Reorder Tabs SOLVED

[RedSharpEye]

Hi all

When opening a group of pdfs (say 14) from Windows Explorer, the tabs appear in a different order within PDF Editor than that shown in Windows Explorer. This is probably no fault of PDF Editor rather than Windows Explorer passing the files over in its own mysterious way.

However, is there a command for PDF Editor to arrange the open tabs alphabetically, it would save a lot a time rearranging 14 files in order?

Red

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Hello Red,

Thanks for the question! Indeed it is up to Windows in what order it will pass the files to us, so unfortunately this is outside of our control. As for reordering the tabs later - that is not possible either, but if you press the "Show Sorted Tabs" button that will appear on the left of the first tab - you will see all your files sorted there alphabetically.

Regards,
Stefan

[RedSharpEye]

Thanks Stefan,

I was aware of the show sorted tabs button, I use it quite frequently, but afaik it doesn't allow use of using keyboard shortcuts to move up and down a sorted tab order, so I still need to manually sort if I want to use ctrl-tab and ctrl-shift-tab to move between tabs alphabetically.

It was worth asking though.

Hmmm, is there a macro that could be written to do a sort, failing that I guess the answer is to open each file in the order I want the tabs.

Cheers

Red

[Tracker Supp-Stefan]

Hi Red,

No such script at the moment I am afraid. So if you really need them ordered - drag and drop with the mouse once all are loaded, or open them one by one in the correct order

Regards,
Stefan

[kcd2015]

I know this thread is several months old now but I came here searching for a quick solution to the same problem.

I had an idea after reading the responses, since it is windows explorer that is the problem (feeding the filenames to the pdfxchange in the wrong order) why not write a cmd or python script that sorts the selected files first and then sends them to pdfxchange? I will write such a script and place it in the "Send To" context menu so that you can select your list of pdfs in windows explorer -> right click -> send to -> [PDF-Xchange Sorted]

I'll report back after I get it running, but given the holiday it might be a little while before I can get around to it.

[EDIT]

The following python script seems to work. You're going to need python installed on your computer. Open your start menu and type "run" then enter. In the run dialog in the open text box type "shell:sendto" (without the quotes). That will open file explorer to something like "C:\Users\<YOUR USER NAME>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo". Save to following python script in this folder and name it something like "View Sorted PDFs.py"

Code: Select all

import os
import sys
import subprocess

app = 'PDFXedit.exe'
app_path = os.path.join('C:\Program Files\Tracker Software\PDF Editor', app)
paths = []

for i in range(1, len(sys.argv)):
  if (sys.argv[i][-4:] == '.pdf'):
    paths.append( sys.argv[i] )

paths.sort()
paths.insert(0, app)

process = subprocess.Popen(paths, executable=app_path)

Now when you right click files in file explorer you will have the option in the "Send to" menu to send the files to the script which ill sort them then open them with pdfxedit.exe. This script is quick and dirty, surely it could use some error checking and refinement.

[Paul - Tracker Supp]

kcd2015,

that is sooo slick. I really like it. Thanks for that. Works like a charm!

[Giraffe]

I might try that script, thanks.
I do it by:
having Editor already open, blank
selecting the files in XYplorer
grabbing the first one with the mouse and dragging the entire bloc to the Editor's button on the Task Bar
move the bloc on to Editor's window and release

They then open in order.

[Patrick-Tracker Supp]

Hi Giraffe,

Thanks for supplying us with your solution!

Cheers!

[RedSharpEye]

Good spot Giraffe,

The dragging to an open editor window from the first file does the trick .

I have since noticed that if you drag from the within the body of the selected files editor opens in order from the file used to drag.

e.g. select file 1 to 5, drag and drop the selection into editor by dragging file 3 and the order will be 3, 4, 5, 1, 2.

The same results can be achieved without editor running if you right click the file and select "Open in PDFXEditor" in the context menu.

For me it is just remembering to right click the first file (which I often forget, doh!)

Red

[Giraffe]

You don't have to R-click to drag; L-clicking on the first file to drag is, I find, a bit easier.

[RedSharpEye]

Sorry if I was unclear,

I only meant the right click on the first file to bring up the context menu once you have made the selection by left clicking the first file and shift left click the last the last file in the list.

This way you don't need to have Editor running as it will open and load the files in the order displayed in Windows Explorer be it by file size, or alphabetically.

As you say, if editor is running you don't need to right click as you can left drag the files to the editor window and they will load in the order displayed by Windows Explorer.

[Will - Tracker Supp]

Thanks for the comments guys

[Giraffe]

Sorry if I was unclear,

I only meant the right click on the first file to bring up the context menu once you have made the selection by left clicking the first file and shift left click the last the last file in the list.

This way you don't need to have Editor running as it will open and load the files in the order displayed in Windows Explorer be it by file size, or alphabetically.

As you say, if editor is running you don't need to right click as you can left drag the files to the editor window and they will load in the order displayed by Windows Explorer.

I see - thanks for clarifying that. I often have Editor open and tend to forget the context menu!

[Will - Tracker Supp]