#2064 Magic comment causes the internal PDF viewer to misbehave

[Stefano]

I'm working collaboratively on a tex document, and this magic comment appeared on top of the main file (because I guess someone is using TeXShop or TeXworks):

%!TEX TS-program = pdflatex

I think TeXstudio doesn't really like this magic comment, because it causes the intenal PDF viewer not to start. In particular, TeXstudio always launches the external viewer rather than the internal one, even if the latter is set as the default via Settings -> Build -> Default Viewer = txs:///view-pdf-internal --embedded.

I couldn't find a way to make TeXStudio ignore the magic comment. Is it possible?

[Stefano]

-- Just an additional point. Of course I can very easily comment the line with an additional % and it will work just fine. I am asking for a way to do this with some option because we're versioning tex files with git, and it's impractical if this other guy and I constantly comment/uncomment the line whenever we have to compile before pushing our changes.

[Tim Hoffmann]

Works fine here.

• Which version of TXS are you using?
• Which command do you use, that shows the behavior?
• Please run Help -> Check LaTeX Configuration and provide the part "Command configuration in TeXstudio"

[Stefano]

I am using TeXstudio 2.12.2, and the command I'am using that bound to the magnifier lens button, I guess "txs:///view-pdf-internal --embedded".

Command configuration in TeXstudio:
    External PDF Viewer (view-pdf-external): "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe" "?am.pdf"
    PDF Chain (pdf-chain): txs:///pdflatex | txs:///view-pdf
    DviPng (dvipng): dvipng.exe -T tight -D 120 %.dvi
    DVI->PDF Chain (dvi-pdf-chain): txs:///latex | txs:///dvipdf | txs:///view-pdf
    Metapost (metapost): mpost.exe -interaction=nonstopmode ?me)
    Ps2Pdf (ps2pdf): ps2pdf.exe %.ps
    SVNADMIN (svnadmin): 
    make bib (user1): make bib
    Makeglossaries (makeglossaries): makeglossaries %
    PDF Viewer (view-pdf): txs:///view-pdf-external
    Makeindex (makeindex): makeindex.exe %.idx
    Texindy (texindy): texindy.exe %.idx
    make (user0): make
    Internal Precompile (internal-pre-compile): txs:///pre-compile | txs:///conditionally-recompile-bibliography
    SVN (svn): 
    Default Index Tool (index): txs:///makeindex
    BibTeX 8-Bit (bibtex8): bibtex8.exe %
    BibTeX (bibtex): bibtex.exe %
    Default Glossary Tool (glossary): txs:///makeglossaries
    Recompile Bibliography (recompile-bibliography): txs:///compile | txs:///bibliography | txs:///compile
    LaTeX (latex) (r): latex.exe -src -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex
    DVI->PS->PDF Chain (dvi-ps-pdf-chain): txs:///latex | txs:///dvips | txs:///ps2pdf | txs:///view-pdf
    Build & View (quick): txs:///compile | txs:///view
    Asymptote DVI Chain (asy-dvi-chain): txs:///latex | txs:///asy | txs:///latex | txs:///view-dvi
    Default Viewer (view): txs:///view-pdf-internal --embedded
    DviPdf (dvipdf): dvipdfm.exe %.dvi
    Latexmk (latexmk): latexmk -pdf -silent -pdflatex="pdflatex -synctex=1 %%O %%S" %
    make fixbiber (user2): make fixbiber
    Asymptote (asy): 
    PS Viewer (view-ps): "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe" "?am.ps"
    DVI Viewer (view-dvi): "C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.9\miktex\bin\x64\yap.exe" -1 -s @?"c:ame "?am.dvi"
    DviPs (dvips): dvips.exe -o %.ps %.dvi
    LuaLaTeX (lualatex) (r): lualatex.exe -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex
    Ghostscript (gs): mgs.exe "?am.ps"
    Asymptote PDF Chain (asy-pdf-chain): txs:///pdflatex | txs:///asy | txs:///pdflatex | txs:///view-pdf
    Biber (biber): biber.exe %
    Precompile (pre-compile): 
    test (user3): ./test.bat 
    Default Bibliography Tool (bibliography): txs:///bibtex
    Default Compiler (compile) (r): txs:///pdflatex
    XeLaTeX (xelatex) (r): xelatex.exe -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex
    PS Chain (ps-chain): txs:///latex | txs:///dvips | txs:///view-ps
    PdfLaTeX (pdflatex) (r): pdflatex.exe -synctex=1 -interaction=nonstopmode %.tex
    DVI Chain (dvi-chain): txs:///latex | txs:///view-dvi

[Tim Hoffmann]

the command I'am using that bound to the magnifier lens button, I guess "txs:///view-pdf-internal --embedded".

There's the point. This button is button is bound to PDF Viewer (view-pdf) which is set up to use the external viewer. Change it to txs:///view-pdf-internal --embedded and you'll be good.

[Stefano]

This is funny, I didn't know it was supposed to be that way. So why does the lens button show the embedded viewer when I comment the line out, even if it is set to view-pdf-external?

Here is some testing I have done:
1. Line commented, view-pdf-external -> embedded viewer
2. Line commented, view-pdf-internal --embedded -> embedded viewer
3. Line uncommented, view-pdf-external -> external viewer
4. Line uncommented, view-pdf-internal --embedded -> embedded viewer

Case 1 seems weird, and is the way I always used TXS, without knowing, until now. I always thought the lens was bound to the internal viewer.

[Tim Hoffmann]

1 seems weird indeed. Please provide a minimal example file.

[Stefano]

Actually, the minimal example is really really minimal (I think this has to do with some TeXstudio setting, rathern than with latex).

%%!TEX TS-program = pdflatex

\documentclass{article} 

\begin{document}

Hi!

\end{document}

Compiling this and clicking on the magnifier lens button doesn't open the external viewer, even if PDF Viewer (view-pdf) is bound to txs:///view-pdf-external.

The viewer opens correctly after clicking on the lens button if on the other hand I compile this:

%!TEX TS-program = pdflatex

\documentclass{article} 

\begin{document}

Hi!

\end{document}

[Tim Hoffmann]

Well, my statement above on the view button was not exact.

Under normal circumstances, the view button is bound to txs:///view. When you define a specific compiler using %!TEX TS-program it gets reassigned to txs:///view-dvi for latex and to txs:///view-pdf for pdflatex, xelatex and luatex/lualatex (for internal reference: Texstudio::commandLineRequested).

Generally, it is good practice (and default) to set txs:///view to txs:///view-pdf and define the viewer details in txs:///view-pdf

[Jan Sundermeyer]

so, won't fix ?

[Tim Hoffmann]

To be discussed. see my personal mail.

[Tim Hoffmann]

Code changes as a result of this report.

hg 6415 (70a7aa5a3407):
remove pdf viewer subtypes from "Default Viewer" config
The "Default Viewer" should only select between dvi/ps/pdf. PDF viewer subtypes
should be selected in "PDF Viewer".

hg 6417 (74c3060c4fad)
option to deactivate interperation of command definition in magic comments

This should make it more obvious and better to control.