Manually force a program to open in the background?


Titanonectes

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Windows 11
This is specifically for Adobe Acrobat, but I figure that a way to force it for ~any~ program could come in handy for future cases.

I do research and like Acrobat's ability to restore documents from previous session automatically, not unlike having a browser restore closed tabs. However, unlike a browser, Adobe *forces* itself to be focused every time each document is loaded, drawing over other programs and interrupting typing tasks. It would do wonders for me if I can figure out a way to force it to open and load documents in the background. Almost any approach is fair game.
 
Windows Build/Version
Microsoft Windows 11 Professional (x64) Build 26200.8655 (25H2)

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This is specifically for Adobe Acrobat, but I figure that a way to force it for ~any~ program could come in handy for future cases.

I do research and like Acrobat's ability to restore documents from previous session automatically, not unlike having a browser restore closed tabs. However, unlike a browser, Adobe *forces* itself to be focused every time each document is loaded, drawing over other programs and interrupting typing tasks. It would do wonders for me if I can figure out a way to force it to open and load documents in the background. Almost any approach is fair game.
well i found the reg keys to open it maximized but have yet to find how to force it minimized. i can write an ahk and compile it to exe and you can set that as the 'default program' to open your pdf files with... where is the installed exe for your adobe located? the path to the actual program's exe

btw, if you want this:
make adobe alwasy open maximized:
HKCU\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobt\DC\ExitSection
bLastExitNormal = 1

HKCU\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\SDI
bMaximizeNextDocument = 1
bNullDocMaximized = 1
 

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Windows 11 Pro
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Windows 11 Pro
Instead of forcing Acrobat (and others later on) to the back, you could set whatever program you're working in to always be the topmost window.

 

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