[texhax] controlling pdf reader (was Re: beamer and "Read out loud")

[James Quirk]

Tom,

On Sun, 18 Apr 2010, Tom Schneider wrote:

> James:
> 
> >    http://www.amrita-ebook.org/tex-group/tts-sync.pdf
> 
> A problem I have been unable to solve is how to get a PDF to reload to
> the same page when the file changes.  Alternatively, I would need some
> method to control the page of the reader (and to be able to read the
> current page) by an external script.  I've tried a lot of different
> readers and methods and none allow this - or I'm missing something.
Linux AR9.x now provides a reload functionality, key short-cut Ctrl-R,
which basically does what you want. But I don't think it has made it
into either the Windows or OSX versions. 

> 
> Maybe you have an idea?

The lack of a reload has never bothered me, because of the way I work. For 
instance, if you check out the bookmarks panel in the above, tts-sync.pdf, 
and click on ``mk_sync'' under ``Document Source'' you'll activate
a swf-powered browser that shows how the document is generated.
Or at least it will for Windows AR and Linux AR, OSX AR is broken!

Anyhow, I basically write a program that writes a LaTeX file, and the 
program takes care of invoking pdflatex to process the resultant LaTeX and 
it will also invoke AR as needed. And in the case of a document
such as:

   http://www.amrita-ebook.org/draft/jjq-on-4th-Paradigm.pdf

which involves much tinkering with a single page, the programming model
includes a ``coldstart'' construct that will automatically invoke
the JavaScript needed to get the page state I'm currently working on,
which is more involved than just jumping to a page; it involves
traversing a tree of /Widgets and excuting event handlers.

Of course none of this will help you, owing to the peculiarities
of what I do; Quirk by name and quirk by nature. But from your
email address it seems you might be reasonably close by. So if you
ever find yourself near Old Town Alexandria, VA. Drop me an e-mail
and I'll show you what your options might be.

James

> 
> Tom
>