Enterprise Toolkit | Windows Registry Reference

AVGeneral (General Preferences)

Miscellaneous preferences for controlling application UI and behavior.


This preference category contains the following subfeature(s):

Sharepoint integration

Summary table
bPreviouslyEnabledSharePointInChromeExtn Stores the previous state of the Sharepoint FeatureLockDown settings.
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Feb 9, 2021 Continuous track
HKLM Path FeatureLockDown
Summary Stores the previous state of the Sharepoint FeatureLockDown settings.
Details Possible values include: Same as bEnableSharePointInChromeExtn in FeatureLockDown.

Starred files

Starring files is similar to "favoriting" or "pinning". Marking a file with a star helps users track important files.

Summary table
bFavoritesStripInRFL Specifies whether to show starred files in the recent files list.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # Oct 2019: Continuous
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show starred files in the recent files list.
Details A starred file is somewhat similar to a "favorited" file. Note that the lockable version of this preference is named bFavoritesFeaturesLockDown . Possible values include:
  • 0: Show starred files in the recent files list.
  • 1: Don't show starred files in the recent files list.
GUI mapping Preferences > General > Show starred cards in recent file list

Share File Popup Tips

Summary table
bIsUsedShare Specifies whether to show a popup tip that informs users of the share file feature.
bIsUsedShareReview Specifies whether to show a popup tip that informs users of the collaborative review feature.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by Acrobat
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct. 2018 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral/cOnboardingContextual
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show a popup tip that informs users of the collaborative review feature.
Details The popup only appears if the user has opened a review file but has not sent a review file. Once the user has initiated a review, the application sets this value to 1, and the popup no longer appears. Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the tip.
  • 1: Don't show the tip.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by Acrobat
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct. 2018 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral/cOnboardingContextual
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show a popup tip that informs users of the share file feature.
Details The popup only appears if the user has opened a shared file but has not shared a file. Once the user has shared a file, the application sets this value to 1, and the popup no longer appears. Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the tip.
  • 1: Don't show the tip.

HUD

The Head's Up Display (HUD) provides a popup menu for PDFs viewed in a browser. When you hover over the bottom of the PDF, the HUD menu appears so that you can quickly perform common tasks such as printing and zooming.

Summary table
bPinHUD Specifies whether to pin the HUD to the toolbar.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # DC
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to pin the HUD to the toolbar.
Details The application automatically creates this key when you click the "pin to menu" icon on the right-hand side of the HUD. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't pin the HUD to the toolbar.
  • 1: Pin the HUD to the toolbar.

Basic Tools

Miscellaneous settings. Most of the settings in the Basic Tools box in the UI are grouped in this document with other related features.

Summary table
bAlwaysUseFileNameAsDocTitle Specifies whether to use the PDF file name as the display name in the application's title bar.
bKeyPrefsShowVirtualKeyoard Specifies whether to show the touch keyboard if device is in touch or tablet mode on Win 8 and later.
bPromptBeforeClosingMultipleTabs Specifies whether to warn the user before closing document open in multiple tabs.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Continuous track Aug, 2020
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to use the PDF file name as the display name in the application's title bar.
Details PDF documents have an Initial View property that's set to "Document Title" by default. Enabling this preference overrides any document-level setting with the app-level setting. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't use file names.
  • 1: Use file names for the PDF title.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version #
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to warn the user before closing document open in multiple tabs.
Details The ability to open documents in separate tabs was introduced in October, 2015. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't warn user
  • 1: Warn user
GUI mapping General > Prompt before closing multiple tabs
Supported on WindowsSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default
Version #
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the touch keyboard if device is in touch or tablet mode on Win 8 and later.
Details In general, the virtual keyboard should only appear on touch devices running Windows 8 and later where the user has detached a soft keyboard. The keyboard should appear when a user taps a text area such as a search box, comment popup, form field, and so on. Possible values include:
GUI mapping Preferences > General > Basic Tools > Show Touch keyboard if device is in touch or tablet mode

Rendering Speed

Specifies whether to use fast, low resolution intermediate representation during scrolling, zooming, etc.

Summary table
bSuperFastDrawing Specifies whether to use fast, low resolution intermediate representation during scrolling, zooming, etc.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # DC+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to use fast, low resolution intermediate representation during scrolling, zooming, etc.
Details Superfast Drawing was introduced in Acrobat and Reader DC to make interactions with PDF documents smoother and more responsive. Superfast drawing suspends high quality rendering for the duration of operations like fast scrolling, panning, and zooming. This results in a lower quality intermediate representation being temporarily displayed during the current action. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don’t use Superfast Drawing and display high quality intermediates during scrolling, zooming, panning, etc.
  • 1: Use Superfast Drawing to display low resolution intermediates during scrolling, zooming, panning, etc. GUI mapping None.

Printing

Summary table
bPrintSaveToner Specifies whether to optimize content so that the printer uses less ink.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # DC
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to optimize content so that the printer uses less ink.
Details When checked, this setting optimizes the content so that the printer uses less ink during printing. In some cases, toner savings may reach 15%. Print quality is usually not impaired in any discernable way. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't optimize printing.
  • 1: Optimize printing.

Trials

Summary table
bShowTrialNag Specifies whether a "Trial Expired" dialog should appear after 30 days.
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by Acrobat
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # DC
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether a "Trial Expired" dialog should appear after 30 days.
Details This preference is automatically set by the application. When the 30 day trial period expires, Acrobat is launched in reduced functionality mode, and a dialog appears asking if the user would like to purchase the product. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't show the "Trial Expired" dialog.
  • 1: "Trial Expired" dialog.

Adobe Update Manager (deprecated)

These settings only apply to the Adobe Update Manager which was deprecated after 9.2 and 8.1.7 when it was replaced by the Acrobat Updater. The new updater is controlled via bUpdater. Since these settings are no longer used, no attempt has been made to provide a complete list of settings here.

Summary table
bCheckForUpdatesAtStartup Specifies whether the application on startup should invoke the Adobe Update Manager (AUM rather than the Acrobat Updater) to look for updates.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 7.0-9.2 and 8.1.7
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether the application on startup should invoke the Adobe Update Manager (AUM rather than the Acrobat Updater) to look for updates.
Details When the Updater is invoked, if the Updater does not find iCheck in the preferences, it looks at bCheckForUpdatesAtStartup to see if it should look for an update. The values map to Updater settings as follows:
  • 0: Manual
  • 1: Semi-automatic

FIPS Compliance

To comply with NIST requirements for data protection, Acrobat and Reader on Windows can provide encryption via the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 mode. FIPS 140 is a cryptographic security standard used by the federal government and others requiring higher degrees of security. Adobe utilizes certified and unmodified encryption modules licensed from RSA Security within desktop and server products. Therefore, Adobe will not show up in the NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program vendor lists. When the FIPS mode is enabled via the registry, encryption in digital signature workflows use FIPS-approved algorithms during the production of PDFs (not the consumption of PDFs). The following documents list the specific, certified modules in use within the Adobe DRM Solution.

FIPS mode changes Acrobat's default behavior as follows:
  • FIPS-compliant algorithms are always used.
  • Users cannot save self-signed certificates to a P12/PFX file since password security is not permitted in FIPS mode. However, users can save self-signed digital IDs to the Windows Certificate Store.
  • Signing with non-FIPS supported algorithms results in an error message; that is, signing fails if the document hash algorithm (digest method) is set to MD5 or RIPEMD160.
  • Password security is turned off. Users can apply certificate or Adobe LifeCycle Rights Management Server security using the AES encryption algorithm to a document, but password encryption is disabled.
  • When applying certificate security, the RC4 encryption algorithm is not allowed.
  • Documents protected with non-FIPS compliant algorithms cannot be saved.
When FIPS mode is disabled, you can still create encrypted documents that are equivalent to documents encrypted with FIPS mode enabled if you do one of the following:
  • Use AES-128 or AES-256 with certificate-based encryption, or
  • Use AEM Document Security, which only supports AES-128 and AES-256.

Summary table
bFIPSMode Turns FIPS mode on and off thereby requiring stronger encryption algorithm and limiting certain application behavior.
Supported on WindowsSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.1+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Turns FIPS mode on and off thereby requiring stronger encryption algorithm and limiting certain application behavior.

Tools Customization

In both Acrobat and Reader, users have the capability to customize and favorite toolbars via the user interface by choosing View > Show/Hide > Toolbar Items and then selecting particular toolbar items to display. Acrobat users have an additional menu item called Quick Tools . This feature displays a two panel dialog that allows users to add any button or button category.

For example, you can expand the button tree under Forms to add the Create New Form button, or you could choose to add the top level Forms item to add all the forms buttons to the top menu. All user choices are stored with the application preferences and are essentially a "favorited" item.

Enterprise configuration steps:

  • Configuring the application via the user interface.
  • Closing the application.
  • Opening the registry or plist directory and going to AVGeneral\(feature name).
  • Copying the desired settings from the registry or plist. Settings can be deployed via the Customization Wizard, GPO, and any preferred scripted mechanism as desired. If you create these preferences manually, verify the index number is unique and the button names are correct.
Differences between 10.0 and earlier product versions
In 9.x and earlier, Acrobat and Reader only had toolbars. Both plugins and JavaScripts could be used to add new toolbars and buttons as well remove or hide buttons on demand. Unlike 9.x, 10.0 now includes toolbars AND quick tools right-hand panels. The toolbar APIs now only apply to panel customization, and toolbars cannot be modified by end users in any way. However, everything that could be accomplished in 9.x toolbars can still be accomplished for the new 10.x right hand panels.
Example: Favorited form buttons
"a5"="AcroForm:Forms_CreateNewForm"
"a6"="AcroForm:Forms_DistributeForm"
"a7"="AcroForm:Forms_ToggleEditInAcrobat"
"a8"="AcroForm:Forms_TrackReturnedForms"
"a9"="AcroForm:Forms_Hightlight"
"a10"="AcroForm:Forms_ClearForm"
"a11"="MoreFormOptions"

Summary table
bAllowMultipleExpandedPanels Specifies whether multiple comments panels can be expanded.
bInfobubble Specifies whether the popup tooltips for the Tools, Comments, and Share panes should appear.
cFavoritesCommandsBrowser Specifies available tools when the application is running in a browser.
cFavoritesCommandsDesktop Specifies favorited desktop tools.
cFavoritesDefaultsDesktop Specifies the default desktop tools.
iBasicSharePaneStickyStatus Specifies whether to remember the the Tools Pane state across sessions.
irightPaneState Specifies whether to automatically open the Tools Pane on launch.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default null
Version # 11.0.02+
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cTaskPanes\
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to remember the the Tools Pane state across sessions.
Details For example, if the user closes the Tools Pane, it will not automatically open on launch. Interacts with irightPaneState. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't remember the Tool Pane's state. The Pane is always closed on application open.
  • 1: Do remember the Tool Pane's state.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default null
Version # 11.0.02+
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cTaskPanes\
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to automatically open the Tools Pane on launch.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Use the default.
  • 1: Always closed.
  • 2: Always open.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 10.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cTaskPanes\cBasicCommentPane
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether multiple comments panels can be expanded.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't allow more than one visible panel.
  • 1: Do allow multiple visible panels.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type n/a: Cabs are keys that contain subvalues displayed in the right hand registry panel.
Default See description.
Version # 10.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path 0
Summary Specifies the default desktop tools.
Details Note that different products may have different defaul values. The default values are atoms (a + a unique index) with the string button name. For Acrobat 10.0, the default list is:
  • "a0"="Text"
  • "a1"="Highlight"
  • "a2"="DeletePages"
  • "a3"="RotatePages"
  • "a4"="InsertPages"
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type n/a: Cabs are keys that contain subvalues displayed in the right hand registry panel.
Default See description.
Version # 10.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies favorited desktop tools.
Details cFavoritesDefaultsDesktop is also used so that if cFavoritesCommandsDesktop is null, the cFavoritesDefaultsDesktop buttons still appear. The default values are atoms (a + a unique index) with the string button name:
  • "a0"="Text"
  • "a1"="Highlight"
  • "a2"="DeletePages"
  • "a3"="RotatePages"
  • "a4"="InsertPages"
GUI mapping Acrobat: View > Show/Hide > Toolbar Items > Quick Tools
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type n/a: Cabs are keys that contain subvalues displayed in the right hand registry panel.
Default null
Version # 10.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies available tools when the application is running in a browser.
Details Provides a way for admins to configure available tools for use in the browser. There is no UI component. Configuration is identical to cFavoritesCommandsDesktop.
GUI mapping None: registry level configuration only.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 10.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether the popup tooltips for the Tools, Comments, and Share panes should appear.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Disable popup tooltips.
  • 1: Enable popup tooltips.

General Status

These preferences record details about the application's state and are not configured via the user interface.

Summary table
bActivated Records whether the application has been activated online after installation.
bAppInitialized Records whether the application has been initialized after installation.
bHasLaunched Records whether the application has been launched after installation.
bInTrialMode Records whether the application is operating in Trial Mode.
bShowHorizontalScrollbar Specifies whether to show a horizontal scrollbar when the viewing are is narrower than the width of the loaded document.
bShowWelcomeScreen For pre-DC products, disables the Welcome screen on application startup.
iDelayBeforeQuitViewer Specifies the number of seconds the standalone application stays in memory before it shuts down.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default null
Version # 10.1.1-11.x
HKLM Path FeatureLockDown\cWelcomeScreen
Summary For pre-DC products, disables the Welcome screen on application startup.
Details Deprecated for 12.x and later products (See bToggleFTE ). Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't show the welcome screen.
  • 1: Show the welcome screen.
GUI mapping Mac only: Preferences > General > Application Startup > Show Welcome screen
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 30
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies the number of seconds the standalone application stays in memory before it shuts down.
Details Possible values include:
  • 30
  • Any integer
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Records whether the application has been activated online after installation.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Not activated
  • 1: Activated
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Records whether the application has been initialized after installation.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Not initialized
  • 1: Initialized
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Records whether the application has been launched after installation.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Not launched
  • 1: Launched
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Records whether the application is operating in Trial Mode.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Not in trial mode
  • 1: In trial mode
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show a horizontal scrollbar when the viewing are is narrower than the width of the loaded document.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't show the scrollbar.
  • 1: Don't show the scrollbar.

Recent Files

Summary table
cRecentFiles Lists a user's most recently opened files.
iMaxMRUCnt Stores the number of recent files that should be listed in the recents list.
iMaxMRUCntToBeStored Stores the number of recent files that should be listed in the recents list.
Not modifiableSupported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type n/a: Cabs are keys that contain subvalues displayed in the right hand registry panel.
Default null
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Lists a user's most recently opened files.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default null
Version # 8.0-11.0.07
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Stores the number of recent files that should be listed in the recents list.
Details This preference is replaced by iMaxMRUCntToBeStored with 11.0.08. Possible values include:
  • A number from 1-10. The default is 5.
GUI mapping Preferences > Documents > Documents in recently used list
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default null
Version # 11.0.08+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Stores the number of recent files that should be listed in the recents list.
Details The recents list appears under the file menu (5 item limit), the splash screen (5 item limit), and in My Files View (100 item limit).
  • A number from 0-100. The default is 100.
GUI mapping Preferences > Documents > Documents in recently used list

Comments and Annotations

Like the related preferences in Originals, these settings control comment display behavior and user interaction.

Summary table
bOverprintPreviewUseShiftClick Specifies whether to use Shift + Click for multiple selection or for adding sticky notes containing color value when output preview dialog is open.
bPopupsScrollWithPage Specifies whether whether popups are visible when a document is scrolled.
bShowAnnotConnector Specifies whether to show lines connecting comment markups to their popups on mouse rollover.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by Acrobat
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether whether popups are visible when a document is scrolled.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Hide popups on document scroll.
  • 1: Show popups on document scroll.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Ensure the popups are visible as the document is scrolled
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show lines connecting comment markups to their popups on mouse rollover.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Hide lines connecting comments to popups.
  • 1: Show lines connecting comments to popups.
GUI mapping Preferences > Commenting > Show lines connecting comment markups to their popups on mouse rollover.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # Feb. 2017: DC and classic 2017
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to use Shift + Click for multiple selection or for adding sticky notes containing color value when output preview dialog is open.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Use Shift + Click for adding a sticky note containing the color values.
  • 1: To select multiple objects, use Shift + Click. To add a sticky note containing the color values, use Alt + Click (Windows) or Option + Click (Mac).
GUI mapping Preferences > Page Display > Use Shift + Click for Multiple Selection with Output Preview

Browser Integration

These settings specify how the PDF viewer should behave when loaded within a browser. See also:

  • cFavoritesCommandsBrowser under Toolbar Customization
  • The Browser Integration preferences in Originals
  • Browser Integration Quick Key in the Quick Key Library.

Summary table
bBrowserDisplayInReadMode Specifies whether to open documents in a browser in Read Mode.
iDelayBeforeQuitBrowser Specifies the number of seconds the browser-based application stays in memory before it shuts down.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 30
Version # 8.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies the number of seconds the browser-based application stays in memory before it shuts down.
Details Possible values include:
  • 30
  • Any integer
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default null
Version # 10.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to open documents in a browser in Read Mode.
Details Read Mode was introduced in Acrobat and Reader 10.0 to enhance the PDF viewing experience for documents in a browser. Read Mode turns off the standard toolbars and menu items and provides a more compact and simple menu bar only when a user hovers over the bottom, middle area of the PDF. For more information, see the Browser Integration Quick Key in the Quick Key Library.

Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't use Read Mode and display the standard toolbars.
  • 1: Use Read Mode and hide the standard toolbars.
GUI mapping Preferences > Internet > Web Browser Options > Display in Read Mode by Default

Document Open Settings

Document open settings control document behavior as they are opened. Related settings also reside elsewhere in AVGeneral , RememberedViews , Originals, and OptionalContent .

Summary table
bAllowDocsToHideUI Specifies whether to allow documents to hide the menu bar, toolbars, and window controls.
bSDIMode Specifies whether to open documents in a new window or in tabs in the same window.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # 9.0+
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to allow documents to hide the menu bar, toolbars, and window controls.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't allow documents to hide UI elements.
  • 1: Allow documents to hide UI elements.
GUI mapping Preferences > Documents > Open Settings > Allow documents to hide the menu bar, toolbars, and window controls.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # DC (10/13/2015)
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to open documents in a new window or in tabs in the same window.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Open documents in tabs in the same window .
  • 1: Open documents in separate windows.
GUI mapping Preferences > General > Basic Tools > Open documents as new tabs in the same window.

Home Screen and Help Menu

There are several views and features designed to help users learn about the product. Admins can disable most of these.

  • Mac: Home screen (see AVGeneral\HomeScreenOptionWhenDocClosed )
  • All: Welcome menu item in Help (see AVGeneral\bHideHelpWelcome )
  • All: Welcome.PDF (see AVGeneral\bAddCustomFile )
  • All: Home banner (see cIPM\bShowMsgAtLaunch )
  • All: Welcome tour (see FeatureLockDown\bToggleFTE )

Summary table
bAddCustomFile Specifies whether to load the Welcome PDF file.
bHideHelpWelcome Specifies whether to disable the Welcome menu item under Help.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # Oct. 2018 both tracks
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to load the Welcome PDF file.
Details This file resides online and appears in the file list on application startup. Possible values include:
  • 0: Don't display Welcome.pdf.
  • 1: Display Welcome.pdf.
GUI mapping Welcome.pdf in the Recent file list
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct. 2018 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to disable the Welcome menu item under Help.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0 or null: Enable the Welcome menu item.
  • 1: Disable the Welcome menu item.

Modern Viewer: A new Acrobat UI

This release begins an incremental rollout of a new, modern user interace for Acrobat and Reader. Users can switch between the old and new UI by choosing View > Enable|Disable New Acrobat (Mac) or Hamburger menu > Enable|Disable New Acrobat (Windows). As of July 2022, 5% of users have this UI automatically enabled. See also FTEDialog.

New menu item on the old viewer

Modern viewer UI menu item

Summary table
bEnableAv2 Specifies whether to show the modern viewer first released in July 2022.
iNumSwitcherContextualToolTipAV2Shown Specifies whether to show the "Acrobat has a new look" coachmark after launching Acrobat the first time.
iNumSwitcherContextualToolTipAVShown Specifies whether to show the "Try the new Acrobat/Reader" coachmark after launching Acrobat the first time.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # July 2022, Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the modern viewer first released in July 2022.
Details
  • 0: Show the classic viewer.
  • 1: Show the modern viewer.
GUI mapping In the modern viewer: View > Enable|Disable New Acrobat (Mac) or Hamburger menu > Enable|Disable New Acrobat (Windows).
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # July 2022, Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the "Acrobat has a new look" coachmark after launching Acrobat the first time.
Details Once the coachmark displays, the app automatically resets this value to 0. This preference has no effect if bEnableAv2 is 0.
  • 0: Do not show the coachmark.
  • 1: Show the coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # July 2022, Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the "Try the new Acrobat/Reader" coachmark after launching Acrobat the first time.
Details Once the coachmark displays, the app automatically resets this value to 0. This preference has no effect if bEnableAv2 is 0.
  • 0: Do not show the coachmark.
  • 1: Show the coachmark.

UI Switcher

These preferences control whether the app shows a coachmark that allows the user to easily switch from the new, modern UI to the legacy, classic UI. Both preferences must be set together to toggle the UI switcher coachmark.

Mac configuration: Mac plist structure should appear as follows:

Summary table
iNumSessionAV2 Specifies whether to show the the UI switcher coachmark based on the number of user sessions.
iNumSwitcherContextualToolTipAV2Shown Specifies whether to show the the UI switcher coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct 11 2022 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the the UI switcher coachmark.
Details Interacts with iNumSessionAV2. Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the UI switcher if iNumSessionAV2 is greater than or equal to 2.
  • 1: Don't show the UI switcher.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct 11 2022 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the the UI switcher coachmark based on the number of user sessions.
Details Interacts with iNumSwitcherContextualToolTipAV2Shown. Possible values include:
  • 0 or 1: Don't the UI switcher.
  • 2 or greater: Show the UI switcher if iNumSwitcherContextualToolTipAV2Shown is 0.

Onboarding Dialogs

The July 2022 release initiated a phased rollout of a new, modern user interace for Acrobat and Reader. Users can switch between the old and new UI by choosing View > Enable|Disable New Acrobat (Mac) or Hamburger menu > Enable|Disable New Acrobat (Windows). Preferences for onboarding coachmark control reside in both FTEDialog and AVGeneral.

The first time a user sees the new UI for a specific tool pane, an onboarding coachmark appears with an offer to start a tour. Admins may disable the onboarding UI.

Mac configuration: Mac plist structure should appear as follows:

Summary table
bCreateFormDiscoveryShown Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Create Form panel.
bEditDiscoveryShown Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Edit panel.
bFillSignDiscoveryShown Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Fill & Sign panel.
bOrganizeDiscoveryShown Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Organize panel.
bRedactDiscoveryShown Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Redaction panel.
bShowedSkipCard Specifies whether to show the skipped onboarding coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct 11 2022 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cAV2ToolDiscoveryWalkthrough
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Edit panel.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the onboarding coachmark.
  • 1: Don't show the onboarding coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct 11 2022 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cAV2ToolDiscoveryWalkthrough
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Fill & Sign panel.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the onboarding coachmark.
  • 1: Don't show the onboarding coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct 11 2022 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cAV2ToolDiscoveryWalkthrough
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Organize panel.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the onboarding coachmark.
  • 1: Don't show the onboarding coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct 11 2022 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cAV2ToolDiscoveryWalkthrough
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Redaction panel.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the onboarding coachmark.
  • 1: Don't show the onboarding coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Oct 11 2022 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral\cAV2ToolDiscoveryWalkthrough
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the onboarding coachmark when the user invokes the Create Form panel.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Show the onboarding coachmark.
  • 1: Don't show the onboarding coachmark.
Supported on WindowsSupported on MacSupported by AcrobatSupported by Adobe Reader
Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD string: Binary value > REG_BINARY text: String value > REG_SZ integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 0
Version # Dec 12 2023 Continuous track
HKCU Path AVGeneral
HKLM Path Not lockable
Summary Specifies whether to show the skipped onboarding coachmark.
Details Possible values include:
  • 0: Disables the feature.
  • 1: Enables the feature.