Search doesn't seem to start from the current location + Two taskbar buttons in fullscreen

[avada]

Hi!

Recently I noticed two issues:

• Searching for some reason sometimes doesn't start from the page I view. Not sure what context causes this. I typically notice that the document is navigated backwards even though I'm sure there are results after the current page. And sure enough, repeating the search will take me to the appropriate result after the page I'm viewing.
• I think this might be related to the issue that I had on Windows 8 (now I'm on 10). When I go to full screen a second blank taskbar button appears, which prevents me from conveniently alt+tab-ing to and from pdf-XE. It's rather annoying and pointless.

[avada]

I'm somewhat surprised no-one responded to this. The taskbar button thing is quite a glaring issue that happens constantly.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hi, avada

My apologies for missing this post.
Regarding the search bug, did you mean with the "find" function (Ctrl_F)? I ask this as the "search" function (Ctrl_Shift+F) all happens within the pane, and results always start from the first appearance in the documents, not from the current page.
If you do mean the find function, could you please provide some visual examples or a detailed step-by-step of what you do when it occurs (sample documents may help).

As for the latter issue, I still to this day cannot reproduce these reported issues with Alt-Tab. It seems to work perfectly fine. I do not wish to be a broken record, but if you are able to reproduce it, could we ask for a video showing the issue? I know it is hard to record an issue that you cannot reliably reproduce, but without some indication of what is happening for you, there is nothing we will be able to offer.
This is how it works locally for me:

nBfSfwilo2.gif

Kind regards,

[avada]

Regarding the search bug, did you mean with the "find" function (Ctrl_F)?

Yes.
Thinking about it it might be because there's no visual indication whether it searches forwards or backwards. You press ctrl+f, type something, and it searches in whatever direction. The progress bar only goes in one direction so that's of no help. And the forward/back buttons are only highlighted when you click on them, and only stay highlighted until the find panel has focus.

As for the latter issue, I still to this day cannot reproduce these reported issues with Alt-Tab. It seems to work perfectly fine. I do not wish to be a broken record, but if you are able to reproduce it, could we ask for a video showing the issue? I know it is hard to record an issue that you cannot reliably reproduce, but without some indication of what is happening for you, there is nothing we will be able to offer.
This is how it works locally for me:

You screencast also shows what I described. You get the two thumbnails for one instance of PDFXE, where one shows the document in full screen the other with the GUI. Since its actually it's one window of one instance it's misleading and confusing.
It defies expectations and conventions, I would call it broken. When one presses alt+tab one expects to be switched to the next window not "switching" to the very same you're trying to switch from...
It also prevents convenient swapping back and forth between PDFXE and another app. Let's say if someone is constantly using the browser to look up info while reading a pdf.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hi, avada

For the Find function, I have not yet reproduced this. I am testing with a 700+ page document, but as you said you are not sure what context causes it I am unsure what exactly to start with. I have tested in the main viewing area, from within the thumbnails and bookmarks pane, as well as when using some of the other tools. If you can find a way to reliably reproduce this, please let me know.

Regarding the second issue, I was under the impression from your description that the issue was our windows continueing to migrate to the opposite end of the list, making it difficult/annoying to return to the application, not that it was cumbersome to have two windows at the beginning. I have Explained this in detail now to our Dev team and created the following ticket on that matter:
#5305: Fullscreens Editor, Task-switcher "extra window"

Kind regards,

[avada]

Regarding the second issue, I was under the impression from your description that the issue was our windows continueing to migrate to the opposite end of the list, making it difficult/annoying to return to the application, not that it was cumbersome to have two windows at the beginning. I have Explained this in detail now to our Dev team and created the following ticket on that matter:
#5305: Fullscreens Editor, Task-switcher "extra window"

Great.

For the Find function, I have not yet reproduced this. I am testing with a 700+ page document, but as you said you are not sure what context causes it I am unsure what exactly to start with. I have tested in the main viewing area, from within the thumbnails and bookmarks pane, as well as when using some of the other tools. If you can find a way to reliably reproduce this, please let me know.

Do you mean the visual issue I described the second time? Because that always happens like that.
I might very well have been only this, since it's really confusing. I think the appropriate button should always indicate which direction the search went. In my opinion the progress bar should also go from right to left if the search is backwards.
Or, for consideration: Enter might always search forward, and shift+enter backwards. (just like in Firefox)

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hi, avada

Do you mean the visual issue I described the second time?

I meant both ends of your report at the time, but I have now managed to reproduce the issue with find occurring backwards (it appears that we remember the last direction you clicked the find direction in). The only portion I cannot reproduce now is the find happening on a page other than the on I start on. If you can find a way to reliably reproduce the issue with "find" occurring on a page other than the one you are viewing, please let me know.

In my opinion the progress bar should also go from right to left if the search is backwards.
Or, for consideration: Enter might always search forward, and shift+enter backwards. (just like in Firefox)

As the progress bar usually appears and disappears so quickly it is not visible, I do not believe that would be a good option, but I will suggest using enter for forwards and shift+Enter to go backwards, as that is far more intuitive than the current handling.
[Update] A feature request Ticket was made for this item:
RT#5306: FR: Make "find" Forwards/backwards work like Firefox

Kind regards,

[avada]

The only portion I cannot reproduce now is the find happening on a page other than the on I start on. If you can find a way to reliably reproduce the issue with "find" occurring on a page other than the one you are viewing, please let me know.

It's probably only confusion because of backward search and no result on a current page.

As the progress bar usually appears and disappears so quickly it is not visible, I do not believe that would be a good option,

Not in my experience, it can take several (5-10) seconds on long documents.
Plus it definitely wouldn't hurt in any case.

A clear indication, of what's happenig is definitely needed.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Avada,

lets see what comes of those two tickets in V9.

regards

[avada]

Fin
Hi Avada,

lets see what comes of those two tickets in V9.

regards

Fine, but the neither includes the issue of visually indicating in which direction the search is performed. (At least based on the titles.)

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

To be honest with you, I am rather fuzzy on that request.

When you perform a search using the Find feature, it starts where you are in the document, there are forward and back arrows, and the results are in both directions from the point where the search was initiated. The next button goes forward one result, the back likewise back one result.

I do not understand the concept you are looking for. As far as I can tell the direction of search is meaningless. You have results and they are either before or after the first result on the page selected.

I don't mean to be argumentative but I just don't see how this request would work. What is the advantage to changing the direction of the progress bar? It is not in any way that I can understand relevant to the results.

As Dan mentioned, the Advanced search ignores the page displayed for it's results, so that is not part of the discussion from my perspective.

What am I missing?

[avada]

When you perform a search using the Find feature, it starts where you are in the document, there are forward and back arrows, and the results are in both directions from the point where the search was initiated. The next button goes forward one result, the back likewise back one result.

But if you don't click and press enter, the only thing you see that is that it jumps to a different page for the result. You don't know if it was forwards or backwards.

At least the highlight always appearing on the respective button when a search is performed would help a lot.

I do not understand the concept you are looking for. As far as I can tell the direction of search is meaningless. You have results and they are either before or after the first result on the page selected.

How would it be meaningless? Maybe you want to search in text you haven't read yet or in the text you already read

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

I appreciate your points Avarda,

there may not be much point in us debating the finer points of this at the end of the day this will be at the discretion of the Development Team Leader to decide.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hi Avada,

I was on vacation last week, but wanted to follow-up, the ticket (RT#5306: FR: Make "find" Forwards/backwards work like Firefox) would make the Enter key alone ALWAYS go forward through results, while Shift+Enter would ALWAYS go backwards, completely negating the need to offer any indication as to which direction you are searching in as you would know which direction by which keys you are pressing.

I am of a mind with Paul here. I do not see the value in making the progress bar go backwards, especially if we make the search function work like Firefox.

Kind regards,

[avada]

Enter key alone ALWAYS go forward through results, while Shift+Enter would ALWAYS go backwards, completely negating the need to offer any indication as to which direction you are searching in as you would know which direction by which keys you are pressing.

I am of a mind with Paul here. I do not see the value in making the progress bar go backwards, especially if we make the search function work like Firefox.

Hi!

That's a good thing. But it assumes everyone will inherently know how it works. Anyway, even if the progress bar is not changed, highlighting the appropriate search button (even when starting a search with the keyboard) to always indicate what's happening, would be a useful improvement.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Well - it comes down to what the lead developer thinks, the ticket is in the system, it will either happen or not, at his discretion.

[Jensen Head]

When I go to full screen a second blank taskbar button appears

Same:
_

2025-01-22_15-33-59.png

_
PDF-XChange Pro 10.43.391
Microsoft Windows 10.0.19045.5371

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Jensen Head,

Are you also on Win 8?

Is that taskbar set to floating? As when I am in full screen - I normally do not access my task bar and Alt + Tab through applications when needed. I am asking so that I can better understand where you see that taskbar so that I can try to replicate your set up!

Kind regards,
Stefan

[Willy Van Nuffel]

Maybe this phenomenon (two taskbar buttons) can be reproduced when using two displays, with the Windows Taskbar on one display, and full screen PDF-XChange Editor on the other. Myself I can not reproduce this, having only my laptop screen.

When PDF-XChange Editor is in Full Screen and I press ALT + TAB, I see two Editor windows, one in full screen and one in normal.
However, I can not switch to the normal window with ALT + TAB. I tried to make a screenshot of the two windows while pressing ALT + TAB, but unfortunately that does not work. At my opinion you will see the same result while pressing ALT + TAB (two Editor windows: one full screen and one normal). I don't know if this is default behavior.

With Adobe Acrobat Reader in Full Screen mode, I can not reproduce these two windows (with ALT + TAB), I am only seeing the full screen one.

Kind regards.

[rakunavi]

Hello all,

The attached MP4 video was captured with two monitors side by side on Windows 10 22H2 (19045.5371). In other words, please imagine that each separate monitor is captured with the center of the video screen as the border.

• CaptureVideo.zip

In the video, the PDF-XChange Editor PDF manual is shown in full screen on the left monitor, and you can move forward and backward through the pages. When the left side is full screen, you will see two previews of the PDF-XChange Editor on the right side taskbar. These are the two windows that appear when you use Alt-Tab to switch windows. When the PDF-XChange Editor is in full screen mode, it seems that internally it is always displayed in two windows, which differ in what they display. At the moment when full-screen mode is deactivated, the original normal screen is still the page that was displayed before the transition to full-screen mode, so you can observe the hasty change to the page that was displayed in full-screen mode (*).
[EDIT] (*) I reported this issue in another topic.

It seems to operate with a special mechanism that is clearly different from the full-screen display of common software such as Acrobat. I imagine that this may be the reason why my request for full screen display on multiple monitors, which I have presented as a feature request, has been difficult to achieve.

• How to display all windows in full screen on multiple monitors?
  viewtopic.php?t=37353

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Jensen Head]

Are you also on Win 8?

Microsoft Windows 10.0.19045.5371

Maybe this phenomenon (two taskbar buttons) can be reproduced when using two displays, with the Windows Taskbar on one display, and full screen PDF-XChange Editor on the other. Myself I can not reproduce this, having only my laptop screen.

I have only one monitor, the taskbar is located along the left side, auto-hide is enabled.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Jensen Head

I was able to reproduce this, Most modern systems have the option to "combine labels" enabled in windows, and in a fullscreen app, the taskbar is usually hidden, which is why this is not something most people notice. In windows 10, this option is located in the taskbar settings:

image.png

If set to "never" or "when full" it will likely be a common occurrence to see this if you are inspecting the taskbar while in fullscreen mode.
Even with set to "always combine", you can see the two "windows" side by side when hovering over the icon:

image(1).png

I will discuss with the Dev team to see if this is something that needs addressing, but I expect this is a non-issue caused by some interaction with fullscreen focus rules needing a dedicated window, instead of a sub-window/dlg, and some form of optimization to make this operation more fluid for common use.
Comparing to Adobe, they do not show any secondary window, however, the act of both enabling and exiting fullscreen mode there would appear to adjust the original application window, and takes considerably more time for both actions.

Kind regards,

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello again everyone,

After speaking with the Dev team further, it seems that the root of this was intentional, though not for the reasons I would have guessed.

It was originally a fix for another issue that arose a few years back. The dev team is now looking further into this, and have said that we should have a solution to it in the next release. Keep an eye out for build 394.

Kind regards,

[Jensen Head]

This effect also occurs when using Win + Tab ("Task View", a mode for switching between virtual desktop applications) [1] and Ctrl + Alt + Tab (view a thumbnail of all open apps).
_

2025-01-26_16-47-05.png

_
[1] support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/get-more-done-with-multitasking-in-windows-b4fa0333-98f8-ef43-e25c-06d4fb1d6960

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, Jensen Head

Yes, as before, this was done intentionally quite a long time ago, and will be fixed in the next release, build 394, which is hopefully coming this week.

Kind regards,

[rakunavi]

Hello Daniel,

I have confirmed that the changes were made in build 394. Thank you for your efforts.

• PDF-XChange Editor Version History - Build 10.5.1.394
  Bugfixes and Improvements
  Fixed an issue with an extra Editor icon appearing on the Window's Taskbar when switching the a document to FullScreen mode. (34765)

However, the improvements have been made in a way that is surprising to me.

As I mentioned the other day, until build 393, the task switcher had the following two preview thumbnails.

1. Full-screen mode thumbnail (reflects the latest page view)
2. Normal mode thumbnail (reflects the page view just before switching to full screen mode)

In build 394, (A) has disappered and only (B) remains. Therefore, the thumbnail displayed is fixed at the page view just before the transition to full-screen mode. I just assumed that (B) would disappear and (A) would remain, but is this technically difficult? Or did the developer decide that (B) was more reasonable? If possible, it would be more intuitive for most people to see (A).

Best regards,
rakunavi

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, rakunavi

Thank you for bringing this up, I am not sure on the technical side of it, but it should be possible. This may have been an oversight. I have mentioned it to the Dev team for review.

[Edit]
We have a ticket for this item now, however It seems that is will still be rather complex to resolve. As such, this item may take some time, for now the single preview will remain.
RT#7292: Bug: Fullscreen mode thumbnail incorrect

Kind regards,