Having issues with AHK preventing the Action Wizard of Adobe Acrobat from running

[tester_9748]

So my job involves opening and locking hundreds of pdfs a week. I've set up a macro in the action wizard of adobe to automatically encrypt it with a password and save the file.

What I've recently tried to do is set up an AHK script which will click the action wizard start button, run the adobe script, and then close the pdf automatically. The issue I'm running into though is it seems like running the AHK script somehow prevents the Adobe Action Wizard macro from running. The mouse will click on the "Start Action" button but nothing will happen. Was wondering if anyone else had some suggestions or ran into this issue themselves with AHK.

[Tariq Ahmad Dar]

Hi @tester_9748 ,

Thank you for reaching out with your question. Wait for more input from the experts

Try disabling protected mode at startup. This suggestion is for testing only: 

To disable protected mode, you'll typically navigate to the application's settings, usually under "Options" or "Preferences," then find the "Protected View" or "Security (Enhanced)" section. Uncheck any options that enable protected mode and apply the changes. 

If it doesn't work, try the following: [Note: Adobe currently does not provide support for scripting. However, we do have a dedicated team available to assist with developer support.]

1. Temporarily Disable AHK Scripts:

• Before running the Action Wizard, try disabling any active AHK scripts to determine if they’re interfering with Acrobat’s functionality.

2. Modify AHK Scripts to Exclude Acrobat:

• If you need AHK scripts running concurrently, consider adding conditions to your scripts to exclude interactions with Acrobat. For example:

• IfWinNotActive, ahk_class AcrobatSDIWindow

  {

      ; Your AHK script actions here

  }

3.Utilize Acrobat’s Built-in Automation Features:

• Instead of relying on AHK, leverage Acrobat’s Action Wizard to automate repetitive tasks.

• For more advanced automation, consider using Acrobat JavaScript within the Action Wizard.

• Refer to Adobe’s official documentation for guidance on creating and managing actions: https://adobe.ly/44lTbAO

Let us know how it works.

~Tariq

[try67]

I recommend abandoning Acrobat for this task, as it can't be automated in a reliable way for this kind of thing.

You should use a stand-alone utility, preferably a command-line one, so you could run it as a Scheduled Task, or even with a Watched Folder, at specific intervals and without a UI or user interaction.

I've developed similar tools in the past, so if you're interested in hiring a professional to create it for you, feel free to contact me privately by clicking my user-name and then on the blue "Message" button.