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michael211_2000
Inspiring
June 27, 2019
Answered

Opening a pdf file on more than 1 computer at same time?

  • June 27, 2019
  • 6 replies
  • 6767 views

Can I (or should I be able to) open a particular pdf file on more than 1 computer at the same time with Acrobat DC? We are having problems doing so, and do not know why. Previous posting about this issue went unanswered and unresponded to.

Thanks.

- Michael

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer michael211_2000

Well here is my final update on this issue... there was some kind of Adobe Update that was pushed out during 4th of July weekend, this week we aren't having any further issues being able to open the same pdf file on multiple computers at same time. As far as we can tell, the update fixed whatever had been causing this issue. Problem has gone away as mysteriously as it appeared.

Thanks.

- Michael

6 replies

T
Tommy5C11
Participant
November 25, 2020

How do you do this? Do you need to log in on the same adobe account on two devices at the same time or something? And what would you have to do after that? 

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
July 11, 2019

That is awesome, glad to read that!

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 29, 2019

Hello Michael,

I hope you were able to figure out the issue with the PDF files .

I carefully re-read your thread again and also tried downloading the Egnyte Desktop Connect App( free trial) but could not install it due to my crappy old computer  not meeting hardware requirements

1. Below is a breakdown of additional personal notes on how I would approach the issue before messing with anything related to           networking that is already working. And I agree that it may be something with the Adobe product,

     - Starting from the end to the beginning of this threadbut we have Egnyte interacting with both of the Windows OS and  the Adobe           Acrobat configurations for network file sharing, security policies,  and how the synchronization of files and folders may be affecting           the access to resources to the entire workgroup or individually on each desktop computer.

    

2. I am also considering that you mentioned that your users are convinced that this problem didn’t happened before, that this is           something new going on.

     - Could this be related to the Adobe Creative Cloud service? Could it be that the clients security configurations and trust relationships           changed during an unattended update, like for example, the Sandbox Protections found in the Security (Enhanced) settings or in           the Trust Manager in Adobe Acrobat

3.  You also mentioned that Word and Excel documents on the Egnyte don't exhibit any problems when being opened from multiple           pc's at the same time, and that  it seems unlikely that this is a problem with the Egnyte

    

       -Seems like the MS Office files are good but not the PDF file(s). Is it one particular PDF  file displaying the problem or does this

          happens with all PDF files?

          When the users access the Acrobat PDF file(s) where are they saving them,  in a local desktop folder in their computer? over a MS           Windows shared network folder that is backed up at the Egnyte cloud regularly? Or are these PDF files saved directly into the           Egnyte cloud through each individual Egnyte desktop client accounts?

          How often are the designated storage folders for your PDF files synchronized with the Egnyte cloud folders: In other words, have           you figured out which folders need to be synchronized?

         

          If so, where are these PDF files being saved in the Egnyte cloud: Safety folder, Shared folder, Private Folder, Backup Folder?

4.  You also mentioned that in almost all cases the office workers are only trying to view the same pdf file with Acrobat Pro DC nobody is       even attempting to edit it not even 1st computer that opened it. One PC can open the PDF file

     - Could this be an administrative issue of file ownership/folder sharing at Windows OS level rather than the Egnyte cloud                     configuration? Could it be a volume licensing plan issue? (Per-seat, per user?)

          Are all the  .Net Framework dependencies updated on each computer that is using the Egnyte Desktop Connect App ?

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michael211_2000Author
Inspiring
June 29, 2019

Ok you offered up some really good meat-n-potatoes here and I don't know the answers to all of the questions you pose (but will try to find out next week). One problem I have is that I have to work around all these engineers who use the Adobe products extensively, and it's their computers that are exhibiting this issue. Arghhhh!

So, right now they are right-clicking on the pdf file they want to view on the Egnyte cloud (it's in a Shared folder on the cloud) and are downloading it to their desktop before viewing it (and *if* they make any changes, they save it to their desktop location then re-upload the file to the shared location on the cloud). Very inconvenient, and most times not even necessary as the odds that another of the users has the same pdf file open at that moment is low.

The way they were using it before a month or so ago, was that the shared cloud location was where they went to save any new pdf's and where they would double-click these pdf's to open them directly (via the Windows Explorer).... and that's the way they want to be able to use it, as some of the users are out on job sites with tablet pc's working remotely and they all need access to the most up-to-date copy of these pdf files. But sometime in May or June it stopped working that way more often than not, it's like pdf files are getting randomly opened for exclusive access.... I could not find any settings in Acrobat Pro DC regarding "exclusive access" when I was at one of their desks trying to troubleshoot the problem the other week; I will need to get back on one of their pc's to look for this enhanced security settings area next week and see how that is set on their pc's. Thanks! Your screen caps show potentially relevant settings I had not looked into previously I will check them!

As to whether some updates (from Microsoft of Adobe or both) have led to this situation I do not know. It's difficult to troubleshoot this when there are so many different sources of program updates and multiple pc's involved it's like how much more complicated can this get? LOL! 8-)

I will try to learn some more next week and update what I learn. Thanks!

- Michael

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 28, 2019

Sorry to read that. And I misunderstood when you said "just so I can eliminate the Egnyte "cloud" storage from this equation".

I truly wish I could be at your level; reading and posting to other users the information that I find on the web accounts for almost 80% of all I can do at this time. 

I don't have a network lab that I can work with to prove a point or to substantiate the way I try to reply in hopes of sharing some guidance.

M
michael211_2000Author
Inspiring
June 28, 2019

I don't have a network lab, either. I'm not trying to prove anything, just trying to isolate where the problem lies and so far it appears to be something with the Adobe product as far as I can tell.

- Michael

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 28, 2019

Hello again,

I didn't know there was an Adobe Customization Wizard and the Enterprise Toolkit  but in  the links below you will find

a different approach to consider if you are getting rid of the Egnyte cloud .

Adobe Customization Wizard DC

Installation and setup — Acrobat Customization Wizard DC for Windows

https://www.clipvl.net/video/8T3HaR-5lyY/adobe-customization-wizard-dc-pane.html

Deploy Adobe Acrobat  using Creative Cloud

Deploy Adobe Acrobat DC

I hope this helps

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michael211_2000Author
Inspiring
June 28, 2019

I never said we were considering getting rid of the Egnyte cloud solution, just planning to try to narrow the problem down by setting up a test scenario without it. Since Word and Excel documents on the Egnyte cloud don't exhibit any problems when being opened from multiple pc's at the same time, it seems unlikely that this is a problem with the Egnyte cloud but I never say anything is impossible.

So no, not really helpful. Thanks anyway.

- Michael

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 27, 2019

Hello Michael,

You should and you can be able to share a PDF file for review in a collaboration team.

This link may be useful:

Accessing single file in 2 pc's in writing mode..(require to - Microsoft Community

Other useful links:

Manage and work with your files stored in Adobe Document Cloud

Share files online with Adobe Acrobat

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michael211_2000Author
Inspiring
June 27, 2019

Thanks for your response and the links, but the links aren't helpful unfortunately.

Randomly (as far as I can tell at least), when a pdf file on our network "cloud" (hosted by Egnyte) is open on 1 office pc and a second office pc attempts to open the same pdf it simply says "unable to open pdfname". It's as if the 1st computer has the pdf file opened for exclusive access. But it is random, and not specific to any 2 of our office pc's.

So randomly it seems, the 1st office pc to open the pdf file has no problems but the 2nd 3rd 4th etc. pc that tries opening the file (while the 1st one is still viewing it) cannot. This only appears to happen with pdf's, MS Word and Excel files stored in same "cloud" location don't exhibit this behavior. In almost all cases the office workers are only trying to view the same pdf file with Acrobat Pro DC nobody is even attempting to edit it not even 1st computer that opened it. This has me stumped, and I'm the technical guy with BSCS and Windows certifications and all that! Ughhhh!

I'm thinking about setting up a test with a locally shared LAN location and pdf file and a few of the office pc's next, just so I can eliminate the Egnyte "cloud" storage from this equation (but again, other file types don't seem to be being affected, just Adobe pdf files). Everyone swears this problem is new, that they never had any problems opening pdf files from the "cloud" on multiple pc's before a month or so ago....

- Michael

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