SCCM – Deploying Adobe Acrobat XI and Reader XI

This is one of those deployment of software updates, where one might be pulling their hair if not done correctly. I have been assigned to deploy Reader XI and Acrobat XI updates to all computers.

So I thought it’s easy like any other update. But in reality I was working on it for a day without any progress and headway. I tried researching on google, bing an also asked few of my colleagues.

It is quite a process to correctly perform updates, here is the process below

Download Latest Files

Before you can start, download the last files from Adobe website if you don’t have already. Latest files can be downloaded from here

Acrobat XI Standard and Professional – here

Acrobat Latest Update – here
Actually open FTP link in Windows explorer, if you having issues opening. you can also use WinSCP or something like this.

After downloading files, extract files for the version required.
Let’s perform updates for Professional Edition for exercise.

Double click on AcrobatPro_11_Web_WWMUI.exe and extract files to required folder.

Once Extract Folder will appear at the target location.

After extraction, folder will appear like below.

Customize Acrobat msi file

You can download the Adobe customization XI from here

After Download, Install and run “Adobe Customization Wizard XI”

Open the Required Adobe Msi

Select AcroPro.msi from required location

Fill in Required Fields to automatic apply when installing.

Normally you will need to provide “Username, Organization and Serial Number”

On Installation Options, Select required options.

On Online Services and Features, Select or Deselect required Features

Once all the changes are done, Click on Save or Generate Transform.

Fetch Base files

Now Fetch Base Files so that you can apply patches. This exercise will fetch the base version of 11.0.0.

This is required in order to apply updates correctly.

Execute following command from the appropriate folder where “AcroPro.msi is located.

msiexec /a AcroPro.msi

You can also create a batch file with following command so that you don’t have to remember comamnds

msiexec /a “%~DP0AcrpPro.msi”

I have created “FetchBase.bat” file, which will execute the command for me.
Make sure you “Run as Administrator”

After executing the command, it will open “Acrobat XI Pro Setup”, click Next to Continue

Select the Folder Location where you would like to extract the Files

Setup will automatically extract files by running whole setup.

Once completed, click Finish to Continue

Below is example of the folder after extraction.

now you will need to copy any Updates or patches which you would like to apply.
Also mst file, which will serve as answer file for installation.

Apply Patches

Ok, we have required “Base folder” with required “Updates Files” and mst file.

Now to install or apply patches, run following commands.

Execute following command from the appropriate folder where “AcroPro.msi is located.

msiexec /a AcroPro.msi /p AcrobatUpd11021.msp

You can also create a batch file with following command so that you don’t have to remember comamnds

msiexec /a “%~DP0AcrpPro.msi” /p “%~DP0AcrobatUpd11021.msp”

I have created a batch file called “ApplyPatches.bat”.

Right click and Execute File with “Run as Administrator” privileges

On Execution, it will start Installation process.

Note: This is not installing on the machine. It is only applying patches in its own memory and will not affect current computer.

Once you see “Acrobat Setup”, Click Next to Continue

On Network Location, Select the folder you would like these files to be saved.

You can select the same folder you are executing running msi from.

Setup will continue and install

Once completed, Click on Finish to Continue

Now you have “Installation Folder” ready for “Adobe Acrobat XI 11.0.21”. You can also patch other updates if any.

You can use this folder to deploy application to computers now.