DDE Message List of Acrobat and Adobe Reader

1. How to use of this site

This site explains the list of the DDE message (method) to operate Acrobat or Adobe Reader with the program sample. The sample uses comprehensible Microsoft VBA. It is thought that it becomes reference to VB, VB.NET, and JavaScript. When a pertinent instruction (method) is clicked from the list of each DDE message, the details are displayed. This site information is made based on information on Acrobat SDK. However, there is place where an interpretation different from SDK by the result of the test of the site manager actually is done a lot, too. In addition, the result might be different according to the environment and the version, etc.Please note the respect.

2. Introduction

ο½₯Acrobat Toolbar and Toolbar Button Names list

3. Following DDE Message treats the display operation of the Acrobat and Adobet Reader application.

DDE message (method) Explanation
AppExit All open PDF files are shut, and Acrobat (Or, Adobe Reader) application is ended.
AppHide
*1
The Acrobat application is minimized. However, it is not displayed in the taskbar. It only remains as a process in the memory. It is possible to use it at any time.
AppShow
*1
The Acrobat application is returned from minimization to former size and the screen is displayed.
CloseAllDocs All open PDF documents are shut.
HideToolbar
*1
The toolbar of the Acrobat application is hidden.
MenuitemExecute
*1
The menu entry where the Acrobat application was specified is executed.
ShowToolbar
*1
The toolbar of the Acrobat application is displayed.

*1:It doesn’t operate in Adobe Reader.

4. Following DDE Message controls the display of the PDF document.

DDE message (method) Explanation
DocClose The specified PDF document is shut. However, even if the PDF document has been changed, preservation is not done.
DocDeletePages
*1
The page specified with the PDF document is deleted. The demand of deleting all pages with the document is disregarded because there should be at least page 1 in the PDF document.
DocInsertPages
*1
Another PDF document is inserted after the page for which the PDF document is specified.
DocOpen Acrobat (Or, Adobe Reader) is returned to former size, and PDF file is displayed at the same time.
DocReplacePages
*1
The page is replaced by using the page for which it is specified from source PDF document with specification PDF document.
DocSave
*1
Specified PDF file is preserved. If PDF file has been changed, it is preserved in the state.
DocSaveAs
*1
Specified PDF file is preserved naming the name. Preservation to the same PDF file comes. When preserving it, the optimization of PDF file (reduction of the size) is done.
DocSetViewMode
*1
Only the bookmark, the thumbnail image, and the document change the view mode to the display.
FileOpen The specified PDF document is opened, and displayed. If it is, it is already assumed the active document, and PDF file has shown that it opens at the front.
FileOpenEx The specified PDF document is opened, and the screen is displayed. Two or more PDF files have already displayed to open in the front row in case of being. This DDE message is not added to the list to be able to manipulate the PDF document by using the DDE message. In that case, please use DocOpen.
The difference with the FileOpen method is not waited for until the PDF document finishes opening. The following instruction is immediately executed.

*1:It doesn’t operate in Adobe Reader.

5. Following DDE Message treats the print of the PDF document.

DDE message (method) Explanation
DocPrint
*1
It prints without doing the print range page in PDF file, presenting, and displaying the print dialog box. When printing, the size is changed to install on the printing area and it is printed.
– There are directions.
FilePrint An open display, and it does, and the print dialog box of PDF file is displayed. The following instruction is not executed as long as the print dialog box is not shut.
FilePrintEx An open display, and it does, and the print dialog box of PDF file is displayed. The relation is not in the print when the print dialog box is displayed and the following instruction is executed at once.
– There are directions.
FilePrintSilent The full page in PDF file is printed without displaying the print dialog box. The following instruction is not executed until the print ends.
FilePrintSilentEx The full page in PDF file is printed without displaying the print dialog box. Even if the print doesn’t start, the following instruction is immediately executed.
– There are directions.
FilePrintTo All pages are printed specifying the name of the print driver and the print port name without displaying PDF file in the screen. The following instruction is not executed until the print is begun. When printing, the size is changed to install on the printing area and it is printed.
FilePrintToEx All pages are printed specifying the name of the print driver and the print port name without displaying PDF file in the screen. The relation is not in beginning of the print and the following instruction is executed at once. When printing, the size is changed to install on the printing area and it is printed. It is suitable for the high-speed print processing in a large amount of PDF file.
– There are directions.

*1:It doesn’t operate in Adobe Reader.

6. Following DDE Message controls the aspect of the PDF document.

DDE message (method) Explanation
DocGoTo It moves to the specified page.
DocGoToNameDest It moves to the named page.
DocPageDown
*1
One screen demarcation side is scrolled forward.
DocPageLeft
*1
The screen is scrolled left just a little.
DocPageRight
*1
The screen is scrolled right just a little.
DocPageUp
*1
One screen demarcation side is scrolled backward.
DocScrollTo
*1
It scrolls to right and left (X,Y) in the under after the aspect on a present page is specified.
DocZoomTo
*1
It displays it specifying it according to the entire page and the width of the drawing area to be suitable for percent and width of the display method of the PDF document displayed now etc.

*1:It doesn’t operate in Adobe Reader.

7. Following DDE Message is used to search.

DDE message (method) Explanation
DocFind
*1
PDF file having a look displays the retrieval result of the character string. This command is not good at the simultaneous retrieval in two or more PDF files.

*1:It doesn’t operate in Adobe Reader.


8. It is only DDE Message as follows that can be used with Adobe Reader.

DDE message (method) Explanation
AppExit All open PDF files are shut, and Adobe Reader application is ended.
CloseAllDocs All open PDF documents are shut.
DocClose The specified PDF document is shut. However, even if the PDF document has been changed, preservation is not done.
DocGoTo It moves to the specified page.
DocGoToNameDest It moves to the named page.
DocOpen Adobe Reader is returned to former size, and PDF file is displayed at the same time.
FileOpen The specified PDF document is opened, and displayed. If it is, it is already assumed the active document, and PDF file has shown that it opens at the front.
FileOpenEx The specified PDF document is opened, and the screen is displayed. Two or more PDF files have already displayed to open in the front row in case of being. This DDE message is not added to the list to be able to manipulate the PDF document by using the DDE message. In that case, please use DocOpen.
The difference with the FileOpen method is not waited for until the PDF document finishes opening. The following instruction is immediately executed.
FilePrint An open display, and it does, and the print dialog box of PDF file is displayed. The following instruction is not executed as long as the print dialog box is not shut.
FilePrintEx An open display, and it does, and the print dialog box of PDF file is displayed. The relation is not in the print when the print dialog box is displayed and the following instruction is executed at once.
– There are directions.
FilePrintSilent The full page in PDF file is printed without displaying the print dialog box. The following instruction is not executed until the print ends.
FilePrintSilentEx The full page in PDF file is printed without displaying the print dialog box. Even if the print doesn’t start, the following instruction is immediately executed.
– There are directions.
FilePrintTo All pages are printed specifying the name of the print driver and the print port name without displaying PDF file in the screen. The following instruction is not executed until the print is begun. When printing, the size is changed to install on the printing area and it is printed.
FilePrintToEx All pages are printed specifying the name of the print driver and the print port name without displaying PDF file in the screen. The relation is not in beginning of the print and the following instruction is executed at once. When printing, the size is changed to install on the printing area and it is printed. It is suitable for the high-speed print processing in a large amount of PDF file.
– There are directions.

The programming operates DDE Message of Acrobat and Adobe Reader with VBA of MS Excel.