Sometime between 12/9 and 12/13/21, I lost some of my tools (both down the side and above) and the PDFs are generating with about a 1/4 to 1/2" of additional border beyond the prescribed boundaries of the documents. I tried resetting my toolbox to default, but I don't see any difference, and I have no idea what to do about the PDFs. Incidentally, the PDF files have been huge ever since I upgraded to CorelDraw 2019. Whenever I'm doing a 12-page color newsletter, I have to have the guy that posts it dumb it down in the extreme! Before that, I could keep an online document under 20 MB at 150 dpi, but now it's over 50 MB. If I generate one at 96 dpi or below, it comes out fuzzy.
I have read that Microsoft 10 updates have been messing with a variety of programs and I have the dates (above) when it could've happened, but I don't know how to track down which update(s) might be the culprit(s). Years ago, I had an MS update screw up my PageMaker, but I knew the exact date when it happened and there were forum postings on it, so I was able to fix the problem. Thus far, I haven't found any for my issues.
It also occasionally does a bizarre thing on a 12-page newsletter, where it starts flashing little object handles all over the place and eventually, facing pages swap places (I shot a video, but it's too big to post). Every once in a while, it does more than just swap facing pages and I end up with misplaced pages all over the place. I had the same problem with the previous version and the tech had no idea what do about it, and naturally suggested the upgrade. But guess what? It's still doing it! Just not as often...so far.
Yes, Windows updates can cause the most peculiar things to happen.In this case though, It sounds more like Draw has been corrupted somehow.I suggest you try the Repair option from the suite's install routine.Regarding the PDF's getting bigger than normal, I'm pretty sure it is just an export setting.There's a number of things that can make the files grow, like for example bitmap compression.Also remember that some Draw specific effects may be rendered as bitmaps depending on your export settings.
I tried the Repair and no cigar. Reinstall from the disk?FYI, I went ahead and allowed access on the Windows Security box and checked my X8 version and the tools are all there. At least now I can see what all is missing. I tried looking under the 2019 Tools menu/Options/Tools, but the missing tools are not listed. I'm actually missing the whole Objects menu in 2019.
All this sounds very odd.Regarding the security message it sounds like you have solved it by simply allowing access to at least private networks, so I guess that part is fixed.Regarding the missing tools you seem to have tried the most obvious solutions, and you say that they were there (in this version) until between December 9 and 13 somewhere, but then they suddenly disappeared.Are you saying that you don't have anything in the Tools section in Options? (screenshot from Draw 2020 attached)Since you've reset the workspace (have you tried the other built in workspaces too?) and also Repair, you could try uninstalling Draw completely (documents should not be affected but it is always wise to have backup copies), restart the computer and try to install again.If it still doesn't help, I suspect that there may be something missing in Windows.I believe Draw is using Microsoft Visual C++ and Visual Studio and it is important that they are properly installed, but Draw should take care of it during installation if they are missing.
Hi Ronnie - I answered this, but it seems to have disappeared upon clicking on Reply and I don't have time to retype it (got an appointment). I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you!