Introduction

This seems quite a big deal for Adobe, not just a new version, but really quite a big deal. Maybe its because they are putting it out there on social media and I am picking up the alerts, see their launch page for some information.

The proud boasts:

Now you can drive business faster than you ever thought possible. Adobe Document Cloud — including the all-new Acrobat DC will revolutionise the way the world works with documents.

Document Cloud for IT

·         Less paper. More work.

·         People typically spend 25% of each day handling paper.

·         That's because 80% of all document processes still rely on paper.

·         With Document Cloud, you can bridge gaps in automated workflows.

·         And give your users the tools they need to work quickly and securely across platforms and devices

The installation seems pretty much the same as the last 4 or 5 major versions, a very simple install without too many options, Adobe then supply a customisation tool so enterprises can control the application a bit better.

Useful information: Customisation link
http://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Wizard/WizardDC/basics.html#wizard-installation

 Extracts to:
C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Setup\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AC0F074E4100}

                Click Install

                Click Finish.

That’s the install done, very simple.

By default a desktop shortcut is created, targeting:

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"

Launch the shortcut.

Users are greeted with a EULA prompt

                Click accept

If you are an admin user, an HKLM key will be populated that is read by each new user. If this is not accepted by an Admin user (this can be configured with the configWiz) then an HKCU key is created for each user when they ‘Accept’

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\AdobeViewer]
"EULA"=dword:00000001.
**This setting can be controlled in the CustWiz tool

Then this dialogue. This is a bit new

Click the continue button and Adobe Reader DC will launch, it looks like this:

Quite a different UI that users might not be familiar with.

The immediate concern is that Document Cloud option on the left. Most enterprises will be interested in controlling that.
Investigations have shown this can be controlled with the CustWiz.

Open a pdf with the default install and see these tool options….

Users have the option to open and save files from the cloud. Interestingly enough the option to open from online storage is turned off by default, however the save option, brings up an Adobe dialogue box that gives the option to save to an online (Document Cloud) location.

This can be set manually in the application preferences.

The image below shows the default save dialogue allowing users to save to Document Cloud

The image below shows the default settings as installed,

Removing the bottom visible tick box, ‘show online storage when saving files’

Will display the normal windows dialogue.

Adobe Reader DC under the hood 

Adobe Reader DC options

For comparison the older Adobe Reader XI options

 A simple count, there are more options available in the newer DC application, that is probably expected.

 The Packaged Application

Using the Adobe CustWiz, you can control a lot of the settings, obviously you will have to experiment with the settings, document them get them approved etc., before you actually release your package.

Using the CustWiz tools to turn off all the cloud stuff…

You get this view, which I think is better, although, arguably, a bit pointless, since you are ripping the C out of ‘DC’. But that is for another day.

No Document Cloud option, the Add Account button is for adding SharePoint sites.

Tools options give you the normal Adobe Reader ones with out all those addition (at cost) options.

Other helpful settings you may like.