monitor off at any new start?!

[winkelmann]

I use the monitor for a dir on my system and the monitor is on. additionally I use a batch file to start if the automatic does not work (very ofent).
But now the files to monitor get deleted (as the opion in PDF Tools, OK) but witj an error that the monitor is nor found. Becaus - as contolled - the monitor is off?!
Taht means that it dowes not start automatically with Windows...#Why? How to change?

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello Goetz,

Please try starting the Folder Monitor using a shortcut, as it is described here:

https://help.pdf-xchange.com/pdfxt10/fo ... ors_t.html

But now the files to monitor get deleted (as the opion in PDF Tools, OK) but witj an error that the monitor is nor found.

Can you please show us a screenshot of the error message you see?

Regards.

[winkelmann]

The link as writen was not found
As I understqand the link of the monitor should be put into the startup folder.

C:\Users\Goetz4\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs


The error message ist attached:

Screenshot (14).png (28.94 KiB) Viewed 61325 times

PS: Hope hte link in the startup folder will do its job. There is a - litle - remember about something I didd years ago

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello Goetz

The link as writen was not found

Do you mean the link to the manual?

PS: Hope hte link in the startup folder will do its job. There is a - litle - remember about something I didd years ago

Please do keep us posted.


Regards.

[winkelmann]

sorry. The link I meant was written in the manual:


%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi, winkelmann

all good now then?

[winkelmann]

No.
I mifed the link for the monitor then to
C:\Users\Goetz4\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
but it does not work, too...

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello Goetz,

Can you please check if the Folder monitor is present here:

Regards.

[winkelmann]

dEFINITIVELY. NO

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello Goetz,

Can you please show me a screenshot of the properties the shortcut has?

...as well as a screenshot of the Folder Monitor's settings:

Regards.

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hi Winkelmann,

sorry. The link I meant was written in the manual:


%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Going back a bit, and checking the posts I need to ask, where in the manuals did you find this path? (Nevermind, I found it!)
I wrote a KB article about how to do this a few years ago, and just tested today to confirm that automatic startup does work: https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowledgeba ... ic-startup
(Which mentioned C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp as the target path)

With that said, the current user "Appdata" path does appear to work as well on this end, so it may be that you have a windows setting in place preventing the startup folders from being used.

As a side note, this path

C:\Users\Goetz4\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

Should only add an item to your start menu tiles, this area:

It would not make it launch automatically.

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

well, I found the solution myself
I found the command "shell:startup". I used and was lead to
"C:\Users\Goetz4\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup".
There I put the link of the monitor tool and - it works!
Thnak you for all. All seems to be find...

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

[winkelmann]

have an additional question:
How to check from outside by battch file if the monitor is running?
Iwwant to ensure that the original files get deleted only if the OCR was successfull. Just the moment they get deleted anyway at the end of the batsch...

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi winkelmann

How to check from outside by battch file if the monitor is running?

I believe there is no way to do this from a command line tool.

Regards this:

But now the files to monitor get deleted (as the opion in PDF Tools, OK) but witj an error that the monitor is nor found.

We are investigating. There is an ticket for it, internal only. For your reference it ii RT#7182: Tools :: Files deleted unintentionally when not processed

We will see about fixing that.

[Vladimir G - Tracker Dev]

Hello winkelmann,

There might be a misunderstanding about what qualifies as a successfully OCR-ed file. Could you please clarify what this means to you? For instance, if a file has no content to OCR, would you consider it successfully processed or not?

Additionally, regarding the files that were mistakenly deleted, did you have any output for them?

Best regards,

[winkelmann]

well the deleting of the original files is OK. As it is marked inside the tool in PDF Tools
>to skip in bauch file
I htink IO can return a errorlevel by staarting the monitor in the batch file. ... iff error...
I thank yo

[Vladimir G - Tracker Dev]

Hello winkelmann,

Yes, unfortunately, if the option 'If document contains text' is set to 'Skip processing the document', PDF-Tools will consider such files as successfully processed. While revising the OCR Pages tool regarding your issue, we realized that this behavior might be unexpected for users. Therefore, this behavior may be reviewed and adjusted in the future. Please keep track of the build history to avoid missing this update. Additionally, I'll post on this forum when this change happens.

I htink IO can return a errorlevel by staarting the monitor in the batch file. ... iff error...

I didn’t fully understand your request. Could you please clarify it? Perhaps an example would help.

Could you please provide us with the settings of the tool and the Folder Monitor you are using? This will help us make more suitable improvements. If needed, you can remove any sensitive information from the tool settings.

Best regards,

[winkelmann]

>change in tool bvehavaaiour
Thanks for the warning about these changes in not deleting the files. Ohterwise I have to delete manually. T
here is a problem only if the monitor can not be found or not active.
I work in 2 modi:
a) the monitor is active and does its work.
b) if not or I have to wqait too long for its reaction I start my batch file. Ther is included the command to delete all PDF in the monitored directory.
Herin lies the problem: The tool doex not start and does not delete. So fa so good. But the batch file jzumps to the command do delete nevertheless the tool worked or not.
That means I have toe dicide if the monitor was actaive or not and ethe command areturns anm aertror.

>Show the options of my tool?
How to show? By screenshot? Or to export?
It is a pity if you remove that option. I like it very much to rem

[Vladimir G - Tracker Dev]

Hello winkelmann,

How to show? By screenshot? Or to export?

You can make an export file for the tool and a screenshot for the Folder Monitor settings.

Best regards,

[winkelmann]

well here is the screenshot of the tool:

The property of the link is ""C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunFldMon "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}""

I cannot atach the exported tool
But: I canot see the option to dlete the original file inside the tool...

[winkelmann]

to add:
I mean I'd prefer to have a choice inside the tool if the tool deletes the original files

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

The tool itself does not perform the deletion, that is part of the monitor, is disabled by default, and you have a few other options, such as "moving" successfully processed files. If you are using any features that irreversibly change a document, I would highly recommend that you use the "Move" option, instead of "Delete", to ensure you have a backup incase the potentially destructive process goes awry.

You can get to the folder monitor settings within PDF Tools by clicking "Options > Folder Monitors"

(An advantage to "moving" the files to an output folder is that after processing, if everything went well, you only need to manually delete one folder, instead of each individual file.

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

I thank you.
Now I remember on this option and activated. In the batch file I used "delete *.pdf". This otion ist more securew and nore elegant. i changed already...

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

[winkelmann]

PS:
Meanwhile I found the syyntax changed (maybe with the update the last days?):
in the further versions the option was "/RunTool"
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunFldMon "{...}"

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

I don't believe that was changed. /RunTool will run the tool once, while /RunFldMon will startup the Folder monitor for automatic processing until the next system restart or manually stopping the monitor. The two are not interchangeable, and con only be used with their respective (Either a single "tool", or a single "folder monitor") item Identifiers.

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

ssory to reactivaate this ticket.
Bzt:
I use the monitor now. It starts on Windows start and so on
But my batch file and the only command line do not work any longer.
My last information was to change the option. I did. But now there is no reaction any longer. And I cannot find any failure:
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunFldMon "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
What to do?

PS: As I am moving these days to another town my reaction may show a delay...

[winkelmann]

PS:
Starting the tool out of PDF Tools it works...

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

Is {09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3} The "Folder monitor" ID, or the "Tool" ID? Using /RunFldMon will not work if you are providing a ToolID, it must be a current Folder Monitor ID specifically.
Just to be sure, you may want to right click on the folder monitor, and copy the ID again. It could be that in testing you re-created it at some point, and it now has a different ID.

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

That is strange!
Just the moment I checked and found another ToolID! And I am sure to copy and paste it into the btch file many times!
As my home net is not installed yet I cannot test it. As soon as possible I'll sreturn to report...

[Dimitar - PDF-XChange]

Hello Goetz,

Please do keep us posted.

Regards.

[winkelmann]

Meanwhile I moved and reinstalled my home net. All paths are active.
but I cannot ghet work this PDF tool by bvatch
The command is
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunFldMon "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
the identifier is correct. I chek the errorlevel by echo. It is 0.
I activated the report but there is no report created. Here the screenshot:

[winkelmann]

Here the screenshot again

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

Can I ask for
1. a screenshot of these two folders in your windows file explorer:

Code: Select all

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp

%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

2. Inside whichever has the Folder monitor, please right click on the folder monitor, and choose "Properties" then copy and paste the contents of the "Target" field into your post here.

3. Can you then, inside PDF-Tools, right click on the folder monitor itself, and choose "copy monitor ID" and paste that into your post as well.

image.png (12.44 KiB) Viewed 58612 times

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

all is OK now. I found the reason for.
AS I had toreset my router ttotally there got lost some port to forward. After reinstalling them (maybne for Windows file server?) all seems to be fine.
Anyway I thank you!

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

[winkelmann]

sorry to return again.
After my last post all semed to be fine. And the tool wrked some times.
But now it sticks again.
The tool identifier is correct. The errorlevel in the batch file is 0.
It was a bit straange because I had to turn on the tool manually. But anyway the batch does not work without any error.
I do not start the tool manually out of PDF Tools because I learned that then the identifier will change.
The only test I can do is to start the batch file to file of PDF. Maybe one of the last PDF files is too bix?

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

Unfortunately since we started this discussion, I have similarly had a folder monitor in my own startup folder. it has reliably started each day. I can only suspect that there is an error in your windows processes, which prevents it from reading the startup folder properly. Regarding the monitor ID, that does not change with settings changes. it is a randomly generated string at the time of creation, and any changes to the original monitor (by way of the "edit" button) will not result in a new ID, the same one will still be in place.

If you cannot provide the few items I requested in my previous post, than I am sorry to say that there is nothing else I can help to investigate here.

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

OK.
Fitst I tell you about my new knowledge:
1. I found that the properties of the link in the startup folde was diferent to the identifier in the dialogue bos in PDF Tools. I changed
2. After the last release I supposedd the change of options and their exprssion So I change to the option "/RunFldMon" and used the right identifier. That explains the start of the monitor aanyway and without the startup folder.
3. Nevertheless as I use the right command
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunTool "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
I get an error:

grafik.png (30.13 KiB) Viewed 58168 times

So I follow your proposes about informations:
1: Screenshot Startup folder:

2. properties of the link
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunFldMon "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
3. the identifier out of the monitor dialogue
{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}

Hope that helps...

[winkelmann]

PS:
Starting the tool out of the PDF Tools manually it works . As there is no step to move the processed file it remains there

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

3. Nevertheless as I use the right command
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunTool "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
I get an error:

This would be expected, as you have provided the "folder monitor" ID, but were still using "/RunTool" instead of "/RunFldMon"
Your later example,

2. properties of the link
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunFldMon "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
3. the identifier out of the monitor dialogue
{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}

should work without issue, is it?

If not, I do wonder if perhaps you have the same file now present in both locations. I don't know it would cause an issue, but it may. Windows is a fickle beast... You included a screenshot of the programdata\...\startup folder, but not the %appdata% equivalent. Is there an identical item in the appdata folder perhaps?

1. If there is, please do remove both of them first.
2. After that, pick one of the two locations, and stick to only that one for the time being.
3. Now, back in PDF-Tools, right click on the folder monitor and choose "create desktop shortcut"
4. Finally, move that newly created shortcut, into your chosen startup folder.

Wait a minute, and then restart windows, and check if the monitor is running.

And one quick addendum. Can you check the task manager Ctrl+Shift+Esc, under the startup tab, and confirm that PDF-Tools is not "disabled" from starting automatically?

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

Ok.
Sory but I an confused. Whis the right option to run?
So I am right about the chabnge to "/RunFldMon"?
Then: Using the short command "%appdata%" I am landing here:

Do you mean there should be put link?. The problem seems not to be the satarting of the tool but the executing.
Further: The monitor is started (controlled). But entering the command
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunFldMon "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
directly there is no reaction. Why?
>s there an identical item in the appdata folder perhaps?
I cannnot find!
Now I follow your advices:

After restart there is no PDF app liste:

BTW There is no information iof enabled or not.
Under details I find this:

And her the screensots of the folders with link:

Hope that helps

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

After your computer has started up, simply open PDF-Tools, and then click "options > folder monitors" and check if the monitor shows that it is "enabled". That is all that the startup process we have been trying to configure is intended to do:

It just enables the monitor on startup, so you don't have to manually open Tools, and click enable each time you restart your PC.

If there have been no changes to the folder since the last time the monitor ran (and I would hope there are no changes to your hard drive while the computer is off), there is no reason for Tools to be running and actively using any resources right away, since there is nothing to process. The folder monitor is only intended to periodically check if any new files that are valid for processing have arrived in the monitored folder. If it does detect a change in the monitored folder, it will then run the defined tool on that document, silently in the background.

Is that not the desired result here?

[edit] one additional note:

Then: Using the short command "%appdata%" I am landing here:
[image]
Do you mean there should be put link?. The problem seems not to be the satarting of the tool but the executing.

The folder that I was speaking of is the one referenced previously, I apologize for not including the full path in the last post.

Code: Select all

%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

This should not be particularly relevant if my previous post provides the answers you were looking for, but if you do still have questions, please enter this full path into the file explorer address bar and then press enter to navigate to the appdata startup folder.

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

well, it is enabled.
there must be something wrong with the command!
Starting out of hte UI all is fine.
But the command
"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunTool "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
emds with the following error.

grafik.png (31.16 KiB) Viewed 57875 times

Meanwhile I added the variable %appdata% to the path and put the linkof the tool into this dir (C:\Users\Goetz4\AppData\Roaming).
No success!

[DenisO]

Hi,

"C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Tools\PDFXTools.exe" /RunTool "{09EDD861-F4D8-45BF-968314C124466BF3}"
emds with the following error.

the problem here is that you use command /RunTool that is used for launching a tool. F.e /RunTool "pdft.tool.rotatePages".
Use command /RunFldMon "{id}"

[winkelmann]

Maybe I mixed options. But: Both options do the work!
1. I wnat to ensure the monitor is on
22 I want to run the tool

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

If you want to ensure the tool is on, all you need to do is launch PDF-Tools after startup, and open the folder monitor menu. It should show your tool is "enabled" there.

Both options most certainly do not work for the same tasks. You can either use /RunTool to run a specific tool, once, or you can use /RunFldMon to start up the folder monitor (which uses a different identifier from the tool itself), to enable the monitor, allowing the monitor to run the tool when needed.

It seems that we are talking in circles here, as myself and Denis have both explained the fact that you MUST use /RunFldMon specifically, if you wish to start the folder monitor properly, We have also detailed the folder this must be dropped into, is quite specifically one of the two startup folders.

• %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

Placing the file anywhere other than in the startup folder at the end of this string, will not work automatically, and you would need to manually double click the file to start the monitor.

I am honestly not sure how else we can help to ensure it works for you. It is as simple as placing the file, which PDF tools itself can generate, in the correct location, and then restarting your PC. The monitor will simply be enabled when you log into your user account through windows, a few moments after windows is done its default startup processes.

Kind regards,

[winkelmann]

OK
1. Tle string IS positioned in the right folder
2. Neverthelss I find sunprocessed files in the monitored directory
You are right. My idea to start the _app_ with (Runtool was bad. As I ahve not so much time to program a tool whaaich does not work properly.
The problem was (or still is) that sometimes the control if the monitor is ON or OF rsults negative.
Now I am concentrating on the "RunFldMon " only.. So s- as I found time for this problem again - I seethat some files get processed and OCRed but reamain in the monitor directory oppositely to the option to move...

[Daniel - PDF-XChange]

Hello, winkelmann

If you wait a bit longer, do the files eventually move? Folder monitors, even with a high priority, do not perform all steps of their process instantly. Some items, depending on the selected "tool" settings, (not the monitor settings), will result in delayed action. For example, if you do have batch processing enabled, the files will move after the entire batch is processed successfully.

Beyond that possibility, if the file is in use by anyone or anything else (this could be a security software doing a routine scan, you opening the document in the Editor, the web browser failing to release a handle after downloading directly to the folder, Third party could sync tools like onedrive, a colleague accessing the file on their device, or a few other interferences, Tools will attempt the move, and would immediately fail, leading it to silently give up and leave the file there.

Kind regards,