I’ve been trying to figure out something really frustrating with Evince on my Ubuntu setup. So, here’s the situation: I sometimes need to view the same PDF file in multiple windows because I like to compare different sections side by side. But no matter what I do, when I try to open the same file again, it just brings up the existing instance instead of creating a new one.
I thought about opening the file through the terminal with a command, but honestly, I’m not super comfortable with the command line. I just want to get this done without too much hassle. I’ve tried dragging the file into the Evince icon again, but it just doesn’t work how I need it to.
It’s a bit annoying when you’re in the middle of reviewing documents for my work. The workflow gets messed up when I can’t pull up the same file in two separate windows. Has anyone figured out a way to do this? I heard there might be a way to run multiple instances of Evince or maybe use some trick to bypass the single-instance limitation.
I’ve also thought about checking the settings to see if there’s a toggle for this behavior, but I’ve come up empty so far. I’d definitely prefer to keep using Evince since I like its functionalities and lightweight nature, but if it means I have to switch to another PDF viewer just for this one feature, I might be tempted to do that.
If you’ve stumbled upon a solution or have some nifty tricks up your sleeve, I’d really appreciate your help. I bet I’m not the only one who finds this feature handy. So, let’s figure this out together. Any tips or guidance would be awesome!
To open the same PDF file in multiple instances of Evince, you can use the native “–new-instance” flag, but since you prefer a simpler solution, there’s a workaround you can apply directly in the file manager. Instead of dragging and dropping the PDF file onto the Evince icon or trying to open it again through the application, you can right-click on the PDF file and select “Open With” > “Evince” from the context menu. This action should create a new window for the PDF file, allowing you to compare the different sections side by side without disrupting your workflow.
If this method does not work or you’re looking for a more permanent solution, you might consider creating a simple desktop shortcut that always runs Evince in a new instance. You can create a new text file, paste the following code into it, save it with a “.desktop” extension (for example, `evince-multi.desktop`), and make it executable:
[Desktop Entry]Type=ApplicationName=Evince MultiExec=env UBUNTU_MENUPROXY=0 evince --new-instance %UTerminal=falseCategories=Viewer;Document;MimeType=application/pdf;. Place this file in your applications directory (usually `~/.local/share/applications/`) and it will allow you to open multiple instances of Evince from your applications menu.Opening Multiple Instances of Evince
I totally get your frustration! Having to view the same PDF in two different windows can be a real hassle when you’re trying to compare stuff. Luckily, there are a couple of workarounds that might help you out!
1. Use the Command Line (but made easy!)
I know the command line can seem a bit scary, but we can keep it simple! You can open a new instance of Evince by using this command:
evince --new-instance /path/to/your/file.pdfJust replace
/path/to/your/file.pdfwith the actual path to your PDF file. If you’re unsure about the path, you can just drag the file into the terminal window, and it will show up there.2. Creating a Desktop Shortcut
If you’re not comfortable using the terminal every time, consider creating a desktop shortcut:
envince --new-instance.3. Alternative PDF Viewers
If you find that Evince still doesn’t meet your needs, there are other PDF viewers like Okular or qpdfview that support opening multiple instances more easily. They might be worth a shot!
Final Tip!
Always ensure your system is updated, as sometimes features like this can change with newer versions. Hope this helps you streamline your PDF reviewing process!