MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Forum for the PDF-XChange Editor - Free and Licensed Versions

Moderators: TrackerSupp-Daniel, Tracker Support, Paul - Tracker Supp, Vasyl-Tracker Dev Team, Chris - Tracker Supp, Sean - Tracker, Ivan - Tracker Software, Tracker Supp-Stefan

Post Reply
mkr
User
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:30 pm

MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by mkr »

After deploying PDF-XChange PRO 5.5.308.2 using the 64 bit MSI Installer via group policy, the pdf extension is not associated with PDF-XChange. Every user has to start the PDF-XChange Editor once and answer the "make default pdf viewer" question with yes, to get the pdfs associated.

As far as I remember, the pdf association for a group policy deployment worked correctly with PDF-XChange PRO 4.x.

Right now I workaround this issue by transforming the MSI file and adding following registry keys:

Code: Select all

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.pdf]
@="PDFXEdit.PDF"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.fdf]
@="PDFXEdit.FDF"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.xfdf]
@="PDFXEdit.XFDF"
I would be glad if this could be fixed.
mkr
User avatar
Paul - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6844
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Chemainus, Canada
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Hi mkr,

you should not need to do this to make the associations apply during install. Can you send me the install string you are using or is it entirely via a transform? If a transform I'd like to see that.

If you don't want to post them in public, (especially if your license in in the transform), then email it to support@pdf-xchange.com.

regards
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
airsight gmbh
User
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2012 4:32 pm

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by airsight gmbh »

Thanks for your reply Paul,

I deploy the the MSI Package via group policy (machine) software installation. To avoid errors with my specific configuration I deploy the bare MSI Package without any transforms or modifications.

I've done some tests:

- install MSI as local Admin: pdf extension associated
- install MSI as LocalSystem (as GPO it does): pdf extension associated
- deploy via group policy (machine) software installation: pdf extension NOT associated

Furthermore I've attached logfiles from the GPO deployment which where created by msiexec in debug mode.

Regards
mkr
Attachments
msiexec_debug.zip
(56.18 KiB) Downloaded 130 times
Meitzi
User
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:16 am

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Meitzi »

Can you test installed software with other clean user account with same machine?
Because if user does have manually set file association it does override machine settings.
mkr
User
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:30 pm

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by mkr »

Good point Meitzi,

that was one of the things i've check first. Its the same for local, roaming, existing or new users.

regards
mkr
User avatar
Ivan - Tracker Software
Site Admin
Posts: 3549
Joined: Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:36 pm
Location: Vancouver Island - Canada
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Ivan - Tracker Software »

The same code in custom action works for all cases to set the associations.
It seams that during group policy installation the installer's custom action has no access to the registry and that is very strange.
Tracker Software (Project Director)

When attaching files to any message - please ensure they are archived and posted as a .ZIP, .RAR or .7z format - or they will not be posted - thanks.
User avatar
Paul - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6844
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Chemainus, Canada
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

So I should test this here. If I set up a Group Policy to install the Editor with all defaults - should I be assigning or publishing or does it not matter?

regards
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
mkr
User
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:30 pm

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by mkr »

I've only tested the assigned gpo installation.
User avatar
Paul - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6844
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Chemainus, Canada
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Thanks mkr,

I have assigned the licenses through a Group Policy before and they populated OK. I'd like to test with your specific key. Unfortunately I will be away for a couple of weeks. What is your time line like?

If these tests are not done until the week starting Aug 4th is that going to be an issue? If this is a deal breaker let me know and I'll arrange for this to be done somehow in the coming week.

regards
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
mkr
User
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:30 pm

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by mkr »

Hi Paul,

was the messages really intended for me? As i've no licence file deployment issue.

regards
mkr
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17824
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hi mkr,

It's good to hear you don't have any license deployment issues.
Paul is on holiday this week so I can't ask him directly, but I guess he assumed your latest comment meant that you still have some issues.

We are happy to consider this resolved if you are too!

Regards,
Stefan
mkr
User
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:30 pm

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by mkr »

Hi,

the problem persists with PDFXC5Pro_5.5.309.0_x64.msi.

regards
mkr
mkr
User
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:30 pm

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by mkr »

Hi,

the problem persists with PDFXC5Pro_5.5.310.0_x64.msi.

regards
mkr
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17824
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Hi Mkr,

I will ask one of our installers experts to take a look at this topic.

Regards,
Stefan
pctuki_fg
User
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 8:25 am

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by pctuki_fg »

I have had this same problem with the MSI installer too. I am deploying it via SCCM, but the same problem with fileassociations. Also it doensn't set the view in browser either.

Just tried it with the newest version and the same problems.
User avatar
Patrick-Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 1645
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2014 6:14 pm
Location: Vancouver Island
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Patrick-Tracker Supp »

hello pctuki_fg,

Thank you for the post! Could you please post your install string here. You can also send it to support@pdf-xchange.com with reference to this forum.

Thanks!
If posting files to this forum, you must archive the files to a ZIP, RAR or 7z file or they will not be uploaded.
Thank you.

Cheers,

Patrick Charest
Tracker Support North America
pctuki_fg
User
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 8:25 am

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by pctuki_fg »

I have tried many different versions but atm is this:

msiexec /i PDFXC5Pro_x64.msi /qn /norestart ADDLOCAL="F_Drivers,F_Help_Drv,F_Langs_Drv,F_Wizard,F_Help_Wiz,F_Langs_Wiz,F_Viewer,F_VLangs,F_Plugins,F_Plugin_SP,F_FileOpenPlugin,F_ReadOutLoudPlugin,F_OCRPlugin,F_BrowserPlugins,F_IEPlugin,F_NPPlugin,F_ShellExt" DESKTOP_SHORTCUTS=0 USERNAME="FGrid" ORGANIZATION="Fingrid Oyj" USERMAIL="noreply@fingrid.fi" KEYDATA="xxxxxxxxxxxx" EDITOR_LANGUAGE=fi-FI DDEFLANGID=1035 PDEFLANGID=1035
User avatar
Will - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6815
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:21 pm
Location: London, UK
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Will - Tracker Supp »

Hi ,

Thanks for the post - from what I can see in your string, you have not specified that the Editor should display in browser and be default. You will need to add SET_AS_DEFAULT="1" and VIEW_IN_BROWSERS="1".

Please try this and that should help. See here for further information:
https://help.pdf-xchange.com/EUM/de ... tches_pro5

Cheers,
If posting files to this forum, you must archive the files to a ZIP, RAR or 7z file or they will not be uploaded.
Thank you.

Best regards

Will Travaglini
Tracker Support (Europe)
Tracker Software Products Ltd.
http://www.tracker-software.com
pctuki_fg
User
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 8:25 am

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by pctuki_fg »

Will - Tracker Supp wrote:Hi ,

Thanks for the post - from what I can see in your string, you have not specified that the Editor should display in browser and be default. You will need to add SET_AS_DEFAULT="1" and VIEW_IN_BROWSERS="1".

Please try this and that should help. See here for further information:
https://help.pdf-xchange.com/EUM/de ... tches_pro5

Cheers,
Hi,

Those settings are documented that they would be set as 1 if you do not specify otherwise. Anyways have tested with those two settings turned on and the result is the same.

From the link:

SET_AS_DEFAULT

If not specified or specified and has value of "1", PDF-XChange Editor will be set as default application for PDF files.


VIEW_IN_BROWSERS

If not specified or specified and has value of "1", PDF-XChange Editor will be configured to open PDF files inside browsers.


Have you got any experience with deploying software via SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) or through GPO? These kinds of deploying methods use the system account for the installation. It usually requires some form of activesetup to set the user spesific settings right in this kind of deployment. Well not an expert on how to build installation packages, but you really should consult somehow who understand how to make them work with everykind of deployment method.
User avatar
Paul - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6844
Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:37 pm
Location: Chemainus, Canada
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Paul - Tracker Supp »

Hi pctuki_fg,

you are correct that if not specified then the value of SET_AS_DEFAULT and VIEW_IN_BROWSERS should default to "1" or "true". Can you log the install and send us the install log? use /lv!*x c:\PDFXCPro_x64.msi.log - you can put the log file anywhere so long as you have appropriate write permissions.

For a Group Policy install you might want to look into using a transform as you can't pass the command line parameters.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowled ... r-products
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowled ... sform-file
Best regards

Paul O'Rorke
Tracker Support North America
http://www.tracker-software.com
pctuki_fg
User
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 8:25 am

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by pctuki_fg »

Hi,

I have been busy and as the Xmas holidays are closing in I don't have time to test this for you.

Also we have out sourced our software packaging and installation services I will bring this up with them and they will look into this next year.

Happy holidays!
User avatar
Tracker Supp-Stefan
Site Admin
Posts: 17824
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am
Location: London
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Tracker Supp-Stefan »

Happy Holidays pctuki_fg,

Do let us know how it went once you've had the chance to test it!

Regards,
Stefan
mkr
User
Posts: 26
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2014 6:30 pm

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by mkr »

/me sighs

2.5 years later and the PDF-XChange PRO 6.0.319.0 msi installer still has the same bug.

As soon as the msi is deployed as machine installation via group policies, neither the file extensions are in place nor is pdfxchange the pdf application. It's the same for local users, local administrator or user having roaming profiles.

Not sure if it's that hard to fix or central deployment via group policy is just out of scope of pdfxchange.
User avatar
Will - Tracker Supp
Site Admin
Posts: 6815
Joined: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:21 pm
Location: London, UK
Contact:

Re: MSI: group policy deploy - pdf extensions not associated

Post by Will - Tracker Supp »

Hi mkr,

From what I can see, we never recieved any log from pctuki_fg, so were not able to fix this. Please provide details of your specific environment and provide us an installation log, then we'd be happy to look into this further.
If posting files to this forum, you must archive the files to a ZIP, RAR or 7z file or they will not be uploaded.
Thank you.

Best regards

Will Travaglini
Tracker Support (Europe)
Tracker Software Products Ltd.
http://www.tracker-software.com
Post Reply