Some Very Questionable and Annoying Choices

[Johnus]

I try to open the Manual, no result. Search the tech forum and learn that I need to set my default reader to Microsoft Edge, as I have Windows 10. I don't know how to do that, so I follow the other posted direction and try to open the manual with acrobat from inside the game folder. That does not work either. Try to open other files in the manual folder and it says I need Microsoft Office, which I don't have on this machine. What gives? I have a veritable library of wargames but this is the first time this nonsense has occurred.

[Meyer1]

The manual is a .pdf file. What do you use for those files? Most browsers would open it anyway, what do you use? Chrome, Firefox?
You could try go to the manual folder directory, and drag the file to your browser. Or right click "open with" and select the program you want to use.

[Johnus]

Meyer: I have acrobat XI. The PDF in the manuals file is acrobat?? Can't open it. Per chance can you tell me how to set Microsoft Edge as my default reader? (Though I really should not have to do that.)

[Meyer1]

That's weird that Acrobat wouldn't open it. Anyway, to select Edge as default go to "choose a default app for each type file" and select Edge. Or right click on a pdf file and "open with" choose Edge and check the "always use this app"

[Johnus]

Would it be possible for anyone to post a manual file that I could open with Acrobat?

[JPJ]

Which manual(s) did you try to open?

I cannot open "Operational Art of War manual TO PRINT.pdf", Acrobat says the file is damaged and cannot be repaired.

But I can open "Operational Art of War manual EBOOK.pdf" (176 pages) and the other PDF in the Manuals folder.

[Meyer1]

Yeah I think I read Tamas said that some file has a problem, but to print I think. Anyway the game launcher should open the manual with no issues.

[Johnus]

I can't open either. Says Acrobat has failed to connect to a DDE server.

[Meyer1]

Try this: go to the folder "C:\Program Files (x86)\Matrix Games\The Operational Art of War IV\Manuals, and try to drag the Ebook to Microsoft Edge. Maybe it's a problem with your files and not with Acrobat.

[Fred98]

Microsoft Edge is not a PDF reader.

Acrobat still is the best PDF reader.

.

[Meyer1]

ORIGINAL: Joe 98

Microsoft Edge is not a PDF reader.

Acrobat still is the best PDF reader.

.

Well, I'm reading the file in M$ Edge, so I disagree [:)] I'm just trying to see if there's a problem with Johnus' files, if it doesn't work in his Acrobat, nor in Edge, well I think maybe what it's wrong is the file.

[Lobster]

ORIGINAL: Johnus

I can't open either. Says Acrobat has failed to connect to a DDE server.

All you have to do is double click this file:



and any pdf reader you have associated with pdf files will open it. The little icon on mine tells me my pdf files are opened by Acrobat.

If you can't open this pdf file then you can't open any pdf file and should probably download Acrobat and install it again.

[ralphtricky]

ORIGINAL: Johnus

I can't open either. Says Acrobat has failed to connect to a DDE server.

This may help.
https://forums.adobe.com/thread/847438

[BigDuke66]

Having trouble opening PDF with Acrobat?
It's the same crap as with MS and their file formats, unless someone points a gun at your head use free software.
I recommend PDF-XChange Viewer:
https://www.tracker-software.com/produc ... nge-viewer

[Olorin]

I use Sumatra to open pdf.
It's free and easy to use, I don't really miss acrobat.

[Shadrach]

Sumatra PDF is great, for reading PDFs you don't need anything else.

And remember Adobe Acrobat is not the same as Acrobat Reader - the former is a huge software package which allows you to make PDFs with all kinds of fancy stuff. These days mostly delegated to the enterprise market because anyone can create PDFs in any free office suite. The latter just lets you open them.

So unless you are actually creating PDF, uninstall that Acrobat proprietary crap and use Sumatra PDF or another of the many free alternatives. You can usually open PDFs in browsers these days as well, without having to install that horrendous plugin.

[Oberst_Klink]

EBOOK PDF works, the TO PRINT PDF is corrupted; I use Foxit PDF Reader; not as cumbersome and bugged as Adobe Reader.

Klink, Oberst

[BigDuke66]

Indeed, I get:
Description: Error [PDF Structure 40]: Invalid reference table (xref)

But the ebook manual is just fine, go for that one

[aperfecturkel]

Hey Johnus! It's tough to say without being in front of it, but sounds like the PDF file itself is corrupt - which would explain why it doesn't seem to open no matter what you attempt. As some have said, my copy of "Operational Art of War manual TO PRINT.pdf" is corrupt as well, but the "Operational Art of War manual EBOOK.pdf" is working fine, so we at least know it's not universal.

I don't think this can be pinned on the devs, but we can try a few things:

1. First up, it shouldn't matter at all what your default PDF reader is, I'm sorry that someone led you to believe that. PDF files aren't so proprietary that they only open in a singular program. Possibly complicating things, the "DDE server" error in Acrobat Reader sounds like it may be a separate issue on TOP of the possibly-corrupt PDF.

2. I would, in fact, try to open "Operational Art of War manual EBOOK.pdf" using Edge. Despite what you'll hear from old holdouts, Edge is a pretty damn competent PDF reader, and a strong shake lighter than Adobe Reader. To try to open the file with Edge, you don't need to change your default - just right click the PDF file, mouse over "Open With," and "Microsoft Edge" should be an option in the sublist. If it's not, you can select "Choose another app" at the bottom to get a more detailed selection list, including Edge.

3. The "other files" you mention in the manual folder, I believe, are two .doc/.docx files, which are indeed Word files. But Windows 10 comes with the ol' WordPad, which should at least display the text of those files; you can open them with WordPad the same way you'd open the PDF with Edge: Right click -> "Open With" -> WordPad.

4. I'm gonna shoot you a PM as well, hopefully between that and this, we can get you reading.

Hope this helps! Let us know how it goes

[Johnus]

aperfecturkel: (that is a mouthful) Thank you.