Some applications, like Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Acrobat Reader, consist of two components: a base installer (msi) and an update (msp).
The Right Click Tools Patching Enterprise catalog contains both components as separate applications, and we recommend deploying only the update application as it will automatically create a dependency for and install the msi, if not already installed.
Adobe Acrobat DC Pro and Standard updates are exceptions to this rule. For these applications, you must add the Acrobat DC (Continuous) base installer to the same deployment process in order to install the application on devices without a previous version.
Why am I seeing really old base installers in the Patching catalog?
The base installer may have been released by Adobe years ago, and you may see these older releases in the Patching catalog. The original base installer release date does not reflect the security posture or feature level of the deployed and updated application. Once the installed application is updated, it is fully current.
DEPLOYMENT NOTES:
- We recommend that you continue using the same Reader DC branch (language and architecture) as previously to prevent any installation issues.
- To change to a different architecture or language, you may need to uninstall previous versions using a pre-install script or by creating a supersedence relationship for an old version with the uninstall option selected. See Supercedence settings for MECM or Intune.
- 64-bit Acrobat DC cannot replace 64-bit Reader DC. Reader DC needs to be uninstalled before Acrobat DC can be installed.
- 64-bit Reader DC is named as Adobe Acrobat DC (64-bit) under Programs and Features even though it is just a free Reader DC. This is because 64-bit installer is a unified installer for Acrobat and Reader DC.
- The most commonly deployed Reader applications in RCT Patching are Acrobat Reader DC update - All languages (x86) and Acrobat Reader DC update - All languages (x64).
- To update a specific Reader DC language that is not Multilingual (MUI) or English, you can deploy Acrobat Reader DC update - All languages but you must remove the dependency relationship to the English base installer from MECM/Intune using the Exclude Dependencies feature.
- You can only install our x86 Adobe packages on x64 machines, as Adobe Acrobat and Acrobat Reader no longer support Windows 32-bit operating systems.
Update Adobe Acrobat Products with Software Updates for ConfigMgr
Alternatively, you can use RCT Patching's Software Updates for ConfigMgr feature to update Adobe applications.
To deploy and update Acrobat Reader using Software Updates for ConfigMgr:
1. Include 'Acrobat Reader DC - English (x64)' (or other language or MUI/other architecture) in the deployment process and target it at devices where Adobe Acrobat Reader needs to exist.
2. Add 'Acrobat Reader DC update - All languages (x64)' (or another architecture) to the Software Updates for ConfigMgr deployment process.
When using this approach, there is a delay between the base install and the update to the latest version.
Acrobat DC and Reader DC Applications & Dependencies
The following list contains all Acrobat DC and Reader DC applications and their dependency products in the RCT Patching Enterprise catalog.
NOTE: RCT Patching Enterprise also has rarely used Classic track products like Reader 2017, 2020 and 2024. In those cases, we also recommend deploying just the product with "update" in its name.
Acrobat DC (Continuous) (x64)
- Base installer (msi) for 64-bit Acrobat DC
- Cannot be used to update existing installations
Acrobat DC (Continuous) (x86)
- Base installer (msi) for 32-bit Acrobat DC
- Cannot be used to update existing installations
Acrobat DC Pro and Standard update - All languages (x64)
- Acrobat DC (Continuous) (x64) added as a base installer dependency
- You must deploy the base installer (msi) separately or add the base installer to the same deployment process
Acrobat DC Pro and Standard update - All languages (x86)
- Acrobat DC (Continuous) (x86) added as a base installer dependency
- You must deploy the base installer (msi) separately or add the base installer to the same deployment process
Acrobat Reader DC - English (x64) (EXE)
- Can be used for new installations and to update English 64-bit Reader DC installations
- msi and msp are bundled into one application which can make deployment simpler
Acrobat Reader DC - English (x64)
- Base installer (msi) for Acrobat Reader DC - English (x64)
- There are also base installers for every other available language
- Cannot be used to update existing installations
Acrobat Reader DC - English (x86)
- Base installer (msi) for Acrobat Reader DC - English (x32)
- There are also base installers for every other available language
- Cannot be used to update existing installations
Acrobat Reader DC update - All languages (x64)
- Acrobat Reader DC - English (x64) added as a dependency. You can deploy this application without having to deploy the base installer separately.
Acrobat Reader DC update - All languages (x86)
- Acrobat Reader DC - English (x86) added as a dependency. You can deploy this application without having to deploy the base installer separately.
Acrobat Reader DC (MUI) (x64)
- Base installer (msi) for Acrobat Reader DC (MUI) (x64)
Acrobat Reader DC (MUI) (x86)
- Base installer (msi) for Acrobat Reader DC (MUI) (x32)
Acrobat Reader DC update - Multilingual (MUI) installer (x64)
- Acrobat Reader DC (MUI) (x64) added as a dependency. You can deploy this application without having to deploy the base installer separately.
Acrobat Reader DC update - Multilingual (MUI) installer (x86)
- Acrobat Reader DC (MUI) (x86) added as a dependency. You can deploy this application without having to deploy the base installer separately.
