ChemDraw Beta 21.0 Portal
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Help functionality in ChemOffice Apps is broken when PDF24 app being installed. Uninstalling PDF24 doesn't revert settings to the default viewer for .pdf extension.
DISCUSSION:
Help functionality in ChemOffice Apps is implemented through the external PDF viewer. Historically, it was Adobe Acrobat from Adobe [either free or paid versions]. Some users are looking for alternative PDF viewers. One of ChemOffice beta-testers relies on PDF24 app [ https://en.pdf24.org/]:
https://chemdraw-21-beta.ideas.aha.io/ideas/CDBETA21-I-56
Unfortunately, Help functionality is getting broken with PDF24 app is being installed. Even if you manually change association for .pdf extension from PDF24 Reader to Adobe Acrobat Reader, you still getting error on Help opening [Settings > Apps > Default apps > "Choose default applications by file type"].
PDF24 installed:
If PDF24 app is a default pdf viewer, Help functionality is broken (Help - with PDF24 installed.mp4): you are getting PDF24 Reader error, help file is not opened. The same behaviour is observed if you associate .PDF extension in Windows 10 settings with installed Adobe app or Windows Edge [Recommended for Windows 10]:
Settings > Apps > Default apps > "Choose default applications by file type"
PDF24 uninstalled:
Even if you uninstall PDF24 app, Help PDF file is opened in Internet Explorer, not in PDF reader associated as a default app for .pdf extension in Windows 10 settings:
Settings > Apps > Default apps > "Choose default applications by file type"
[Help - after PDF24 uninstall.mp4]
At this stage I am not sure, whom to blame. I will report the issue to PDF24 Team. Meanwhile, is there a chance the issue is with implementation of call protocol for Help functionality in ChemOffice apps?
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FILES:
Help - with PDF24 installed.mp4
Help - after PDF24 uninstall.mp4
Windows 10 Pro, version 21H2, 64-bit OS Build 19044.1387,
Yoga 2 Pro (i7-4500U, 8GB), 13.3" high resolution QHD+ screen (3,200×1,800)
Intel HD graphics family (driver version 20.19.15.4642, driver date: 28/03/2017)
Windows OS Display settings for "Scale and layout" are: 250% (Recommended)
ChemDraw Beta v21.0.999.2240
I have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC installed. If you go there to:
Preferences > Categories > Internet > Internet Options: Internet Settings...
In pop-up "Internet Properties" window (Adobe-1.png), go to Programs > Manage add-ons. In "Tollbars and Extensions" choose show "Run without permission". I have "Adobe PDF Reader" enabled (v21.5.20048.436468) [Adobe-2.png]. Unfortunately, I cannot figure out, why uninstallation of PDF24 leads to handling of Help pdf-files in ChemOffice apps through cross-platform plugin architecture NPAPI, not Adobe Acrobat Pro DC directly, as it was before:
https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/display-pdf-in-browser.html
Help is opened in Internet Explorer 11. Disabling "Adobe PDF Reader" plugin (Adobe-2.png) and opening Help in ChemOffice apps still leads to a prompt opening of Internet Explorer, closing it and finally opening of Help pdf-file in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. The only way to open Help pdf-file in Adobe directly was to uninstall Internet Explorer 11.
Is that something, that help implementation in ChemOffice apps relies on Adobe plugins not pdf-handling implemented in Win10 [either through recommended Microsoft Edge web-browser or manually selected any other browser or installed Pdf Reader (Adobe-3.mp4)]?