How to open multiple instances of file?

[Minscandboo]

Hello. How to open multiple instances of file?

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi Minscandboo,

Thanks for the post - multiple instances of the same file cannot be opened, in the Editor, as we do not use multiple instances. However, you can view different portions of the same document using the Window --> Split option.

HTH!

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

As a work-around you could use the Launch Toolbar to open further copies of a PDF in any other PDF applications that are registered in Preferences, Launch Applications, e.g. PDF-XChange Viewer, Adobe Reader, Foxit Reader, etc.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

[David.P]

See also the related discussion about multiple windows showing different pages of the same document here.

It seems that this feature is planned but not yet available, unfortunately.

Regards
David.P

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi David,

Thanks for the post - I'm sure that this will open a second instance of the file, so much as it will just add the file to a new window.

Thanks,

[David.P]

Thank you Will,

opening a second instance of the same file would be perfectly OK in my view, for realization of this feature.

Best regards,
David

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi David,

The issue is that it might not be possible, as we do not use multiple instances (processes), but one instance. It may not be possible to have the same file opened by the same process, twice.

Thanks,

[David.P]

Hi Will,

understood. However, since the split window function is already there, and the "multiple windows of the same document function" is basically the same thing (i.e. if one of the window splits simply could be detached from the main window:



...like for example a tab, the search or the bookmarks pane can be detached, the feature would already be there), there should be no problem with having to use multiple program instances or opening the same file multiple times.

In other words, what I am saying is that this feature should be only a (rather easy) matter of enabling and arranging display panes, and not a (complicated) matter of program instances or file access.

Best Regards
David

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi David,

My understanding is that the two features are quite different and cannot be directly compared, at all. I'll pass this along, but I suspect that it's not possible.

Thanks,

[Peter 123]

I think the desired effect can be achieved with the following workaround (though I admit that it is not a very elegant one ):

1. Take care for the following settings in the XChange Editor:

- Go to Edit --> Preferencs --> Documents --> (Tabs and Windows) Setup
- Check the box for the option "Open each new document in a new window"

2. Let's say the document you want to open in multiple instances is called "Story"

---> Make a copy of this document (on your desktop) and rename it in a minimal way, e.g. "Story-copy"

3. Open both documents ("Story" and "Story-copy") in the XChange Editor.
Now you can view the same (with regard to its content) document in two instances.

[David.P]

Hi Will,

thank you for passing the request along to the developers. For clarity, I have added a screenshot in my previous post.

Best Regards
David
--
Edit: @Peter, yes, this is what I also do at times. You don't even need this special preference in my view, since you can open the copy in a new tab, and then simply drag that tab in order to make it into a new window.

However, the problem with this workaround is of course that you can only edit the document in one of the two windows and that your edits don't turn up in the other window.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi guys,

Peter - that's really the only way of doing it at the moment, though many users find that cumbersome.

David - sorry, I'd misunderstood a little. That's an interesting concept, but I'm still not sure that it's possible/practical. Will pass that along.

Cheers,

[Willy Van Nuffel]

Hello all,

I wonder what would be the advantage of having two independent windows with the same PDF document, towards one single (wide) window with two views on that same document?

Maybe there would be a justification for this feature for people having multiple screens/displays, but even in that case you could think about enlarging/widening the PDF-XChange Editor window over these different screens.

Thanks for giving a few reasons ...

N.B.: Something I noticed now, is that you cannot make whatever window (from whatever application) larger than the width of your screen (in case if you have only one screen + working with Windows 10). I tested by reducing a window and then placing it out of the left border of the screen. When you then drag the right border, you are not able to make it wider than the screen width.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi Willy,

I'm using Windows 7 and can do this (see attached). This can be done by reducing the size of the Editor from being maximized, the resizing accordingly.

Screen-shot.zip

(998.28 KiB) Downloaded 122 times

Cheers,

[Willy Van Nuffel]

Thanks for the screen shot Will.

So, I guess you have two Full HD display panels (resolution = 2 x 1920 / 1080).

The pixel resolution of your Screen-Shot.png being 3839 x 1079.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Hi Willy,

That's correct - 2 monitors at a max. resolution of 1920x1080.

Cheers,