xchange viewer portable-can't be set as standard PDF program

[questionesse]

Hey there,

title says about it, I'm using the portable version under win7.
I can't choose it as the standard program for PDFs.
Also the program itself doesn't offer such an option.
Is there a reason? Might that change soon?
I love the xchange viewer, but i'm also a big fan of portable apps, so I wouldn't want to switch to the install version.
Many other portable programs can be associated with files, so I'm wondering if this is just a mistake...

thx!

[BigMike]

Since portable applications are meant not to save anything on the system, I think it's a logical consequence, that the file association options aren't available in the portable version. However you should be able to change the default application to open pdf files via the windows interface. So if this wasn't working, it could be a problem with another application trying to be the default one and reregistering the file association or something similar.

Regards, Michael

[questionesse]

also the windows interface doesn't work.
I acciddentially clicked on the open office writer to open pdfs, so i wanted to change it for the xchange viewer. I browse for it, select it, but it doesn't appear in the main window.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

The choice is yours: portable or installed and registered with Windows as the default application for PDF files.

[questionesse]

but why can't I associate the xchange exe with a document type? it works with a ton of other portable apps like foobar for my mp3s or vlc player for my movies...

[Ivan - Tracker Software]

I acciddentially clicked on the open office writer to open pdfs, so i wanted to change it for the xchange viewer. I browse for it, select it, but it doesn't appear in the main window.

Can you send a screenshot ? If you had choose .exe into Open With dialog, this .exe will be listed here, and has no meaning was it installed or not.

[questionesse]

it is simply not listed after i chose it - so a screenshot won't show much.
that's how i chose the open office writer by accident cause I expected the xchange viewer to be selected after i picked it out by browsing the files - but it wasn't.
i just hit enter without checking and the oo writer was chosen cause the xchange viewer didn't show.

[Ivan - Tracker Software]

Lets I explain you step-by-step:
1. Into Windows Explorer select any PDF file.
2. Press right mouse button on it and choose "Open With" menu item. If it has sub menu, choose "Choose default programm..." item from it.
3. You will see "Open with" dialog with two sections into the list: "Recommended Programs" and "Other Programs" (second or both sections can be missing).
4. If PDF-XChange Viewer isn't listed into any of these sections, press "Browse..." button into this dialog, and select PDFXCView.exe file from the folder where the viewer is located.
5. Now you will see PDF-XChange Viewer selected into the list.
6. Check "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" and press OK.

HTH

[questionesse]

i know how this usually works and i tried to explain that i just did so. the problem is step 5 - it does not show in the list after i selected it.
I also tried the system administration where you select the standard programs - also no success, same phenomenon.

[BigMike]

Maybe the tool OpenWithAdd may help you. The problem description seems to fit. But it wasn't designed for Windows 7.

[John - Tracker Supp]

Thanks Mike, appreciate the suggestion.

If it does work for you "questionesse" - could you advise so we can FAQ please.

Thanks

[questionesse]

i wonder if anyone was able to replicate this problem or if this occured to somebody as well or if it's just me...

[BigMike]

i wonder if anyone was able to replicate this problem or if this occured to somebody as well or if it's just me...

Since there is a tool for this kind of problem, it seems to be something more general with windows and certain configurations. It didn't ever occur to me and since I read here the first time about this issue in your thread, it's probably not connected to PDF-XChange Viewer portable in special.

[questionesse]

so here's the good and the bad news. I checked with another user account where a pdf wasn't associated at all and it just worked.
but still not for the account i'm using. I can add other programs to the list of icons to chose from by browsing my files, even other portable ones - just not the xchange viewer

[Lzcat - Tracker Supp]

But are you able to add/modify other program defaults for PDF files?

[questionesse]

you mean if I can make another program the default one for PDFs? Yeah, I can - even portable ones. Just did so with IrFanView portable just to try if it was possible.
It's really a miracle to me!

[vbap]

I have had this problem in the past under Vista when he location of my portable version of PDFX had moved - so it was previously registered to open PDFs, but then moved it to a different drive letter, now it doesn't show up even after choosing it in Browse...

Solved it my searching for PDF xchange viewer in RegEdit, looking for the PDF file extension key, and deleting it.

Hope that makes sense!

[questionesse]

I know what you mean, I just don't know how to do it...

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi questionesse,

this comes with a warning - you can seriously damage your computer if you make changes to the registry that you do not understand so use extreme caution. We will not be liable for any damages that occur. Having said that the particular key refered to is safe to delete.

run the command regedit.exe in the search programs and files box in the Win 7 start menu. This opens the registry editor. Click the Computer Icon at the top of the tree then Edit --> Find and search for PDFXCView.exe

Delete any key that is found with this in it. This is safe to do. Note that when you edit the registry like this it is 'live' meaning there is no 'save' or 'undo' so "measure twice and cut once" as my dad used to say...

[questionesse]

I was almost about to follow your suggestions but guess what happened.
I was opening a pdf from the internet and I was asked to choose the program. I was able to pick the xchange viewer, even if there was no option to choose it permanentely.
I then tried to open a local pdf and all of a sudden, the xchange viewer was listed among the available programs.
This is absolutely not the solution for the problem in general, but at least I can now work properly on my papers without the hassle.
Nontheless, thanks for your help and advice guys!

[foxffooxx]

Eh...We usually delete the file:portable.dat, then it's OK
I wonder why you stick on portable version...

[vbap]

I wonder why you stick on portable version...

In my case, I am rebuilding my work laptop often enough so that running as many programs in "portable" fashion cuts down on re-installation process. My portable programs actually run off my hard disk, but I make regular backups of the directory.

It also makes it easier to try programs out to see whether they are useful - and avoids doing the whole install, uninstall, clean-up etc.

It's also especially useful for those utilities and programs that you run once in a while.

For our home PC, we have the non-portable version installed...

[Chris - PDF-XChange]

Glad you got it sorted out finally, questionesse.

Chris