Open single document multiple times

[Wennago]

Hi!

I'm looking for a way to open a single PDF multiple times with PDF-XChange. This is exceptionally useful when you read long documents that have references to other parts of the same document.

For example take a scientific paper that shows some complex graphics and explains them in detail later on. It's great to read the explanation but have the page with the graphic open to have a quick look from time to time.

The only way to achieve this I have found so far is to make a copy/hard link of he document since PDF-XChange refuses to open a document twice.

Is there any more convenient way? If not I'd like to request this feature for future versions. It could be as simple as a new entry in the Windows menu like "open in new window" that would open the current document a second time.


Regards, Will.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

The option to split a window has been requested before. See This thread for example.

As a work--around for now, use the Loupe Tool to select an area that you want to keep in view while scrolling through the document.

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Wennago,

you can also enable Multiple Instances of the Viewer then you can open the same document as many times as you like, each in their own instance of the Viewer.
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowled ... the-viewer

hth

[Wennago]

The option to split a window has been requested before.

That's not quite what I'm looking for. A horizontal split would leave too little screen space on these new wide displays.

As a work--around for now, use the Loupe Tool to select an area that you want to keep in view while scrolling through the document.

Good idea. Thanks.

you can also enable Multiple Instances of the Viewer then you can open the same document as many times as you like, each in their own instance of the Viewer.

That's even better than the Loupe workaround. No additional space on the screen is wasted this way and I can easily switch between both view.
Thanks!

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

[David.P]

Uh-oh, I just realize that this request actually is another feature that already has become absolutely indispensable for me for many years (of course, with that other, "mainstream" PDF software , so far).

Same as Wennago, I have lots of long, complex documents with text and drawings (on separate pages), and I absolutely need to have drawings and text visible simultaneously.

What's more, on my three monitor setup, of course I prefer to have one copy of the current PDF document on one monitor, and a second copy on another monitor.

Unfortunately, using multiple instances of the viewer also is not a viable option because I do not only read those PDF documents but also heavily use textmarkers and create PDF hyperlinks between different parts of the document, as I work my way through the document.

Usually that looks like below:



This (in Acr*bat 7) is two times the same long document on two monitors side-by-side. The left hand view of the document has continuous page view mode with page width zoom (and bookmarks), whereas the right hand side view of the same document has single page view mode with full page zoom (and thumbnails).

Note how there is text markers and notes all over the place -- which is not doable if you open two instances of the viewer and two copies of the document, because you end up making changes to both copies -- and then of course you're flat on your back with those two different copies of your document.

Thus, Tracker team, *please* consider a "Multiple Windows Showing the Same Document" mode (like for example in Ad*be Acr*bat or Micr*soft W*rd)...

A vertical split mode unfortunately would not be sufficient, because (as Wennago already said) it is too limited, and doesn't allow to use nowadays wide monitors effectively (let alone multiple monitor setups).

Anyway, thanks heaps already for considering a "one document -- multiple windows" mode (each with its own set of panes like Find, Thumbnails, Bookmarks...)

Keep up the great work,

Regards David.P

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi David,

after discussing your post with the development team I can tell you that V3 will incorporate the ability to open 2 views of the same document, undock and drag the views around your desktop like you can currently the Search, Thumbnail, Bookmarks pane etc.

With these 2 views open you will be able to comment on both views and all will be saved to the one document.

So as far as I can tell "Multiple Windows Showing the Same Document" is coming. If it's not possible in the initial V3 release it will be in a subsequent one.

[David.P]

Hello Paul,

let me first say that I simply can't believe how incredibly open and fast you guys are in responding and listening to your user community

Thus, thank you very much for already having incorporated this feature request into your release plans!

I think it is a very good idea of yours to simply make the document window also into a pane that can be undocked and moved around like all the other panes. The only thought I'd have regarding this way of creating the "Multiple Windows Showing the Same Document" mode is whether it then still would be possible to have (for example) bookmarks attached or assigned to one open copy (window) of the document, and thumbnails to the other copy (like in my screenshot):



I'm convinced that this is very useful (I'm using it all the time:) and also logical, since it makes sense to show bookmarks together with text (left half of the screenshot) and thumbnails with images (or entire pages, right half of the screenshot).

Thus, this last point seems to be the only one that somewhat could contravene the
"document window = document pane" paradigm, in favor of the other possible way of creating the "Multiple Windows Showing the Same Document" mode: simply by providing the menu function "Window" --> "New Window" (the new window having its own set of Find, Thumbnails and Bookmarks panes).

Thanks once again,

Regards David

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi David,

I'm not sure if the proposed solution will allow each window to have it's own panes like that. It certainly is possible right now when tiling documents to each have their own pane:

[David.P]

Yes thanks Paul, your screenshot shows exactly what I mean -- the only (hopefully little) change to do to the program would be that both windows would be able to show the same document, not only different documents as it is now.

Regards David

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi David,

we are on the same page then.

The dev team can see this so it will be clear to them what we are discussing. Because there is already a work item related to split View I won't be creating a new Feature Request, we will get in V3 what the team deem best.

Sincerely

[David.P]

That sounds great, thank you Paul

Cheers David

--
PS: Ahh, and here's what it could look like (two windows side-by-side with the same document but different view modes, and different navigation panes for each window)



Thus, I think the depicted two-window solution could be the most efficient (as compared to the Document-Window-as-Pane solution which could be more difficult whith regard to the assignment of different Bookmark and/or Thumbnail panes to each copy of the document).

[Paul - PDF-XChange]