Braniac

Answered

Interface detection with JavaScript

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
April 29, 2025
6 replies
859 views

Hi

With JavaScript, is there a way to detect whether the user is using the new Acrobat interface or the old one?
Context: I'd like to detect the interface for adding a menu item, i.e. in the Edit (or File) menu if it's the old interface, or in the Hamburger menu (which has been renamed AV2::HamburgerMenu) if it's the new one.

Also, what's the best way to detect whether it's the Mac or Windows version?

app.platform or other?
Because this menu change doesn't concern the Mac version.

Thank you

Correct answer PDF Automation Station

I hope they never remove the ability to revert to the old UI because this new one is an insult to productivity, flexibility, and common sense.

JR BoulayAuthor

Braniac

"PDF Automation Station This should cover all scenarios:"

Thanks, that's pretty much what I had in mind, I'll use your script.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

JR BoulayAuthor

Braniac

"Thom Parker

I'm at a loss then. So what's different on the Apple New UI? Is there something else in the menus, or tool buttons?"

As you probably know, Apple's guidelines are strict, requiring a fixed menu bar (at the top of the screen) containing a set of menus with the same name in all applications.

In the "new experience" the menus have not changed and still contain the same items. What has changed is that the tool and navigation panels have been inverted (right/left) and the toolbar floats over the document. Leaving a large empty space above the document, as in the Windows version (I sincerely hope the “genius” who invented this will rots in hell for the rest of eternity 😉 ).

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

PDF Automation StationCorrect answer

Braniac

I hope they never remove the ability to revert to the old UI because this new one is an insult to productivity, flexibility, and common sense.

JR BoulayAuthor

Braniac

Just tested on the Mac app.listMenuItems()[0].cName returns "Apple", the File menu is in 2nd position.

So I really need to test the platform too 😉

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

Thom Parker

Inspiring

I'm at a loss then. So what's different on the Apple New UI? Is there something else in the menus, or tool buttons?

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often

JR BoulayAuthor

Braniac

Thanks for this line of code, I didn't know about this method.
In the Mac version the new UI has kept the File, Edit, View, etc. menus, so the problem doesn't arise.

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

Thom Parker

Inspiring

Answered tool fast, you've already got that. So does the menu item method not work on the Mac?

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often

Thom Parker

Inspiring

Yes there is!!

The new UI has a different menu structure, and the first item is the "Hamburger" Menu.

this line of code:

app.listMenuItems()[0].cName

In the Old UI returns "File".

In the New UI returns "AV2::HamburgerMenu".

Thom Parker - Software Developer at PDFScriptingUse the Acrobat JavaScript Reference early and often

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