Service Data DVD-ROM index file - help with testing please

[Paul Stenning]

As discussed here https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=96738 there are issues with the bookmarks in the index file on my Vintage Radio Service Data DVD-ROM not working correctly with recent versions of Adobe Reader unless some security settings are changed.

I have been working on code for creating the index file bookmarks a different way (which doesn't use Adobe JavaScript) that should work with all versions of Adobe Reader and other PDF reader programs without changing any settings.

However I do not have the latest version of Adobe Reader installed on either of my PCs (because it conflicts with an earlier version of the full program that I use) so I cannot test with that. I am therefore hoping that a few people here can help test it for me.

You will need to have the DVD-ROM contents copied onto your hard disk. Open the attached ZIP file and copy the two files in it to the same place as the existing index.pdf file. Then try both of them and see which works best for you in Adobe Reader and other PDF viewer programs. Testing on Mac and Linux etc would be useful too.

testindex1.pdf opens the PDF files using "RemoteDestination" mode. This has the advantage that they open in a new tab/window so the index file is still open.

testindex2.pdf opens the PDF files using "OpenFile" mode. This opens them in the same window/tab so the index file is closed, however it is likely to be the more universally compatible and consistent mode.

I am hoping that testindex1.pdf works fine for everyone as keeping the index file open is very useful.

Note that both test files have no content on the actual page - it's just a blank A4 page. The thing we are testing is the bookmarks on the left correctly opening the service data documents.

Once we have finished testing I will make a proper version (with updated main content) which will be available for download for existing customers and also included on new DVD-ROMs.

Thank you!

[Dave Moll]

I assume that what I have (XI) isn't the latest version, either. I don't generally tend to have the latest version of anything.

[Paul Stenning]

XI (11) is the current main version, so please test with that. If you have any PCs with 9 or X (10) in them please test with that too. The more different versions the better.

[dsergeant]

And don't forget other PDF readers which many of us use.
Quick test with just the Ace folder from /data copied to my hard disk. PDFXChange Reader 2.5 (current latest).
Both test1 and test2 open identically, with the contents displayed in a new tab in PDFXChange which is what I would expect. But the first time I ran test2, the OpenFile mode, I got a security alert about running the pdf executable - that MAY be a real issue.
Dave

[Nuvistor]

Using a Mac with OS X 10.10.2 and Preview.
I did not have an index.pdf file so I put the two test files in the Manuals directory along with the Data directory, presume this is the correct place.

I needed to select "Show table of Contents" to display the list of makers down the left hand side. I could navigate through the list on the left but selecting a pdf file both test files gave permission problems.

For me it is not a problem, I did not have an index file before, no idea why.

I use Spotlight to search for the file I need, if more than one it lists all of them with its parent directory and is very quick. Select the file from the spotlight list.

If I have put the index file in the wrong location, let me know the correct one and I will test again.

Frank

[Dave Moll]

The initial page is blank rather than the introductory information in the "live" version of the index, but the limited number of links I've tried from each of testindex1 and testindex2 seem to work OK.

[Paul Stenning]

Thanks Dave. Yes the initial page is blank (as I mentioned above) because the purpose was to test the bookmark links work - especially with newer versions of Adobe Reader with default settings. Good to know that both versions work for you.

Frank, I'll let someone who knows about OS-X comment on that as it means nothing to me. What is Preview? Do you have Adobe Reader installed?

[Radio Wrangler]

Hi Paul,

A standard part of Mac OSX, Preview is a general-purpose file viewer which, amongst other formats, handles pdf quite well. Without needing anything from Adobe I can open, edit and create pdf files.

Adobe's own reader can be installed, and you need it if you handle any DRM'd or password protected pdfs, otherwise most users don't bother.

Apples come without Flash (Steve Jobs had a thing about it and accused it of causing most crashes) but you soon find that a lot of website content is dead without it.

David

[Nicklyons2]

My ancient computer has Adobe X installed (and runs XP) - as far as I can tell both files open perfectly and behave and look the same - I can open the drop downs from the menu on the LHS in both versions. Hope that makes sense and is some help,
Nick

[Paul Stenning]

Thank Nick, so Adobe Reader X looks to be happy too. Nice to tick them off.

It looks like it won't work in Viewer, but from the description that isn't a surprise. None of the previous DVD-ROM and CD-ROM indexes would have worked either.

Nick, without an index file or some sort of complete contents list you will be missing out on the multiple cases where a service sheet covers more than one model, as the filenames are generally just one of the models.

[Nuvistor]

Hi Paul,
Has David says, Preview is Apples PDF viewer etc, I have not used Adobe Reader since buying this Mac 7 years ago and never found a reason to install it.

I understand the multiple models issue but again I have found them perhaps by knowing the links between the manufacturers.

Did I put the index file in the correct directory? In the Manuals directory along with the Data directory. ( Too many years calling them directories, never got used to folders)

The Spotlight search is another Apple utility, it is similar to "locate" used in Unix systems and uses a database, very fast and is used with the file manager "Finder".

Frank

[julie_m]

Both work fine in Ubuntu's Document Viewer, where the original index.pdf did not.

This is good -- a system library update broke my Adobe Reader installation, and anyway I really, really don't like using software that is distributed without the Source Code.

[Dave Moll]

Originally Posted by Paul Stenning

Yes the initial page is blank (as I mentioned above) because the purpose was to test the bookmark links work

Sorry, my mistake, I missed that bit.

[Paul Stenning]

Originally Posted by Nuvistor

Did I put the index file in the correct directory? In the Manuals directory along with the Data directory. ( Too many years calling them directories, never got used to folders)

Yes that's the correct place. If it was in the wrong place you would probably get a warning that the file wasn't found, but it seems that Viewer won't even get that far

I guess a PDF in Viewer trying to open another file is outside what Viewer is designed to do. I will assume Viewer doesn't work with the DVD index and advise accordingly as there is no way the DVD can be sensibly used without that functionality. testindex2 uses the most basic form of linking to other PDF files (dating back to Acrobat 4 or earlier), so if that doesn't work nothing will.

Apple users will need to install Adobe Reader or some other PDF viewer. I don't know whether there are OS-X versions of Foxit etc.

Really good news that it works in Ubuntu's document viewer - thank you for that information AJS. Apple need to learn from that!

[Herald1360]

Originally Posted by Paul Stenning

Nick, without an index file or some sort of complete contents list you will be missing out on the multiple cases where a service sheet covers more than one model, as the filenames are generally just one of the models.

Looking for the datasheet "up top" is a workround for that. When you know what else to look for, it's easy.

[Paul Stenning]

I will look into making a full cross-reference list as a separate PDF file to cover this too, as there may well be other people with the same setup and problem. It could even be part of the main index file after the introductory information.

[Nuvistor]

Adobe reader is free and easy to obtain so I think expecting it to be installed on a Mac is reasonable if the extra functionality is required.

Frank

[julie_m]

But Adobe Reader doesn't come with the Source Code, which means some people might have a legitimate ethical objection to installing it.

By the way, testindex1.pdf seems to work with Okular (the KDE PDF reader, found in KDE-based Linux distributions such as OpenSUSE and Slackware) although of course it protests about the file being absent (I was trying it on a box at work). testindex2.pdf in Okular seems not to do anything when a filename is clicked.

[Paul Stenning]

Originally Posted by ajs_derby

But Adobe Reader doesn't come with the Source Code, which means some people might have a legitimate ethical objection to installing it.

Nor does any of OS-X so that is irrelevant for Apple users.

Those who want the source code for everything would probably be using Linux anyway, and you have been kindly checking the options there.

Originally Posted by ajs_derby

By the way, testindex1.pdf seems to work with Okular (the KDE PDF reader, found in KDE-based Linux distributions such as OpenSUSE and Slackware) although of course it protests about the file being absent (I was trying it on a box at work). testindex2.pdf in Okular seems not to do anything when a filename is clicked.

I would expect any decent PDF viewer for Linux (whether open source or not) to work with both files as they are using technology which has been included in Adobe Acrobat since version 5 (which dates from around 2001), possibly earlier, and don't use any Javascript for which support is patchy.

If Okular doesn't work with both files (once some of the target files are present) then it should be reported as a bug. Or you could create a patch and upload it yourself since you have the source code.

Thankfully though testindex1.pdf does work as that is the preferred version.

[Nuvistor]

There is this but I doubt many are interested.
http://www.opensource.apple.com

Frank