cannot copy Preview on Device URL

[studio 3D]

Next to the QR scan code is the adobe.ly url, but there's no way for me to copy it. I can't even manually type it into the browser since when I go to the browser the code/url disappears. Is this a bug, or? thanks!

[BenPleysier]

Have you followed the instructions as per Preview, inspect Dreamweaver web pages on multiple devices

[Niharika Jha]

Hi,

Copying functionality is not there, since to preview on devices you need to either scan QR code or type the URL on the device's browser.

Are you able to preview by scanning the QR code on your device? If the URL vanishes, can you try clicking on the icon again and see if it pops up?

If you need to preview on the desktop that you are working on, you can use Real Time Preview (press F12) and it will preview on the default browser that you set in DW.

Regards,

Niharika Gupta

[studio 3D]

Thanks... I do want to preview on desktop. I can go F12, but the browser needs constant refreshing, instead of updating instantly. Why even bother giving a URL if it's not usable?

[Jon Fritz]

DW has a few different preview options...

Device Preview (QR and URL): For testing other devices on the same network, if you don't have a local testing server set up.

Live Preview: For testing the site LIVE on the local machine in a given browser. Unfortunately, it's pretty glitchy and rarely works correctly for long.

Open In Browser (undocumented, possibly left in the program by accident): Works like the old Preview in Browser, but requires a few clicks. You can either right click on the file name in the Files window or, if your documents are set to tabs in DW and not floating windows, right click the document name tab and choose Open in Browser.

Personally, since I have a local testing server set up, I never use the first one. I prefer to give the website location as the IP address + the site's root folder for testing purposes on other devices. Live Preview works every now and again, but requires a connection to Adobe's servers and doesn't play nice with a local testing server set up. Open in Browser is fine for me and is what I use in most cases.

[Nancy OShea]

Same for me.  I rarely use Real-Time Preview.  Right-click > Open in browser is more reliable for my workflow.

And as for Device Preview, I never use it.   I have a local testing server.

Nancy

[studio 3D]

The QR code works fine on tablet/mobile. But for desktop, seems I used to be able to copy the adobe.ly URL, and it worked fine. In fact, if I write down the URL, and transcribe it to the browser, it works fine. But it would sure be a lot easier if I could just copy and paste it in the browser. Also, I find it interesting that this question is marked "ANSWERED" even though it's not! I still can't copy the URL... it should be very easy!

[pziecina]

I would like to see the return of an app like Edge Inspect incorporated into Dw's device preview, as an alternative option.

Anyone know what happened to it?

[Niharika Jha]

Hi,

As explained earlier, the URL is for previewing your site on the Device and that is why copying is not available. If you want to preview the site on your desktop, it is actually a lot easier- a one click preview by using "Preview in Browser". Please see attached snapshot.

Although, if you are facing problems with previewing the site on your desktop browsers we can definitely help you out with those.

Regards,

Niharika Gupta

[studio 3D]

Thanks for the help, but I don't understand why I don't seem to be clear. I know the Preview in Browser (F12) for which I have to SAVE ALL and REFRESH browser each time I want to update. But if I use the PREVIEW ON DEVICE URL on my DESKTOP, everything updates instantly, even if I switch tabs in Dreamweaver! But the only way I can do it is to WRITE DOWN the URL, then manually write it into the browser. If we cannot (easily) use the URL, why is it there??    There should be a  COPY icon... ??

If I press PREVIEW ON DEVICE button, it just closes window. THANK YOU for your help!

[Jon Fritz · Accepted solution]

CC2017 has some new/changed features when compared to CC2015.

In CC2017, F12 (the old Preview in Browser function) has been replaced the new Live Preview function. Hitting F12 at any time "should" open the page in the chosen browser and show you your edits live, as you make them.

The Device Preview has been changed, you no longer get the "double document" icon, as shown in your CC2015 screen capture. (I assume) it was removed because you "should" be able to simply hit F12, at any time, to get the same thing that you used to get by copying the url and pasting into the browser window.

Technically, it "should" be a one keystroke solution to the old copy/open browser window/click/paste that you were doing.

I put the quotes around should each time because it works pretty sporadically for me.

Make sure to go into DW's Help menu and submit a Feature Request/Bug Report to get the old copy icon back into the program. If enough people ask for it or vote up on your submission, Adobe may put it back.

[studio 3D]

For me the F12 solution requires saving and refreshing, and it still doesn't always work. The "Live" preview with the URL works MUCH better, but I do have to actually write it down and fill in the browser manually. I love it otherwise! Can't imagine why the copy icon was removed, but I will certainly request to have it back! (I would say, as I first surmised, that this IS a bug!) thanks