PDF files won't open

MightyManfred · 12-31-2021, 04:53 PM

I am running Calibre Portable 5.34 on a Windows 10 Home laptop and no matter what program I select as my PDF handler, when I select a PDF title in Calibre, it opens the program but no content. This just started happening today - no updates to anything.

BetterRed · 12-31-2021, 08:17 PM

What happens if you open the book folder (press 'O') and double click the PDF?

If that doesn't work it's a Windows issue. If it does work, make sure PDF is unchecked in the Preferences->Behaviour->Use viewer for: list.

BR

MightyManfred · 01-01-2022, 09:45 PM

Adobe reader works fine opening files directly, such as opening the folder in calibre or somewhere else on my PC. It only fails to open pdfs in the library list. Happens with all pdfs in the list.

MightyManfred · 01-01-2022, 09:51 PM

I don't see the "Use Viewer for" option in the Preferences->Behavior tab.

davidfor · 01-01-2022, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyManfred

I don't see the "Use Viewer for" option in the Preferences->Behavior tab.

It is the list under "Use internal viewer for:". Any format with a tick will be opened with the calibre viewer. Anything without a tick will be passed to the OS to open using whatever it considers to be the default application.

MightyManfred · 01-02-2022, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidfor

It is the list under "Use internal viewer for:". Any format with a tick will be opened with the calibre viewer. Anything without a tick will be passed to the OS to open using whatever it considers to be the default application.

Thanks! Found it. PDF was unchecked. I checked it and calibre opened the PDF with its built-in viewer.

I unchecked it, applied the setting, tried to open a PDF from the list and nothing. Task Manager shows no Adobe program running after I click the title. Never had this trouble before.

davidfor · 01-02-2022, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyManfred

Thanks! Found it. PDF was unchecked. I checked it and calibre opened the PDF with its built-in viewer.

I unchecked it, applied the setting, tried to open a PDF from the list and nothing. Task Manager shows no Adobe program running after I click the title. Never had this trouble before.

What happens when you open the directory the PDF is in and double click on it? And are other PDF files opening properly?

MightyManfred · 01-02-2022, 10:11 PM

Adobe works fine when I open files directly. When I try to open from the list, Adobe doesn't open but it leaves a background process hanging that must be killed for Adobe to work on files in folders.

BetterRed · 01-02-2022, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyManfred

Adobe works fine when I open files directly. When I try to open from the list, Adobe doesn't open but it leaves a background process hanging that must be killed for Adobe to work on files in folders.

Try changing the OS default PDF handler to something another than Adobe Acrobat.

BR

MightyManfred · 01-02-2022, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Try changing the OS default PDF handler to something another than Adobe Acrobat.

BR

I've done that. Another program I have open a blank file with the proper title; leaves a background process hanging that must be killed.

MightyManfred · 01-02-2022, 10:42 PM

I'm downloading the normal Windows version of calibre and will see how that behaves.

MightyManfred · 01-02-2022, 10:57 PM

The current version of the Windows program works fine.

BetterRed · 01-03-2022, 12:58 AM

Version 5.34 Portable opening PDFs OK here with PDF xChange,

try View a PDF after a Restart ignoring third party plugins, the option is in the Preferences drop down.

What are the process name and command line of the hanging background process you have to kill?

BR

MightyManfred · 01-03-2022, 10:37 AM

Now this is WIERD! I opened portable and it is now back to normal - opening pdf files with Adobe Reader. I had restarted it and the PC a few times trying to clear out any cob webs. The only thing that has changed is I installed and ran the Windows app version - which was closed down before I just now ran portable.

MightyManfred · 01-03-2022, 10:38 AM

What was running in the background was Adobe Acrobat DC, same a program name when it's running properly, only just in the Background Processes window.

12-31-2021, 04:53 PM	#1
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	PDF files won't open I am running Calibre Portable 5.34 on a Windows 10 Home laptop and no matter what program I select as my PDF handler, when I select a PDF title in Calibre, it opens the program but no content. This just started happening today - no updates to anything.

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12-31-2021, 08:17 PM	#2
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,718 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	What happens if you open the book folder (press 'O') and double click the PDF? If that doesn't work it's a Windows issue. If it does work, make sure PDF is unchecked in the Preferences->Behaviour->Use viewer for: list. BR

01-01-2022, 09:45 PM	#3
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	Adobe reader works fine opening files directly, such as opening the folder in calibre or somewhere else on my PC. It only fails to open pdfs in the library list. Happens with all pdfs in the list.

01-01-2022, 09:51 PM	#4
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	I don't see the "Use Viewer for" option in the Preferences->Behavior tab.

01-02-2022, 10:11 PM	#8
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	Adobe works fine when I open files directly. When I try to open from the list, Adobe doesn't open but it leaves a background process hanging that must be killed for Adobe to work on files in folders.

01-02-2022, 10:42 PM	#11
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	I'm downloading the normal Windows version of calibre and will see how that behaves.

01-02-2022, 10:57 PM	#12
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	The current version of the Windows program works fine.

01-03-2022, 12:58 AM	#13
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,718 Karma: 29711016 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Version 5.34 Portable opening PDFs OK here with PDF xChange, try View a PDF after a Restart ignoring third party plugins, the option is in the Preferences drop down. What are the process name and command line of the hanging background process you have to kill? BR

01-03-2022, 10:37 AM	#14
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	Now this is WIERD! I opened portable and it is now back to normal - opening pdf files with Adobe Reader. I had restarted it and the PC a few times trying to clear out any cob webs. The only thing that has changed is I installed and ran the Windows app version - which was closed down before I just now ran portable.

01-03-2022, 10:38 AM	#15
MightyManfred Member Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: La Vernia, Texas Device: none	What was running in the background was Adobe Acrobat DC, same a program name when it's running properly, only just in the Background Processes window.

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