XYPlorer locking PDF files

[hawaii]

Unable to produce an error report but if I try to delete or move a PDF file windows says it's locked by xyplorer. Closing xyplorer fixes the issue.

24.40.0200 and 25.40.0300

[admin]

I assume the PDF is previewed in XY when you try to delete it? It should still work, but some preview handlers (especially Adobe) sometimes behave badly.

[Horst]

It's not only Adobe, also PDF-XChange blocks while previewing from XY.
But for me, this is an XY specific problem.
Using the same Explorer preview module from Total Commander or Explorer
there is no problem to delete such a file from other tools like XY or Free Commander.

[admin]

That's weird. The preview should auto-close before you see the Delete prompt. Works 100% here (PDF-XChange).

[Horst]

PDF-XChange Editor version 10.2 build 384 is set in the OS as PDF previewer.
Preview works fine in all file managers and Everything.
Only previewing a PDF from XY (preview pane) blocks deleting it from any other tool.

[highend]

@Horst
Even in a fresh instance?

Because I can't confirm that observation...

XY v25.40.0300, fresh
PDF-XChange Editor (free) v10.2.0.384

I'm creating a copy of the 1.pdf in XY, preview it in XY, change to File Explorer, select the same file and delete it...

Animation.gif (528.47 KiB) Viewed 3724 times

[Horst]

@Horst
Even in a fresh instance?

In works in a fresh instance
Now the question, which setting makes it not-working in the normal settings ?

[highend]

Configuration | Other | Shell Integration | 64-bit Windows | [x] Use 64-bit preview handlers for preview

or any pdf entry with a specific bitness in
Configuration | Preview | Previewed Formats | Category: User-Defined Preview Handlers

for [x] User-Defined Preview Handlers

[Horst]

The problem comes when "Use 64-bit preview handler for preview" is set.

[highend]

So the "XY64.exe" is responsible for holding the lock...

It blocks the preview handler so that no other process has access anymore, e.g. if you're having the File Explorer preview window open and view e.g. 1.pdf, switch to the same file in XY, the preview of File Explorer "gets lost" with: This file can't be previewed because it is in use...

@Don:
Sometimes the XY64.exe appeared twice in TaskManager while playing with pdf previews and one of these instances wouldn't quit (by itself) anymore.
So if XY is quit that instance lingers around and trying to update via the installer won't work correctly (it can't overwrite that instance).

[admin]

Okay, I'll put that on my list.

[hawaii]

I assume the PDF is previewed in XY when you try to delete it? It should still work, but some preview handlers (especially Adobe) sometimes behave badly.

I do not use the XY preview, nor PDF-XChange. It seems that some have figured out the issue. If I recall the issue started after version 25. I've been swamped with life obligations to narrow down the exact version. If I get some free time I'll scrounge up the version.

[admin]

Okay, that would be helpful.

[hawaii]

I went back to 22.70.0000 (11-Jan-2022) and saw the error happen again. The PDF was locked. I ran Lockhunter but it was unable to locate what was locking the file despite the error pointing to XYplorer. I closed out of XYplorer and tried a later version but was unable to replicate the error. I tried 22.70.0000 (11-Jan-2022) again and was unable to replicate the error. I tried multiple other versions up to the current 25.40.0400 (15-Jan-2024) and was unable to replicate the error. I made multiple copies of the PDF file and they were deleted without an issue. I suppose I'll have to try again after a reboot or some other day, it's not the top priority for me. It's just an annoyance.

While writing this I thought I'd delete the file again using 25.40.0400 (15-Jan-2024), PDF locked.

20240124-January-W4_194721544_XYplorer.png (23.33 KiB) Viewed 3430 times

I suppose I may need to wait several minutes after installing the older versions. Is this something really with XYplorer or a Windows (update) issue? I don't believe I had any problems with PDF files being locked in the past. Until around four to six months ago.

[admin]

You are deleting with XYplorer or with another app?