[mazin]

ACDSee PowerPack 6.02 - File Associations

When I posted ACDSee example, I thought only of how to make it install silently, be self-registered, with no switches and no desktop shortcuts.

Now, I'm going to explain, in detail, how to associate files with ACDSee.

For users who need more information on File Associations, formats which ACDSee can read (display), formats which it can write (edit), please consider reading the help topic found at: ACDSee 6.0 --> Help --> Contents --> Appendices --> Supported file formats --> Supported file formats

However, these formats can be associated with ACDSee:

Quote

Image formats:
pcd pic pict pct pix plp pbm pgm ppm psp xbm xpm bmp dib rle jpg jpeg jpe jif jfif pcx dcx png tga tif tiff xif gif wmf emf iff lbm ilbm psd ras rsb sgi rgb rgba bw int inta ttf ttc djv djvu iw4 icn ico cur ani icl kdc fpx mag

Quote

Audio & Video formats:
aif aifc aiff au swa gsm m1a m2a m3u  mid mp2 mp3 mp4 mpa snd wav cdda avi mpeg mpg mpv m15 m1v m75 mov vfw qcp qt qtpf sd2 sfil smf smi smil sml ulw swf cel dif dv flc fli kar pics

Quote

Archive formats:
cab sef lzh lha mim mme b64 tar gz z tgz taz bz2 tbz uue zip ace arj rar

For some reason, formats must be imported to the Registry in hexadecimal values.

When ACDSee is imported to WinINSTALL, the value "FileAssociations" is found at:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ACD Systems\ACDSee\60\ShellInt

If you click the key "ShellInt", you'll find this in the right part of the window:
Value=FileAssociations
Type=REG_BINARY
Data=0

To associate ACDSee with certain formats, we need to replace the zero with hexadecimal values of those formats. We have two alternatives for preparing the hexadecimal values.

1. ready-made values

Open ACDSee, then go to: Tools --> File Associations. "ACDSee6 Shell Integration" dialog box appears.

Under "Image Files" tab, select the file types to be associated with ACDSee. File types under this tab include image, audio, and video formats that are supported by ACDSee.

Under "Archives" tab, select the file types to be associated with ACDSee. LHA, LZH, and ZIP formats can be displayed and edited by ACDSee; the rest can be only displayed.

Under "Other Files" tab, there might be other formats. If you happened to open some files with ACDSee, that aren't mentioned under the other two tabs, you might find them here. However, you should select those formats that worked fine with ACDSee, of course.

So far, we've selected formats that we'd like to associate with ACDSee. We can press "OK" to have those assoiciations recorded in the Registry. But, I'd rather settle some other issues from here.

You can check the box "Verify these file associations when starting ACDSee6". Because, if you install certain programs after installing ACDSee, some formats might no longer open with ACDSee. So, you are reminded.

Under "Context Menu", you'd better select "View with ACDSee" and "Print with ACDSee" for image files. For archive files, select "Browse with ACDSee", only if you selected some formats under "Archives" tab. For folders, it's not useful to select "Browse with ACDSee".

Now, press "Ok" for "ACDSee6 Shell Integration" dialog box to close. Close ACDSee.

Open Registry Editor (Start->Run->regedit->Enter). Expand this tree:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ACD Systems\ACDSee\60\ShellInt

Right-click "ShellInt", then choose "Export". Save the reg file on your desktop, and give it any name; "ShellInt.reg" for example.

Open "ShellInt.reg". Under the first key, you should see hexadecimal values for the formats you've selected. They look like these:

64,6a,76,00,64,6a,76,75,00,69,77,34,00,66,70,78,00,69,\
63,6e,00,69,63,6f,00,63,75,72,00,61,6e,69,00,69,63,6c,00....

Now, delete all characters inside "ShellInt.reg" except hexadecimal ones. Within hexadecimal values, delete all examples of these characters: ",", "\", and " ". So, the resulting hexadecimal string won't include commas, back-slashes, nor spaces at any place.
Also, notice that there are two zeros at the end of each format, and two zeros at the end of the string. Save changes you've made to the reg file (File->Save). Copy the whole hexadecimal string.

Open WinINSTALL, import ACDSee, if it's not already imported. Highlight the Title "Registry", then expand this tree:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ACD Systems\ACDSee\60\ShellInt

On the right part of the window, there should be the value "FileAssociations". Right-click "FileAssociations", then choose "Properties...". In the "Binary Editor" box, paste your hexadecimal string. There might be a pasting problem if your string is too long. If this is the case, then paste the string in pieces; four or five pieces are good enough.

Now, right-click "ShellInt", then add a new key "ArchiveVerbs". Right-click "ArchiveVerbs", then add this new value:
Value=ACDBrowse
Type=REG_DWORD
Data=0 (if no archive formats were selected)
Data=1 (if some archive formats were selected)

Again, right-click "ShellInt", then add a new key "FolderVerbs". Right-click "FolderVerbs", then add this new value:
Value=ACDBrowse
Type=REG_DWORD
Data=0

Once more, right-click "ShellInt", then add a new key "ImageVerbs". Right-click "ImageVerbs", then add these new values:
Value=ACDPrint
Type=REG_DWORD
Data=1

Value=ACDView
Type=REG_DWORD
Data=1

Expand tree: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ACD Systems

Right-click "ACD Systems", then add a new key "ACDSee". Right-click "ACDSee", then add a new key "60". Right-click "60", then add this new value:
Value=VerifyFileAssocs
Type=REG_DWORD
Data=0 (if you don't want to Verify file associations when starting ACDSee)
Data=1 (if you want to Verify file associations when starting ACDSee)

Note: If you can't control the struggle among apps for file types, then I suggest setting Data=1. So, when you open ACDSee after installation, it would ask your confirmation to re-associate some file types that might have gone to other apps.

2. hand-made values

These are the ANSI text characters you may need, along with their hexadecimal values:

0 30
1 31
2 32
3 33
4 34
5 35
6 36
7 37
8 38
9 39
a 61
b 62
c 63
d 64
e 65
f 66
g 67
h 68
i 69
j 6a
k 6b
l 6c
m 6d
n 6e
o 6f
p 70
q 71
r 72
s 73
t 74
u 75
v 76
w 77
x 78
y 79
z 7a

Therefore, if you want to associate formats in red, for example, with ACDSee; then you should type this string:

Quote

626d70006a70656700706e67006d6f760073776600746172006163650000

Double zero should be typed at the end of each format, and double zero at the end of the string.

[Frank_Sechrist]

mazin - Using your step-by-step instructions, I now have a perfectly working unattended install of Adobe Acrobat Professional 6.0. How do I silently install or slipstream the 6.01 update??

Thanks.

Edit - Got it! The following command works:

start /wait msiexec.exe /p Ac60PrP1.msp REINSTALLMODE=omus REINSTALL=ALL /qb

Now, how about the AtmoPlayer add-in? I can't find anything that works.

[mazin]

Sorry, Frank_Sechrist. I don't use AtmoPlayer. But, if it has an msi, then it could be modified.

Good switch for 6.1 update.

[Frank_Sechrist]

No msi, no msp...just an exe file that does not have anything that can be extracted.

[Djus]

Frank_Sechrist, on May 1 2004, 08:40 PM, said:

Edit - Got it!  The following command works:

start /wait msiexec.exe /p Ac60PrP1.msp REINSTALLMODE=omus REINSTALL=ALL /qb

Im using:

start /wait msiexec.exe /p %systemdrive%\Install\Applications\AcroPro6\Ac60PrP1.msp REINSTALLMODE=omus REINSTALL=ALL /qb

ERROR



what is wrong with it?

help

Djus

[mazin]

I'm afraid that applying the update needs the itw file! Is this correct, Frank_Sechrist?

[Djus]

mazin, on May 3 2004, 12:28 PM, said:

I'm afraid that applying the update needs the itw file! Is this correct, Frank_Sechrist?

why the *.itw file the Acrobat6pro is allready installed?, and the update is just one *.exe file?

by the way there is only a *.itw file for Acrobat Reader not for A.A.6Pro.

[mazin]

I'll check it and tell you.

[mazin]

I extracted the exe, deleted the two files "MSPLauncher.exe" and "defaultMSP.ini", then used "Ac60PrP1.msp" only to install the update.

I used the same switch:

start /wait msiexec.exe /p %systemdrive%\Install\AcroPro6\Ac60PrP1.msp REINSTALLMODE=omus REINSTALL=ALL /qb

It ran successfully, but asked for reboot at the end. But I should say that Acrobat was installed just five minutes before installing the update and without being used.

By the way, I used the modified package, you know.

[Djus]

thx mazin, grate help as allways

greetz

Djus

[Frank_Sechrist]

I am not using the ITW file. I install Acrobat Pro and the update from an unattended command file.

I am installing Acrobat Pro via the .msi file that I prepared using WinInstall LE 2003 per the instructions in this forum.

You will get the error you experienced if you do not path correctly to the Acrobat Pro .msi file.

Hope this helps.

Frank

[dcromwell]

mazin, on May 3 2004, 05:50 AM, said:

I extracted the exe, deleted the two files "MSPLauncher.exe" and "defaultMSP.ini", then used "Ac60PrP1.msp" only to install the update.

I used the same switch:

start /wait msiexec.exe /p %systemdrive%\Install\AcroPro6\Ac60PrP1.msp REINSTALLMODE=omus REINSTALL=ALL /qb

It ran successfully, but asked for reboot at the end. But I should say that Acrobat was installed just five minutes before installing the update and without being used.

By the way, I used the modified package, you know.

How does one go about extracting these files from the Ac60PrP1.exe file?

[Frank_Sechrist]

I use WinRAR. Right click on the file and select one of the 'extract' options.

[mazin]

<< Another alternative for installing Acrobat update >>

After extracting Ac60PrP1.exe using WinRAR or any, you should have three files:

- MSPLauncher.exe
- defaultMSP.ini
- Ac60PrP1.msp

Open defaultMSP.ini, then add these switches to the command line:

/qb REBOOT=ReallySuppress

So, the command line becomes:

MSPCmdLine=/p Ac60PrP1.msp REINSTALLMODE=omus REINSTALL=ALL /qb REBOOT=ReallySuppress

Put the three files in your $OEM$, then add this line to your batch file:

start /wait %systemdrive%\Install\AcroPro6\MSPLauncher.exe

[Outer]

/off topic
WinInstall 8.1 has been released
Download WinINSTALL 8.1
Download WinINSTALL 8.1 with MSDE

[Djus]

thx

Djus

[mazin]

Thank you Outer for the links. These versions should be more powerful.

Thanks Djus.

By the way, did you like ACDSee file associations method?

I haven't received any feedback! I'm afraid it isn't working well for some people!

[Djus]

sorry, didnt have time to test it. Ill report asap.

[Frank_Sechrist]

One more post on Adobe Acrobat....

It appears that the msp file (for the update to 6.01) has to be installed from hard disk and not CD or DVD. I tried it this morning from DVD and it would not install. I modified my .cmd file to first copy it to %systemdrive%, and it installs fine from there.

Acrobat Pro installs fine from DVD.

Frank

[mazin]

Yes, this problem was reported by some users, here. Good work, Frank_Sechrist.