Change "rely on system fonts only" via Group Policy

Question

Hello,
This may take a bit to explain my problem, sorry in advance. I have a mixed network environment of Windows 7 Professional (x64) and Windows XP Pro SP3 (x32), and all of them have Adobe Acrobat 9 Standard, with the Adobe PDF Printer.
My problem is that ALL of these systems have a serious, game-killing problem with the Adobe PDF printer setting, "Rely on system fonts only; do not use document fonts". If that option is enabled (or if the option with the same name under Printer Defaults is enabled), then printing in our ERP software dies. (We use Microsoft Dynamics GP). Users get an error "Unable to stop printing", and believe me it took a WHILE before I figured out that the Adobe PDF setting was to blame! This happens even if my users are printing to physical paper, and not touching the PDF printer at all. In other software we sometimes get the annoying popup message from Adobe PDF saying that we need to uncheck the "Rely on system fonts..." setting as well. In short, I HAVE to keep that option turned off for all of my users.
Unfortunately, every time there's a major Adobe update the option returns (GRRRR!), in both the Printer Preferences menu and the Printer Defaults menu. I'm trying to change the option via a group policy administrative template, but I don't know which registry settings to modify - it seems like this option exists in SEVERAL places, here are the ones I've found so far:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\Adobe PDF\PrinterDriverData\DistillerHostFontHasMostFonts
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Print\Printers\Adobe PDF\PrinterDriverData\DistillerHostFontHasMostFonts
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Print\Printers\Adobe PDF\PrinterDriverData\DistillerHostFontHasMostFonts
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers\Adobe PDF\PrinterDriverData\DistillerHostFontHasMostFonts
I've also found references in this forum that tell me to also change a long binary string in:
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\DevModePerUser\Adobe PDF\Adobe PDF       (And this one I honestly have no idea how to edit a huge string like that.)
For the first four registry values, when I change DistillerHostFontHasMostFonts to 0 via a template... the checkbox isn't visually cleared in the GUI. *face palm* I'm a bit desperate - how is an admin supposed to change this option across a company network besides manually?

Answer 1

And, as a demonstration that this is a REAL and DOCUMENTED Microsoft bug, here's the text of the Dynamics GP KB article:
It would be nice if somebody from Adobe had an answer other than "yeah you shouldn't disable that feature, for vague reasons of our own that we won't tell you."  Microsoft clearly believes it MUST be disabled! I don't have an option there, or my company's ERP software doesn't work.
SYMPTOMS
When  you try to send a report as a .pdf file to an e-mail recipient from  Microsoft Dynamics GP and from Microsoft Business Solutions - Great  Plains, you receive the following error message:When you create a PostScript file you have to send the host fonts. Please go to the printer properties, "Adobe PDF Settings" page and turn OFF the option "Do not send fonts to Distiller" appears.You continue to receive this error message after you follow these steps to turn off the Do not send fonts to Distiller option:
1.
Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
2.
Right-click Adobe PDF, and then click Properties.
3.
On the General tab, click Printing Preferences.
4.
Click to select the  Do not send fonts to "Adobe PDF" check box, and then click OK.
5.
On the Advanced tab, click Printing Defaults.
6.
Click to select the Do not send fonts to "Adobe PDF" check box.
7.
Start Microsoft Great Plains.
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RESOLUTION
Microsoft Dynamics GPTo resolve this problem, complete steps 1-6 in the "Workaround" section.
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Microsoft Business Solutions -  Great Plains 8.0To  resolve this problem, complete steps 1-6 of the "Workaround" section,  and then obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Business Solutions  -  Great Plains 8.0. For more information, visit one of the following  Microsoft Web sites, depending on whether you are a partner or a  customer. Partners https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/products/GreatPlains/downloads/servicepackCustomershttps://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/support/downloads/servicepacks
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WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, follow these steps.Adobe 6.0 and Adobe 7.0
1.
Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
2.
Right-click Adobe PDF, and then click Properties.
3.
On the General tab, click Printing Preferences.
4.
Click to clear the Do not send fonts to "Adobe PDF" check box.
5.
On  the Advanced tab,  click Printing Defaults.
6.
Click to clear the Do not send fonts to "Adobe PDF" check box.
7.
Start Microsoft Great Plains.
8.
In Microsoft Great Plains, click Print Setup on the File menu.
9.
In the Name list, click Adobe PDF, and then click Properties.
10.
On the Adobe Default Settings tab, click to select  the  Do not send fonts to "Adobe PDF" check box. Then, click to clear the Do not send fonts to "Adobe PDF" check box.
11.
Click OK two times.
Adobe 8.0
1.
Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
2.
Right-click Adobe PDF, and then click Properties.
3.
On the General tab, click Printing Preferences.
4.
Click to clear the Rely on System fonts only; do not use document fonts check box.
5.
On the Advanced tab, click Printing Defaults.
6.
Click to clear the Rely on System fonts only; do not use document fonts check box.
7.
Click OK two times.
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STATUS
Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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Microsoft Business Solutions -  Great Plains 8.0Microsoft  has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are  listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in  Microsoft Business Solution - Great Plains 8.0 Service Pack 4a.
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MORE INFORMATION
The  third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by  companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no  warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of  these products.
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APPLIES TO
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
System Manager, when used with:
Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0
Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0
Microsoft Business Solutions–Great Plains 8.0