Changing Settings and Profiles

[tfc]

I would like to buy the PDF-XChange Pro software, but after testing it (using Windows Vista Ultimate) I can see that the changing of settings for different document types is too flakey.

I can see users have attempted to raise this issue in the forum and unfortunately they seem to have been told that the issue is with WORD and the profiles and defaults are working as intended.

I think this is a shame. There are problems with the functioning of profiles and printer settings changes in the PDF-XChange Pro software. It doesn't do justice to this otherwise fine software package.

I would make the following points :-

1. If it is just us users who are operating things incorrectly, please could you provide some proper documentation on how you think the settings and profiles should interact. This would help remove some of the confusion, or perhaps it might show up the problems more clearly. The one page in the manual is not enough. It basically says that you can use profiles. It needs to be clear on how you actually set the parameters for defaults, and for profiles, and how you can change an individual parameter for the current session. (e.g during a run of WORD)

2. The 'Print to PDF' button on a WORD document (I assume) does use values from the profiles, or from the 'Printer Preferences'. However, whatever changes you make to its settings (by using the 'Configure Preferences for PDF Creation Process' button) no changes are observable to any of the 'Printer Preferences' and the 'Printing Defaults'. It seems to use a completely parallel system of storage for settings, with no access to profiles. The changes made by the 'Configure Preferences for PDF Creation Process' button are preserved, even over different sessions, so there is no possibility of going back to a default setting. However, in some cases, when changes are made to 'Printer Preferences' and the 'Printing Defaults' then without any warning the settings which are picked up and used by the 'Print to PDF' button are also changed. This is very confusing, as a user would reasonably expect one consistent database of settings, which even if they could be amended from different places, the changes would be applied consistently. I think that it's just incorrect, but we are being told that this is the expected behaviour, I think that it is just bizarre the way it works in comparison with the way that Windows printer settings usually behave.

2. Using the software by 'printing' from windows and selecting the PDF-XChange Pro printer works fine, AS LONG AS NO CHANGES ARE MADE TO INDIVIDUAL FIELD SETTINGS IN THE PRINTER PROPERTIES DIALOGUE. If the only changes that are made are made by 'using' a different profile, then the software works as it should. The settings are applied to the current session, and they do not impact on the 'Printer Preferences', nor on the 'Printing Defaults' settings. However if changes are made and applied to individual fields (e.g. 'Advanced Printing Options' in the 'Paper section) then the change affects the 'Printer Preferences' and the 'Printing Defaults'. This is incorrect, as the change then is 'sticky' and applies even to a new session. The correct way for this to work is that individual settings changes should work like profile changes, in that it should only affect the current session and they should not impact on the 'Printer Preferences', nor on the 'Printing Defaults' settings.

3. When making changes to 'Printer Preferences' and the 'Printing Defaults', even using the 'Apply' button at every step, there are occasions when the settings just don't seem to stay in place. It is not always reproduceable, which is even more worrying.

I have spent a full day trying to understand what is going on, and give a proper detailed explanation. I have failed. Every time I think I am getting to the bottom of how it works, a slight change then works in an unexpected way, and it's back to the drawing board. I am afraid I have no more time, and I have to admit defeat.

If someone can point out where I have been going wrong, or if there is an update to fix the behaviour in this area, I would be happy to consider purchasing. (I am only asking that changes to printer settings whilst using the software to create PDFs (in session) do not affect the default settings and the profiles, and that changes to default settings and profiles, just affect default settings or profiles. i.e. just like any other printer driver.)

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi tfc,

thanks for your detailed and in-depth posting. There is indeed a lot here and while it is tempting for me to fire off answers to some of your points now I think it would be prudent for me to go over all this with the project director and get back to you.

I would ask your patience that I may get a more complete and satisfying answer, hopefully by tomorrow or the day after.

regards

[tfc]

Hi Paul, I appreciate that. If there are any particular things you would like me to test/verify, let me know.

Tony

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Tony,

just a heads up that we have not forgotten you. We have put together what we hope is a definitive explanation of what is happening here and expect to have this posted early next week.

hth

[tfc]

Thanks Paul, that will be very helpful.

Tony

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Tony,

we have created a fairly extensive description of how the print preferences work here: https://www.pdf-xchange.com/knowled ... r-Settings

I hope that it adequately explains why we do what we do and what your options are. We will also be updating the documentation with this material.

hth

[tfc]

Thanks Paul,

I kicked myself for not realising that you can install 'multiple' printers.

I tried that, setting up PDF-XChange 4.0 Open Documents and PDF-XChange 4.0 Secured documents.

I went into each printer and ensured the settings were the same in every 'view' of the settings i.e. Preferences from the Print window; General/Printing Preferences from the Printer Properties; and
Advanced/Printing Defaults from the Printer Properties.

The only difference between the setups was that all the 'open' settings had the security settings with 'Use PDF Security unchecked'. All of the 'secured' settings had the security settings with 'Use PDF Security checked, a password required to Change, and the relevant permissions unchecked.

However, whenever I print using either of these 'printers', the resultant PDF has no security. So, I am at a loss to know how to proceed. With the settings as described, and using multiple drivers, this should have been easily done. It seems to me that if you create separate 'printers' and the settings are clearly retained by them, then these are the settings which should be used when the printer is asked to print.

By the way, I have not even attempted to use the Print to PDF button when using WORD, as I found these interfering with settings in my original tests, as I reported. Also, I have not created nor 'Used' any Profiles, as this was a cause of confusion in my intial tests.

Thanks

Tony

[Chris - PDF-XChange]

Hi tfc,

I've removed the last 2 posts as you were correct the response of a smiley made no relevant contribution to the conversation.

I understand you are using Windows Vista Ultimate, can you let us know if it is 32 or 64 bit, what version of MSOffice you are using and what version of PDF-XChange you are using so Paul can setup a test environment and test the behaviour you've described regarding the 2 printers one with and one without secutiy settings.

Thanks,

Chris

[tfc]

Hi Chris,

I confirm that I am using Vista Ultimate Service (32 bit) Service Pack 2.

I am using PDF-XChange Pro Version 4.0 Build 194 (Demo Licence)

I am using Office 2000. However, I am not not using the WORD macros to generate PDF files (because I found them to be so disruptive in my initial tests, changing settings quite unpredictably). I have only created PDFs by using the File/Print function in WORD. Just to be sure there is no interaction, I have also confirmed the problem with NOTEPAD and Internet Explorer 9.

I have taken screenshots of the settings which are showing immediately before printing in both the open (or unsecured) printer and also the secured printer. I have 'printed' the both of the screenshot JPGs to PDFs using the secured document printer. I have attached both JPG->PDFs and the About window so that you can see the settings, and also so you can have a look at the internal formats of the PDFs to see if there is any clue as to what is happening.

Thanks


Tony

[Chris - PDF-XChange]

Thanks Tony,

I will pass this information onto Paul for testing tomorrow.

Best,
Chris