Acrobat and Reader Process Monitor

The AcroMonitor tool helps troubleshooting problems that occur when the product is running; for example, crashes, error dialogs, and non-working features. It collects information about running processes, your system environment, and other log details. Once the data is collected and stored on your computer, you can examine it or send it to someone for further analysis.

Tip

The tool supports both Acrobat and Reader.

By downloading the software listed below, I acknowledge that I have read and agreed to the terms of the Adobe PDF Test Toolkit License, the Adobe.com Terms of Use and the Adobe Online Privacy Policy.

Windows instructions

  1. Download the latest zip for Windows: September 06, 2023: Win Process Monitor Tool.

  2. Unzip the file to any location.

  3. Double click AcroMon.exe.

  4. Check Advanced Logging if you want full memory dumps. The default setting collects mini dumps which provide information similar to that provided by Windows Error Reporting reports.

  5. Choose the target application (Acrobat or Reader).

  6. Choose Start. The application is launched automatically.

  7. If a User Account Control prompt appears, choose Yes.

  8. Perform the workflow where you are see the problem (the crash or freeze).

  9. Choose Stop Monitor.

  10. If a User Account Control prompt appears, choose Yes to give the Process Monitor permission to run.

  11. Choose Exit.

  12. Wait for AcroMonitor icon to disappear from the task bar (if it does not close, choose Exit).

  13. Go to %temp%/AcroMon/ to view the logs: (C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\Temp\AcroMon)

Viewing the output files

The tool collects the following:

  • Process dump

  • Process monitor Log

  • Registry dump

  • List of installed applications

  • System information

  • Product logs

Note:

  • DMP files: .dmp files are snapshots of a program. Use Visual Studio, Windbg, or some other debugger to view these files. Snapshots generated with the “advanced logging” option will dump the entire process memory into the dmp file for investigation.

  • PMC files: .pmc files are procmon filters that you can use to narrow down the logging and log activities that involve processes with “acro” or “iexplore” in their name. To view the rules which control how the file is generated, run procmon and choose File > Import configuration, and then choose Go to Filter > Filter.

Known Issues

  • The Process Monitor might take long time to close in certain scenarios. In that case, close it from the task bar.

  • When the product crashes on exit, you may not see the crash but the correct logs are collected.

Macintosh instructions

  1. Download the latest zip for Mac: September 06, 2023: Mac Process Monitor Tool.

  2. Unzip the file to any location.

  3. Double click Acromon.app.

  4. Check Advanced Logging if you want a full spin dump.

  5. Choose Start Monitoring.

  6. If a Password Control prompt appears, choose Yes.

  7. Perform the workflow where you are seeing the problem (the crash or freeze).

  8. Choose Stop Monitoring.

  9. If a Password Control prompt appears, choose Yes.

  10. Wait for AcroMon to collect logs.

  11. Click View logs to view and share the logs with support.

  12. To view the logs, go to /Users/<user>/Library/Acromon/Output.

Viewing the output files

The tool collects the following:

  • Spin dump

  • plist

  • List of installed applications

  • System information

  • Product logs

Uninstalling

To uninstall the tool, just delete it.