echo Search Complete..
echo Installing Adobe Reader 9.1 Lite R1..
msiexec /I AcroRead.msi /Passive /NoRestart
reg import adobereader.reg
echo Install Complete..
goto :EOF
:All-Installations
Rem Filter out all but the Adobe Installations
for /f "tokens=2*" %%T in ('reg query %1 /v Publisher 2^> nul') do echo %%U | find "Adobe" > nul && call :Adobe-Installations %1
goto :EOF
:Adobe-Installations
Rem Filter out all but the Adobe-Reader Installations. Note the tilda + n, which drops all the subkeys from the path
for /f "tokens=2*" %%T in ('reg query %1 /v DisplayName 2^> nul') do echo . Uninstalling - %%U: | find "Reader" && call :Adobe-Reader-Installs %~n1
goto :EOF
:Adobe-Reader-Installs
Rem Run Uninstaller for the installation
MsiExec.exe /x%1 /qb
echo . Uninstall Complete, Resuming Search..
goto :EOF
:EOF

The registry file contains:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\9.0\Downtown]
"bDontShowAtLaunch"=dword:00000001
"bGoOnline"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\9.0\Downtown]
"bDontShowAtLaunch"=dword:00000001
"bGoOnline"=dword:00000000

I think you've certainly done a better job and probably have time to do more, but what I'm using works for our network and makes sure the old versions get removed. Would you be able to remove old versions with yours so that those of us looking to install this on 2000+ PCs with SMS or SCCM had an option as well?

[XhmikosR]

@Yorn: I'll take a look at it, although personally I don't have many interest on this feature. That registry file you are using is included in the Lite installer (read the tutorial in the first post).

@all: Does anyone use Form filling? If removed there is a significant gain in the size of the installer (aprox. 3MB). Also, is stamps (in Annotations folder) needed? I don't use none of the previous stuff I mentioned, but I want to hear other people's opinion on this, before removing them.

EDIT:
@Yorn: Unfortunately, I don't like the end user to see a cmd window. So if I want to do what you described above, I have to do it via InstallShield. Anyway, I'm sorry but I won't do it, but someone else might want to do it. It's just a couple of clicks to create a new SFX exe with your install.cmd in it.

This post has been edited by XhmikosR: 17 March 2009 - 11:22 AM

[Shark007]

XhmikosR, on Mar 17 2009, 01:11 PM, said:

Does anyone use Form filling?

IMO form filling is a priorty, it should stay.

EDIT1: in todays world of terabyte drives etc etc, size does not matter so much.
The Lite'ening of this product has more to do with RogerDB's sentiments posted HERE.
There are few people with actual concerns of hdd space.
MANY people are concerned about background processes running without any way of stopping them.
Please keep this in mind when trying to make the product as small (in bytes) as possible.

EDIT2: I have read the comments on the internet by small minds comparing 20 MB to 25 MB etc etc
Ignore these people. This Lite product isnt for them. They have no idea whats running in the background, and never will. Those with real knowledge seek this product for the reasons posted above in EDIT1

shark

This post has been edited by Shark007: 17 March 2009 - 11:53 AM

[darks0ul]

Shark007, on Mar 17 2009, 06:35 PM, said:

XhmikosR, on Mar 17 2009, 01:11 PM, said:

Does anyone use Form filling?

IMO form filling is a priorty, it should stay.

EDIT1: in todays world of terabyte drives etc etc, size does not matter so much.
The Lite'ening of this product has more to do with RogerDB's sentiments posted HERE.
There are few people with actual concerns of hdd space.
MANY people are concerned about background processes running without any way of stopping them.
Please keep this in mind when trying to make the product as small (in bytes) as possible.

EDIT2: I have read the comments on the internet by small minds comparing 20 MB to 25 MB etc etc
Ignore these people. This Lite product isnt for them. They have no idea whats running in the background, and never will. Those with real knowledge seek this product for the reasons posted above in EDIT1

shark

Seconded, I think it's a must.

[XhmikosR]

That's why I wanted to know what other people think about it first. So I'll leave form filling as it is. How about stamps?

[darks0ul]

Free advice: don't bother in saving 5 mbs of disk space. Profile what is taking most time to load adobe reader, and if its something that can be noticed, go for it. But Lite, as it is now, is perfectly fine and probably solves most user's needs (Almost complete PDF reader that loads fast and is not bloatware).