stop users from upgrading

[bookouri]

we have an application that uses Acrobat for document viewing, but its NOT compatible with Acrobat 6. We cant do anything about the application so we're stuck with it. The problem we are having is when users run the old Acrobat, it comes back and tells them there is an upgrade, do they want to install it. Of course, most users select to install the upgrade and when they do their application stops working. You have to be an administrator to install or uninstall Acrobat Reader, but anybody can run an upgrade. Is there any way to stop users from upgrading Reader?

thanks for any suggestions...

 

[Eggles]

Circulate a memo to your users outlining the problem if they upgrade?

 

[bookouri]

does anybody out there have users who actually listen to instructions? <G>

 

[Eggles]

>>Of course, most users select to install the upgrade and when they do their application stops working.<<

I guess it depends on how important it is for them to read the PDF. If they come complaining, point them in the direction of the memo you sent them, and tell them to STOP BOTHERING YOU!

 

[tgreer]

I'd be interested in exploring the incompatibility issue. Is it the PDF files that are "incompatible", or do you have an application that somehow "controls" Acrobat, and something about Acrobat 6.0 causes problems?



Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[bookouri]

Ill take a look at that. The desktop guy who identified the problem is off today. I need to check with him and verify what is actually going on.

 

[bookouri]

I went back to a workstation and found the following.
XP workstation with all updates
Acrobat Reader 6 installed
Oracle's Jinitiator installed
When users tried to run an Oracle Report from the Oracle 9ias server using their IE6 browser, the reports are designed to default to pdf and under normal circumstances a PDF file is presented to the user in their browser window.
Acrobat 6 pops up an error stating the plugin failed.
Uninstalling 6 and reinstalling Acrobat 5 fixes the problem.
The good thing is that i verified that users can not upgrade from 5 to 6 unless they are administrators, so my basic problem is solved. This is not the first problem Ive had with acrobat 6. I had already quit installing anything beyone 5 on my personal workstations, and i think ill probably move everything back to Acrobat 5 for now.

thanks for all the replies..

 

[tgreer]

I don't suppose you could post a link to one of those PDFs?



Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting

 

[bookouri]

no, there's no way to run it from outside our network, they're only accessible to our intranet.

 

[tgreer]

I'd like to look at one to see if I can open it with Reader 6.0. To see if it's a Reader problem or a browser issue. But, it looks like you've reached a livable solution, so we'll let this one drop.



Thomas D. Greer

http://www.tgreer.com

Providing PostScript & PDF
Training, Development & Consulting