How to launch current PDF in another PDF-XChange instance?

[bob_sun]

Hi All,

I would like to ask a question on PDF-XChange.

By clicking the “launch” button, the current PDF file can be opened in another PDF viewer if installed, and it is convenient for comparison different figures/contents within the same file.

But is it possible to launch the current PDF in another PDF-XChange instance?



Thanks,

Bob

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Bob,

absolutely you can open a PDF in multiple instances of the Vierwer: https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowled ... the-viewer

hth

[bob_sun]

Dear Paul,

I know this way.

But to open the current PDF in another instance, I need to
1. switch to another instance
2. click open-file
3. browse to the folder
4. open the file

But if open the same file using the "launch" button, it is just one click.

So how to one-click launch the current PDF in another instance of PDF-XChange Viewer?


Bob

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Bob,

the short of it is that you can't. If you call a document from a running instance it will open in that instance. To open in a new instance you need to have multiple instances enabled and call a new instance either through a shortcut/menu item to the Viewer or by having Windows Explorer call by double clicking a file for example.

hth

[bob_sun]

Dear Paul,

I see it.

I am using AutoHotkey, which is a powerful tool that can emulate any key stroke and combination. I therefore would like to know if there exists a way of using purely keyboard to open the current document in another instance. If possible, then I can use AutoHotkey to emulate that and do the work for me.

I have made the following attempt:
CTRL + D, which opens Document Properties

There if I click the button in "File Info" ("Location" line) with a file folder icon, then it will open Windows Explorer and the current file will be selected, and if I am pressing enter, another PDF-XChange instance will be invoked to open the file.

The only broken link in this chain is that I cannot use keyboard to click that button. Do you know of any way that I could do that, or achieve the same with keyboard?


Bob

[aerst2]

I am using AutoHotkey, which is a powerful tool . . . The only broken link in this chain is that I cannot use keyboard to click that button. Do you know of any way that I could do that, or achieve the same with keyboard?

Since the window always has the same title and it is not resizable, you can do it with a mouse click:

Code: Select all

#j::
	; Use relative mouse coordinates
	Coordmode, Mouse, Relative
	
	; Activate PDF-XChange Viewer
	IfWinExist, ahk_class DSUI:PDFXCViewer
	{
		WinActivate, ahk_class DSUI:PDFXCViewer
	}
	Else
	{
		MsgBox, 0, , PDF-XChange Viewer window not found!
		return
	}
	
	; Open the Document Properties window
	Send, ^d
	Sleep, 150
	
	; Activate the Document Properties window
	IfWinExist, % ahk_class #32770
	{
		WinActivate, ahk_class #32770
	}
	Else
	{
		MsgBox, 0, , Document Properties window not found!
		return
	}
	
	Click 609, 116 ;Click the file folder button in the Document Properties window
	
	Sleep, 500 ; Wait for explorer to open
	
	Send, {return} ; Open the file via explorer
	
	Return

You could also do it with an image search for the button icon, which would be more reliable but harder to post in this forum (since you'd have to use an image of the button icon).

[bob_sun]

Dear aerst2,

This works fantastic, thanks very much.

Bob

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Glad to hear it works for you Bob,

And many thanks to aerst2 for the help!

Cheers,
Stefan