PDF Creator Bad Behavior

[Andy]

I recently installed the upgrade to PDF Creator (registered user).

Without my knowledge, you installed a toolbar to Word.
This is unacceptable practice!!!

I could not get rid of the toolbar. Even when I unselected it, it
appeared the next time I opened Word. I then deleted it entirely, and
it still re-appeared. I couldn't find anything in Word's Start
directory, or any entry in the Add-in dialog.

So I added to my autoexec macro the line:

CommandBars("Foxit PDF Creator").Visible = False

This worked, except that then I got a message asking me if I wanted to
save Normal.dot every time I exited Word, even if I didn't make any
changes to Normal.dot.

So I had to add another line to autoexec:

NormalTemplate.Saved = True

YOU SHOULD NOT BE MESSING WITH THE NORMAL.DOT FILE WITHOUT PERMISSION
FROM THE USER!!!

I like this program, and will continue to use it with the above
workaround. But you should fix this on the next build.

Meanwhile, is there a registry entry I can change to stop this bad behavior?

[Andy]

I found the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\ Addins\FPC_WordAddin.FpcWordAddin

I don't want to eliminate the add-in. I copied the button from your toolbar to my tool bar, so I don't want to lose the functionality.

I just don't want your toolbar displaying every time I open Word, and then having to add my code to normal.dot to hide the toolbar and not have you cause a change to normal.dot

[Andy]

I should clarify what I'm looking for here. While I still think you shouldn't install a toolbar without the user's permission, what is key is that I should be able to uncheck the toolbar and have it remain unchecked the next time I open Word. This is how all the other toolbars work.

[Jessamine]

Our creator does not have a toolbar for Word. It just adds a virtual printer to your PC.

[Normandie]

Our creator does not have a toolbar for Word. It just adds a virtual printer to your PC.

Jessamine,

Sorry but creator did add a toolbar to Word in my case. I don't mind that it did, but it is there. I am adding a screen shot to show what it did.

have a good day,
Normandie

[Normandie]

I found the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\ Addins\FPC_WordAddin.FpcWordAddin

I don't want to eliminate the add-in. I copied the button from your toolbar to my tool bar, so I don't want to lose the functionality.

I just don't want your toolbar displaying every time I open Word, and then having to add my code to normal.dot to hide the toolbar and not have you cause a change to normal.dot

How did you get rid of their toolbar? I copied their icon to my toobar and tried to right click on the toolbar to no longer show theirs, but each time I start Word it comes back. I even tried to delete theirs from Word and each time I start Word it is back.

Thanks,
Normandie

[Andy]

How did you get rid of their toolbar? I copied their icon to my toobar and tried to right click on the toolbar to no longer show theirs, but each time I start Word it comes back. I even tried to delete theirs from Word and each time I start Word it is back.

That's exactly the behavior I was complaining about.

I added two lines to an autoexec() macro in normal.dot:

CommandBars("Foxit PDF Creator").Visible = False
NormalTemplate.Saved = True

You'll see the toolbar momentarily appear and then disappear. The second line is to prevent Word asking on exit "The normal.dot file has changed, do you want to save it?", unless you really have changed it.

I also have autoopen and autonew macros I added these lines to, but that might not be necessary. I haven't gotten around to experimenting.

[Andy]

Forgot to mention that deleting the registry key I mentioned eliminates the toolbar. But it also makes any copy of their button on your toolbar non-functional. I like having the button, so I left the registry entry in.

I also have a button that changes the active printer to the Foxit printer, prints the document to a pdf file, and then restores my laser printer as the active printer.

But I like the new button also so I put the registry entry back.

I'm confident the Foxit programmers will make it so that the toolbar will stay unchecked, but still installed so any copied button will still work. Until then, I'll leave those lines in the auto macros.

[Normandie]

That's exactly the behavior I was complaining about.

I added two lines to an autoexec() macro in normal.dot:

CommandBars("Foxit PDF Creator").Visible = False
NormalTemplate.Saved = True

You'll see the toolbar momentarily appear and then disappear. The second line is to prevent Word asking on exit "The normal.dot file has changed, do you want to save it?", unless you really have changed it.

I also have autoopen and autonew macros I added these lines to, but that might not be necessary. I haven't gotten around to experimenting.

Andy,

Sorry to bug you, but how do you do the above? I am not an avid Word user, so I don't have any idea how to add those lines or where. I have used WordPerfect for the last 30 years and plan on staying with it, but would like to correct this for the time I need Word.

Thanks,
Normandie

[Andy]

Do you know how to record a macro?

[Normandie]

Do you know how to record a macro?


I saw the record macro command in Word, so I think I can

Normandie

[Andy]

Record a macro that does nothing, and name it AutoExec. Then stop recording.

In the macro run dialog, select AutoExec and click the edit button.

You'll see the macro code then in your Normal.dot file, in the VBA editor window. Insert the two lines I mentioned above in between the first line:

sub AutoExec()

and the last line:

end sub

Exit Word, and when asked if you want to save Normal.dot, say yes.

That should do it.

You are messing with your Normal.dot file, so it would be worthwhile learning more about this, and backing up your normal.dot file before you start.

Do a google search for normal.dot and see if you can get some general info, because you are doing this at your own risk.

[Normandie]

Record a macro that does nothing, and name it AutoExec. Then stop recording.

In the macro run dialog, select AutoExec and click the edit button.

You'll see the macro code then in your Normal.dot file, in the VBA editor window. Insert the two lines I mentioned above in between the first line:

sub AutoExec()

and the last line:

end sub

Exit Word, and when asked if you want to save Normal.dot, say yes.

That should do it.

You are messing with your Normal.dot file, so it would be worthwhile learning more about this, and backing up your normal.dot file before you start.

Do a google search for normal.dot and see if you can get some general info, because you are doing this at your own risk.


Andy,

Thanks for the help, I may wait around and see if Foxit comes up with a solution. I have written their tech support.

Thanks,
Normandie

[Andy]

Another interesting twist -

Every time I open Word, a copy of the Foxit icon, the one on the
toolbar, is copied to the Windows clipboard. I disabled the AutoExec
macro that hides the toolbar, and this behavior still remains.

(Good thing I have a clipboard manager so I don't lose the last text I
copied to the clipboard)

C'mon you guys, you can do better than this.

Until this is fixed I'm probably going to delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\ Addins\FPC_WordAddin.FpcWordAddin

[Andy]

Until this is fixed I'm probably going to delete HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\ Addins\FPC_WordAddin.FpcWordAddin

Instead, I just renamed

C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\PDF Creator\Convertor\FPC_WordAddin.dll

to

C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\PDF Creator\Convertor\FPC_WordAddin.dll.bak

That disables the toolbar loading.

Normandie, this is an easy workaround without having to mess with normal.dot. You'll just have to go back to printing to the Foxit printer to create pdfs.

[Normandie]

Instead, I just renamed

C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\PDF Creator\Convertor\FPC_WordAddin.dll

to

C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\PDF Creator\Convertor\FPC_WordAddin.dll.bak

That disables the toolbar loading.

Normandie, this is an easy workaround without having to mess with normal.dot. You'll just have to go back to printing to the Foxit printer to create pdfs.

Andy,

Did as you have done, renamed the file. I have emailed tech support the other day, sent a PM to Jessamine and have not heard from either :1_03: , and Jessamine has not answered back to this thread. I can say that I am more than a little disappointed, I paid good money for these two programs.

I think for now I will export the reg key they have put in, then delete it and if I ever decide they have fixed it, import it back in.

Have a good day,
Normandie

[Andy]

I can say that I am more than a little disappointed

It's still good software. They'll probably re-write the dll so the toolbar keeps it's setting (selected/unselected) and fix it so it doesn't copy the icon to the clipboard (I'm hoping that's not some fluke in my system).

[Normandie]

It's still good software. They'll probably re-write the dll so the toolbar keeps it's setting (selected/unselected) and fix it so it doesn't copy the icon to the clipboard (I'm hoping that's not some fluke in my system).

Andy,

I still think it is good software. I just got a PM from Jessamine and she said they are going to be working on it, :1_11: that their developer is on vacation. I will be looking forward to the solution since Foxit is so light on resources and does not take up a lot of space, does everything I need done, that is why I use it.

Have a good day,
Normandie

[Normandie]

have bought the paid version and the paid version of PDF Creator. I have had the same problem with foxit that you are having, having another problem with their creator, have sent in support request, it has been 2 weeks and total silence, they have not even acknowledged that I have sent in the request for help. I have posted here and same problem, no answers. Looks like they may have given up on this software. I am not a happy camper!!!

I used this for my office work and have been forced to go to another product after paying for this one and now I have had to pay for the other. If their was a way I could get a refund I would do it! In other words it is "goodbye foxit" you took me once, but not a 2nd time.

Normandie

[awarberg]

Creator version 1.0 Build 2212 from 03/05/07 now asks, during setup, if one want's this COM addin for easy pdf creation from eg. word. The default selection is yes. I turned it off ;)

In addition it seems that creator will now, per default, open newly created pdf documents. Previously they were just created. This is better though I would still like the option to choose myself each time I "print".

But it seems that they still have not included a silent install option! :(

[Jessamine]

have bought the paid version and the paid version of PDF Creator. I have had the same problem with foxit that you are having, having another problem with their creator, have sent in support request, it has been 2 weeks and total silence, they have not even acknowledged that I have sent in the request for help. I have posted here and same problem, no answers. Looks like they may have given up on this software. I am not a happy camper!!!

I used this for my office work and have been forced to go to another product after paying for this one and now I have had to pay for the other. If their was a way I could get a refund I would do it! In other words it is "goodbye foxit" you took me once, but not a 2nd time.

Normandie
Dear Normandie,

Sorry, there may be something wrong with our server. I thought I have replied all the Emails regarding Creator's problem. I apologize if I have missed it and any inconvenience. I have asked our developer to add a messagebox to ask users whether to install this plugin and in latest release, it has been done. This addin is used to convert the hypelink in your Word document to be clickable in pdf file. Please pm me your Email address so that I can trace it down. Thank you.