64-Bit PDF-XChange Viewer Portable Possible?

[hoak]

Now that there are several competing 64-bit portable PDF viewers, is there any chance that Tracker Software will consider releasing a 64-bit build of PDF-XChange Viewer Portable?

In the interim would anyone know if using the ".exe" from the 64-bit install version with the ".dat" files from a 32-bit portable installation would work, or does the 64-bit installation use 64-bit registry keys?

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello hoak,

I do not have a x64 machine around to test, but I believe that I have discussed this already with one of our devs, and he said that copying the x64 exe from an installed version should work - it's definitely worth giving a try.

As for the need of a x64 bit portable Viewer - that might need some further comments from the dev team but my point of view is that it's likely that you will be carrying it on your memory stick - and you will be unable to use it on e.g. an older machine with XP x32 - which destroys the idea of portability. Also it's another story whether the other x64 portable PDF Viewers are actually taking advantage of any of the 64 bit benefits, and whether they are needed.

So while this needs to be confirmed by our devs - I don't think we have the plans to provide a ready build 64 bit portable Viewer, but I would encourage you to try with copying the exe from a proper installation, and share the results with us.

Best,
Stefan

[hoak]

Well there's a bit more to it; a 64-bit ".exe" needs to be compiled to see the local registry ".dat" files rather then look for or create them in the Windows registry. Testing is also a bit more elaborate then simply dumping the 64-bit ".exe" in with the 32-bit ".dat" files and seeing if it runs -- as to be truly technically portable the program should not create any new registry entires or attempt to access the Windows Registry directly. So, testing requires several clean Windows installations to dif the Registry and make sure it's clean of any installer foo, and to monitor Registry i/o.

So it would help a lot to get the official word from a Developer regarding how the 64-bit ".exe" is compiled before going through a lot of hoops to test something that may be an enormous waste of time.

As to the veracity of a portable 64-bit build; it has a lot more application then something some kid might carry on a memory stick. Just three applications (that apply to me, there are many others) include, embedded applications, software R&D environments, and high securirty of Windows Server that requires the use of portable applications to maintain a 'clean' environment. In these examples 'regular' applications can not have registry access, or will have it blocked so they won't even function properly. Similarly for security reasons 32-bit applications may be blocked from running...

I currently use other 64-bit PDF products in these environments but Tracker's X-Change Viewer has some nice features that would make it a nice alternative.

[Ivan - Tracker Software]

You can create portable version of the viewer is you like: simplest way - replace PDFXCview.exe file in 32-bit portable viewer with corresponding file from 64-bit installation.