Making the XDPXv16.3 PDF Manual work for you

[Acorn]

In XDPXv16.3 for some obscure (Magix) reason when you select Help > PDF Manual you are expected to download the same file for every access.
Help > PDF Manual launches https://rdir.magix.net/?page=APQN0PQHQ3FD, which in turn goes to http://dl03.magix.net/manual_designerprox16_en.pdf.

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This is the workaround I use.

Do the above for the first time (and only) and rename the PDF file to Manual - 16dot3.pdf.
Close XDPX - you don't have to make it maintains the voodoo.

Find you version of this folder: file:///C:/Program Files/Xara/Xara Designer Pro X/16/HelpAndSupport/ENG/.
It should contain xarax.chm and possibly earlier versions of the PDF Manual; these started from v16.0.

Locate C:\Program Files\Xara\Xara Designer Pro X\16\Product_eng.cfg and use a text editor with admin privilege, change this line:

PDFManualLink=https://rdir.magix.net/?page=APQN0PQHQ3FD

to

PDFManualLink=file:///C:/Program Files/Xara/Xara Designer Pro X/16/HelpAndSupport/ENG/Manual - 16dot3.pdf

If worried, copy the file first.

Now Help > PDF Manual opens your locally-stored version.

Acorn

[ernie-f]

Thanks Acorn.
Never searching where the PDF-Manual is stored and open it up from Xara, a great relief if you want read up something.

[Gypsyjoe]

Thanks Acorn,
Followed your instruct works great.

[Acorn]

To summarise:
@Magix

Acorn

P.S. the last Smiley has a link.

[Egg Bramhill]

That post made my night!

[Acorn]

The farce continues. The same muck around with the XDA v17.0 > Help > PDF Manual jumping to a Magix link that insists on a full download each and every use.

@Xara - do you actually care at all? Do you actually ever try to use the detritus that you and Magix churn out?

Acorn

P.S. Will a Mod move this to the Dear Xara Forum.

[handrawn]

I am wondering if magix logic is their way means that you are always looking at an up to date manual ? - now this may well be more principle than substance as I have no idea how often the manual is updated within a version number, if at all

there is [or at least for me] an option to open the PDF in my default PDF app, and I have downloaded the file for use offline

I have other programs where the help link is online only [and therefore, hopefully at least, up to date], with a seperate option to save/download; the annoyance for me with the magix way, is not going directly into the manual

[Acorn]

I am wondering if magix logic is their way means that you are always looking at an up to date manual ? - now this may well be more principle than substance as I have no idea how often the manual is updated within a version number, if at all
there is [or at least for me] an option to open the PDF in my default PDF app, and I have downloaded the file for use offline
I have other programs where the help link is online only [and therefore, hopefully at least, up to date], with a seperate option to save/download; the annoyance for me with the magix way, is not going directly into the manual

No, there is no logic.If an application links always forces a download without checking that it is new then the logic is utterly wrong.

MagiXara are failing to see that a product and its support are two sides of the same coin. Without either, you have a defaced your currency. Without both, you are a blank commodity.

Acorn

[handrawn]

ok well we can argue that both ways - all i said was in principle, magix could update what was available to download if they chose to work that way, and like i said, you can just open the pdf in the browser/viewer, you dont have to download duplicate files - apart from not opening directly i don't see this being significantly different to what happens with photoshop, or for that matter toon boom

[Acorn]

ok well we can argue that both ways - all i said was in principle, magix could update what was available to download if they chose to work that way, and like i said, you can just open the pdf in the browser/viewer, you dont have to download duplicate files - apart from not opening directly i don't see this being significantly different to what happens with photoshop, or for that matter toon boom

My objection is having a defunct submenu option (Help > PDF Manual) that always forces a download. Why should I have to take special measures (as listed) or remember NOT to click an option and go to a safe place to look at a document I frequently access. If the link went to the PDF directly, my browser cache would not download it until there was an update. There is no such option.

Acorn