AcroApps (Tools Customization (DC))
Tools appear in two main areas: The Tools tab (sometimes called the 'Tools Center') and in the right hand tools pane. You may customize either.
Adobe Reader DC and Acrobat DC Cleaner Tool AcroCleaner for DC and later. This download provides the Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool for Windows and Mac. IMPORTANT: 1. THIS TOOL IS NOT FOR USE WITH ANY CREATIVE SUITE PRODUCTS INCLUDING SUITES THAT CONTAIN ACROBAT. IT CAN ONLY BE USED WITH STANDALONE VERSIONS OF ACROBAT AND ADOBE READER. Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool fully removes a standalone installation (not a Creative Suite or other Adobe suite install) of Reader or Acrobat. It deletes all program-related files and Registry keys, including settings and preferences which might otherwise by preserved after a regular uninstall.
Sometimes, it may become impossible to uninstall or update Adobe Acrobat Reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a popular and a useful tool for reading documents and any Office software is incomplete without it. Updates to Acrobat Reader are available on a regular basis for. And so if you need to remove a problematic Adobe installation, say, you should turn first to the Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool. As you’ll guess from the name, this small portable program aims to fully remove Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat, all its files, folders and Registry keys, including settings or preferences which might normally be preserved after an uninstall.
This preference category contains the following subfeature(s):
Right-hand Tools Pane Customization (DC)
A select list of tools in the Tools tab has associated shortcuts in the right-hand pane. End users modify this list by opening the drop down list under a tool and choosing Add/Remove Shortcut. Admins preconfigure the right-hand pane tools shortcuts prior to deployment so that users have easy access to the tools they are most likely to use. Simply add or remove index entries to AcroAppcFavorites as shown below. The list is cab of atoms that map to AppIDs, and the order in the registry matches the order shown in the product UI. Note: If you're customizing shortcuts in the right hand pane, you can determine the a(index) value to use for cDisabled and cFavorites by looking in the .aapp file. For example, the Create PDF tool is named CreatePDFApp. Custom entries for 3rd party plugins added post deployment are overwritten on the next product update. To assure that your settings remain in place, add them via the Customization Wizard during the initial install.
Summary table
a(index) | Removes a tool from the Tools pane. |
bDisableAcrobatShortcutCustomization | Prevents end users from modifying the tool shortcuts in the right hand pane. |
cFavorites | A cab containing an index list of current right hand pane shortcuts. |
Data type | boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD |
Default | null |
Version # | DC |
HKLM Path | HKLMSOFTWAREWOW6432NodePoliciesAdobe(product name)(version)FeatureLockDowncAcroApp |
Summary | Prevents end users from modifying the tool shortcuts in the right hand pane. |
Details | Possible values include:
|
Data type | n/a: Cabs are keys that contain subvalues displayed in the right hand registry panel. |
Default | A list of default shortcuts in the right-hand pane. |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroApp |
HKLM Path | See cDisabled. |
Summary | A cab containing an index list of current right hand pane shortcuts. |
Details | Possible values include an 'a' followed by an index number. |
Data type | atom: String value > REG_SZ |
Default | null |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcFavorites |
HKLM Path | See cDisabled. |
Summary | Removes a tool from the Tools pane. |
Details | Custom entries for 3rd party plugins added post deployment are overwritten on the next product update. To assure that your settings remain in place, add them via the Customization Wizard during the initial install. Possible values include an 'a' followed by an index number. |
Removing Tools
To remove a shortcut from the right-hand pane as well as the tool from the Tools tab, create FeatureLockDowncAcroAppcDisabled and add index entries as shown below. For example:
Summary table
a(index) | Removes a tool from the Tools tab as well as its associated shortcut in the right-hand pane. |
cDisabled | A cab containing an index list of current right hand pane shortcuts. |
Data type | n/a: Cabs are keys that contain subvalues displayed in the right hand registry panel. |
Default | A list of tools removed from the Tools tab and right-hand pane. |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroApp |
HKLM Path | HKLMSOFTWAREWOW6432NodePoliciesAdobe(product name)(version)FeatureLockDowncAcroApp |
Summary | A cab containing an index list of current right hand pane shortcuts. |
Details | Possible values include an 'a' followed by an index number. |
Data type | atom: String value > REG_SZ |
Default | null |
Version # | DC |
HKLM Path | HKLMSOFTWAREWOW6432NodePoliciesAdobe(product name)(version)FeatureLockDowncAcroAppcDisabled |
Summary | Removes a tool from the Tools tab as well as its associated shortcut in the right-hand pane. |
Details | Because the tool is absent from the Tools tab, end users cannot add the shortcut back to the right-hand pane. Possible values include an 'a' followed by an index number. |
Tools General Settings (DC)
All tools are associated with registry preferences that specify their visibility, location, shortcut, tooltip, and so on. Unlike the preferences for tool and shortcut display, these features are defined in the .aapp configuration file at %installdir%(product name)AcroApp(language ID) . Since the registry and plist data derives from the .aapp file, these entries cannot be modified directly.
Any changes to these preferences will be overwritten by data in the .aapp file on application startup.
Any changes to these preferences will be overwritten by data in the .aapp file on application startup.
Summary table
aID | The tool's AppID. |
bInline | Specifies whether to show the tool inline with other tools. |
bShowLabels | Specifies whether to show the tool's label in the Tools tab. |
tDescription | The tool's tooltip. |
tLocation | Specifies the location in the Tools tab. |
tPath | Specifies the name of the tool's .aapp file. |
tTitle | Specifies the title (name) of the tool displayed in the Tools tab. |
Data type | text: String value > REG_SZ |
Default | See the .aapp file |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcRegisteredc(index) |
HKLM Path | Not lockable |
Summary | The tool's tooltip. |
Details | Non-customizable tool settings from the .aapp file. |
Data type | atom: String value > REG_SZ |
Default | See the .aapp file |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcRegisteredc(index) |
HKLM Path | Not lockable |
Summary | The tool's AppID. |
Details | Non-customizable tool settings from the .aapp file. |
Data type | boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD |
Default | See the .aapp file |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcRegisteredc(index) |
HKLM Path | Not lockable |
Summary | Specifies whether to show the tool inline with other tools. |
Details | Non-customizable tool settings from the .aapp file. |
Data type | text: String value > REG_SZ |
Default | See the .aapp file |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcRegisteredc(index) |
HKLM Path | Not lockable |
Summary | Specifies the location in the Tools tab. |
Details | Non-customizable tool settings from the .aapp file. |
Data type | text: String value > REG_SZ |
Default | See the .aapp file |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcRegisteredc(index) |
HKLM Path | Not lockable |
Summary | Specifies the name of the tool's .aapp file. |
Details | Non-customizable tool settings from the .aapp file. |
Data type | boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD |
Default | See the .aapp file |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcRegisteredc(index) |
HKLM Path | Not lockable |
Summary | Specifies whether to show the tool's label in the Tools tab. |
Details | Non-customizable tool settings from the .aapp file. |
Data type | text: String value > REG_SZ |
Default | See the .aapp file |
Version # | DC |
HKCU Path | AcroAppcRegisteredc(index) |
HKLM Path | Not lockable |
Summary | Specifies the title (name) of the tool displayed in the Tools tab. |
Details | Non-customizable tool settings from the .aapp file. |
Copyright 2012-2018 Adobe Inc.
Just launch a PDF in Adobe Reader DC, and you should find a Tools pane pop up to the right of the screen. It surprisingly lists a bunch of useful features such as Protect and Optimize PDF — until you find out that it’s just an advertisement board to upgrade to the Standard or Pro versions. Nice try, Adobe.
Of course, you can get it out of the way by simply hiding it, but that’s when you find the stupid thing showing up each time you re-open the program. While it only takes just a click to push it back, the whole process gets old real fast, especially if you deal with multiple PDFs all the time.
Don’t give up hope just yet, however. There’s a nifty option that let’s you hide the Tools pane and make Adobe Reader DC actually remember that. And if you dislike the pane too much, you are also going to find out how to completely get rid of it permanently.
Sounds awesome, right? Then let’s get started right away!
Hiding the Tools Pane Permanently
Just so you know, Adobe Reader DC wasn’t actually released with any means to permanently hide the Tools pane, which is just ridiculous. Fortunately, an update that was released subsequently — probably due to the outcry from seriously annoyed users — prompted Adobe to add in an option to finally make that possible.
So with a brief visit to the Preferences panel, you should be able to stop the thing from confronting you each time you open Adobe Reader DC.
Step 1: Hide the Tools pane like you normally do.
Note: You need to do that before you get to the Preferences panel since the option that you are about to enable only makes Adobe Reader DC remember the state of the Tools pane — rather than specifically hiding it.Step 2: Click Edit, and then select Preferences.
Adobe Acrobat Dc Uninstall Tool
Step 3: Click the Documents side-tab, and then check the box next to Remember Current State of Tools Pane.
Step 4: To save your changes, click OK.
That should do the trick! You won't find the Tools pane showing up automatically when re-opening Adobe Reader DC anymore.
Note: However, do remember that if you unhide the Tools pane and exit the application, it starts showing up automatically once again. If that happens, it’s simply a matter of hiding the pane normally to make Adobe Reader DC remember your action.Also on Guiding Tech
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Read MoreGetting Rid of the Tools Pane Altogether
While Adobe has been considerate enough to ultimately provide an option that prevents the Tools pane from showing up automatically, the position where it collapses to — right next to the scroll bar of all things — can cause a lot of frustration.
Seriously, the last thing you want is to accidentally click that thin strip of pixels when using the scroll bar, which makes the Tools pane pop right back up. And to make matters even worse, the pane partially hides or zooms out your document to make space for itself, thereby impacting your productivity.
Since the entire pane comprises mainly of paid upgrades, consider getting rid of it altogether to prevent it from being such a bother. And for the few options that are actually usable — Comment, Export PDF, etc. — you can still access them via the Tools tab or the menu bar. So, it’s not like you're missing out on anything.
Important: The following procedure requires modifying a file within the Adobe Reader DC directory. Hence, exit the application before you proceed.Step 1: Press Windows-R to open the Run box. Next, copy and paste the file path below into the search box, and then click OK.
C:Program Files (x86)AdobeAcrobat Reader DCReaderAcroAppENU
Note: If applicable, replace 'C' with the appropriate drive letter of the partition where the operating system on your PC is installed.Step 2: Right-click the file labeled Viewer.aapp, and then select Properties on the context menu.
Step 3: Click the Security tab, and then click Edit.
Step 4: Under Group or User Names, click Users, and then check the box next to Full Control.
Click Apply, and then click OK to save your changes. Do the same on the Properties dialog box.
Step 5: Create a backup of the Viewer.aapp file to another location on your hard drive. That should let you easily revert any changes just in case you need the Tools Pane in the future.
Step 6: Once again, right-click the file, but this time, select Open With.
Step 7: On the pop-up box that shows up, select Notepad, and then click OK.
Note: If you don't see Notepad listed within the box, click More Apps to bring it up to view.Step 8: Highlight and delete the portion of text between and including the <Layouts> and </Layouts> tags as displayed on the screenshot below.
Step 9: Click File, and then click Save. Afterward, exit Notepad.
Launch Adobe Reader DC, and voila! You should find the Tools pane gone for good. No more accidentally bringing it up when using the scroll bar.
Tip: If you want to get the Tools pane back, simply copy and overwrite the modified Viewer.aapp file with the backup file that you created earlier.Also on Guiding Tech
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Read MoreGood Riddance!
The Tools Pane is super-annoying, but you now know how to either hide it or remove the thing permanently from view. And also, you should find yourself much more focused right from the get-go since you don't have to worry about dealing with such an annoyance anymore. Good riddance!
So, what do you think of Adobe's petty attempts at making users upgrade to a paid version? The comments section is right below.
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