Enterprise Toolkit | Windows Registry Reference

Glossary



Admin modifiable The field indicates whether the preference can be modified through the user interface or only at the registry level. There are a number of preference that exist visibly in the registry, but which are application generated. For example, tSASL_Mechanism is a server-generated ID which is sent to the client. Values marked with a red X should not be modified as this will either break the feature or the application will overwrite value.
Data types The preference data type; for example, boolean or string. While Windows and Macintosh use the same data types, they are represented differently. For an overview, see the following: For more detail, refer to the Enterprise Administration Guide.
Default value The value that ships with the product.
Deprecated Whether or not the preference is deprecated and no longer in use.
Details Details include allowable values, interaction with other preferences, and a description of the preference's effects. Since this document is merely a reference, it is often necessary to refer to related technical guides.
Key name The name of the application preference in the registry or plist
Lock Path These are paths to system level preferences that require administrator permissions to change. Paths vary by platform:
  • Windows 32-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\(product name)\(version)\FeatureLockDown\
  • Windows 64-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Adobe\(product name)\(version)\FeatureLockDown\
  • Macintosh: For 11.0 and later, preferences that are lockable on Windows may also be locked on Macintosh. Use the same path described in the Windows FeatureLockDown section. The lock file is located at /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.(product name).plist
Maps to GUI This section is deprecated since 10.x and is no longer maintained. In many cases, the user interface mapping has not changed, but accuracy is not guaranteed.
Path The user preference path in the registry or plist for this particular preference. These paths are for per user settings. For information about machine (system) preferences that require administrator permissions to change, see Lock Path.
  • Windows: Most user preferences reside in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\(product name)\(version)\. Many of these registry settings can also be set via the user interface. The path varies based on the product name and product version. Lockable preferences and a few others (such as installer preferences) reside in HKLM and can only be modified by someone with administrator rights.
  • Mac: The plist path varies by version. The filename includes the application name and version. For 9.x versions and earlier, the filename also includes the processor type. For example:
    • 10.x and later: /Users/(username)/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.[Acrobat.Pro or Reader].plist
    • 9.x: /Users/(username)/Preferences/com.adobe.[Acrobat.Pro or Reader]_[ppc or x86]_[version].plist
Product name The product name must be one of the following:
  • Windows: Adobe Acrobat (for all versions of Acrobat) or Acrobat Reader
  • Macintosh: Acrobat.Pro or Reader
Product version The product version in which the preference was first introduced. Note the DC product's Continuous track introduces the concept of "version-less" preferences. For this track, settings don't reside under a base version hive (10.0, 11.0, etc.), but rather under "DC". "DC" never changes over time even when the product is updated.
Security hardening Indicates whether or not values for this preference make the application environment more or less secure. For example, enabling enhanced security and disabling JavaScript increases application security by reducing potential surface attack areas. Of course, such security precautions also restrict or turn off features and managing for security is often a balancing act between mitigating risks and allowing desirable functionality. For additional detail, see the Application Security Guide.
Since version The product version in which the preference was introduced.
Summary A one sentence summary describing what the key does.
Windows data types
Acrobat Prefix Data Type Registry type Description
a atom REG_SZ The string may be UTF-8 and can therefore include Unicode. The Value Data field is typically entered as text. For example, a value for cHandlers:aPrivKey could be Adobe.PPKLite.
b bool REG_DWORD 0 (false) or 1 (true).
c cab N/A Containers that hold keys are preceded by a "c" on Windows.
i int REG_DWORD An integer.
s string REG_BINARY ASCII only.
t text REG_SZ The string may be UTF-8 and can include Unicode. The Value Data field is entered as text. For example, a value for cEDC:tLastServerURL could be https://aps.serv.com:123. Note: 7.x and earlier use REG_BINARY and tValue.
a, s, or t ASPath See a, s, and t above. ASPath objects require three components:
  • aFS: The filesystem for the path, such as DOS.
  • sDI: A string of device independent path.
  • tDIText: The device independent path again in Unicode.
Macintosh data types
Integer Type Notes
0 boolean true or false
1 number integer
2 data A string mapped to ASAtom internally.
3 number double
4 data A binary blob terminated with a 0 byte.
5 string
6 data A binary blob.
7 Unused.
8 dictionary A key containing subkeys.