When a pdf is embedded into Word 2007, Word "remembers" the program associated with the pdf creation. For example, a person that uses Foxit embeds a pdf into Word. A different person that uses Adobe tries to open the file and gets "The server application, source file, or item cannot be found. Make sure the application is properly installed, and that it has not been deleted, moved, renamed, or blocked by policy."

Word cannot find the appropriate pdf reader and therefore cannot open the file. Is there a way to change "embedded object" associations in the Word registry settings so that ALL embedded pdfs open in the pdf reader of choice? Basically a way to bypass Word remembering which pdf tool made the file.

Thanks.

You can choose which program should open PDFs in the Set Default Programs applet in Control Panel. The setting will be computer-specific.

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Stefan Blom
Microsoft Word MVP

Microsoft 365 apps for business
Windows 11 Professional

Thank you for the reply. I understand that the 2nd user can change their default PDF app to match whatever the 1st user has. Is there any way around this? When you have a regular PDF in windows explorer, you can just use any PDF reader to open it no matter what. Yet, for embedded PDFs in Word, you have to use the same app that the person who embedded it used. I think it may be unsolvable, and we would just have to have everyone on the same PDF reader app.