Outlook Quick Print using wrong app for PDF

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Paul1977

5047 posts

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#289513 10-Sep-2021 09:15

This is driving me mental....

New Windows 2019 Remote Desktop Server. One user requires Adobe Acrobat Pro, all other users just Acrobat Reader. So we have both installed, and restrict all other users from running Acrobat Pro via GPO settings (since we only have a single license, we want to ensure no other users can use Pro).

Adobe Reader is set as the default PDF application, and this all works perfectly - except for Quick Print in Outlook, which insists on trying to use Acrobat Pro.

I have replicated the setup on a Windows 10 PC and the same issue happens.

I assume there must be a registry key or setting that sets what app Outlook uses for Quick Print, but I've spent hours trying various things and have made zero progress.

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Oblivian

7300 posts

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#2775883 10-Sep-2021 10:28

Quickprint uses the default set printer?

And if it detects distiller it will likely pick that or have set it as default (if no real printers) first?

Get-CimInstance -Class Win32_Printer | where { $_.Default }

Have a check of that, might need to hack at a GPO to set everyones/.defalt profile to have the reader output as default

Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#2776025 10-Sep-2021 13:32

Oblivian:

Quickprint uses the default set printer?

And if it detects distiller it will likely pick that or have set it as default (if no real printers) first?

Get-CimInstance -Class Win32_Printer | where { $_.Default }

Have a check of that, might need to hack at a GPO to set everyones/.defalt profile to have the reader output as default

It uses the default printer for actual printing (which is fine), the issue is the app it uses to open to then perform the print.

Oblivian

7300 posts

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#2776049 10-Sep-2021 14:08

Hrm. I've clearly either never utilised this, or misunderstood as different to how I've noted and expect quickprint working based on our customers - which tends to be send the page to the default printer. Set it as a PDF writer, it'll ask you to save the PDF. Set to a local printer, it'll spit it out.

So presuming it's not a case of attempting to print just an email to a physical something, or messages with .PDFs attached (and launching Acrobat when you don't want to)

but rather an actual .pdf attachment itself with shortcut only?

If it's quickprinting an attachment, yes, I could see that doing some funk, similar to doing it with .jpg, opening the picture dialogue, it needs to have a handler...

such as messing with this appears to indicate:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-reader-discussions/quick-print-issues-with-acrobat-dc-and-outlook-2010/td-p/7717412

Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#2776063 10-Sep-2021 14:40

Oblivian:

Hrm. I've clearly either never utilised this, or misunderstood as different to how I've noted and expect quickprint working based on our customers - which tends to be send the page to the default printer. Set it as a PDF writer, it'll ask you to save the PDF. Set to a local printer, it'll spit it out.

So presuming it's not a case of attempting to print just an email to a physical something, or messages with .PDFs attached (and launching Acrobat when you don't want to)

but rather an actual .pdf attachment itself with shortcut only?

If it's quickprinting an attachment, yes, I could see that doing some funk, similar to doing it with .jpg, opening the picture dialogue, it needs to have a handler...

such as messing with this appears to indicate:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-reader-discussions/quick-print-issues-with-acrobat-dc-and-outlook-2010/td-p/7717412

I may not have been clear. What I meant was Quick Printing a PDF attachment. So the issue is that it's using Adobe Acrobat Pro as the handler for Quick Printing PDFs, even though Adobe Reader is set as the default app.

I.e. If I double-click the attachment it opens in Reader, but if i right-click and choose "Quick Print" it tries to use Acrobat Pro.

Oblivian

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#2776067 10-Sep-2021 14:52

Ah. Yeah. My users not smart enough to work that one out :P they just open it and then print lol

But looks like the FileTrackIdle regkey at bottom example of below is the ticket. Lots of others with similar

https://www.plonius.com/post/2018/07/16/outlook-quickprint-and-acrobat-reader-aint-no-friends

Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#2778615 15-Sep-2021 09:21

So uninstalling and reinstalling with Reader first fixed the issue.... for 2 days. Then Reader updated and it's reverted back to Pro for all users for Quick Print again (which of course doesn't work because of the GPO restriction).

It's not viable to not update, or to reinstall every time an update is required. Surely it has to be in the registry somewhere it can be easily changed???!!!

shrub

775 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2778687 15-Sep-2021 11:38

Found its alot easier to install foxit pdf reader and set it to default pdf reader in windows. There must have been an outlook update recently as alot of computers I help with have had this happen

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Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#2778750 15-Sep-2021 13:12

shrub: Found its alot easier to install foxit pdf reader and set it to default pdf reader in windows. There must have been an outlook update recently as alot of computers I help with have had this happen

Thanks, I'll have a look at Foxit, but my users HATE change.

Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#2779449 16-Sep-2021 17:17

Hooray, I've cracked it after much testing and heartache.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AcroExch.Document.DC\shell\Print\command

Value was "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe" /p /h "%1" needed to be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroRd32.exe" /p /h "%1"

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AcroExch.Document.DC\shell\Printto\command

Value was "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe" /t "%1" "%2" "%3" "%4" needed to be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroRd32.exe" /t "%1" "%2" "%3" "%4"

Why the is setting changes from Acro32Rd to Acrobat during an update I don't know, and why setting Reader back to the default app doesn't change it back I don't know either.

Fortunately this is a local machine key and changing it instantly applies to all users, even if Outlook is open. So I've created a REG file to update the setting, and will just schedule it to run daily.

Oblivian

7300 posts

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#2779467 16-Sep-2021 18:14

Possibly the registry protection windows put in for default association settings

oemdefaultassociations.xml for instance has default 'stuff' to set them back to if something tries to change it. Normally triggers the 'there is an issue with your default association - reset to Edge' messages

Adobe are notorious for using reg-hacks to try force it as part of their installers. And when MS made the change it detects it, it blocks them or reverts.