Can I use the LaunchBox Reader Plugin to run PDFs from the Main Application?

[malarrya]

Hey everyone. The developers may be able to answer this.

My Dungeons & Dragons platform uses mostly PDFs when launching items from the main application. In other words, instead of a video game, it runs a PDF that uses Adobe Acrobat to open the PDF. I understand that I can use the new PDF/game manual flipbook plugin to open the PDFs as a supporting document, but is there a way to make it so the main application launches the LaunchBox Reader instead of something like Acrobat?

I want Image 2 to do what image 3 is doing. Let me know if I am not being clear. 

Thanks!

Image 1: The main application with some of the launchable games.


Image 2: This is how the PDFs are currently run, using Adobe Acrobat. I want it to use the LB Reader.


Image 3: This is how a supporting document is added and then run using the LB Reader.
 

Image 4. This is the path to the PDF being launched.

Edited August 18 by malarrya

[JoeViking245]

1 hour ago, malarrya said:

but is there a way to make it so the main application launches the LaunchBox Reader instead of something like Acrobat?

You can create a new "emulator" that points to the LaunchBox Reader app.  Then have your pdf "games" use this 'emulator'.

 

[malarrya]

Thank you , I got it working! I was looking in the wrong place for the executable.

For anyone that comes across this post, here are the settings I used to get the D&D PDFs working with the new LaunchBox Reader:
TOOLS --> MANAGE --> EMULATORS --> ADD
EMULATOR NAME: LaunchBox Reader
APPLICATION PATH: System\Software\LaunchBox Reader\LaunchBox.Reader.exe
PARAMETERS: -theme dark -fixed-margin none -fit height -layout spread -fullscreen


ASSOCIATED PLATFORMS

[GotGroomedOnKik]

how are you getting the covers to show? my game informer magazines all show blank squares. they are in cbz format.

[Knowcontrol]

On 8/22/2026 at 3:23 AM, GotGroomedOnKik said:

how are you getting the covers to show? my game informer magazines all show blank squares. they are in cbz format.

You'll need to add them as images (jpg, png) with the exact same file name as the magazine and drop them in the Images > magazine_name > Box - Front folder. You can do this for the back as well. There are a few VERY detailed threads on the forum regarding tools to extract the front and rear images from various formats. I worked on my collection a few months ago and don't recall my workflow, sorry. Here are the parameters to get a nice looking 3D model though! My workflow was to open the magazines in their respective archive application (.cbz can only be opened in 7zip, .cbr can only be opened in WinRAR) and extract the front and back covers. I then needed to rename the images. I believe I was able to edit most file names fairly easy with Bulk Rename Utility to match the magazine issue name. 

Edited August 23 by Knowcontrol
remembered stuff

[Knowcontrol]

On 8/19/2026 at 10:43 AM, malarrya said:

Thank you , I got it working! I was looking in the wrong place for the executable.

For anyone that comes across this post, here are the settings I used to get the D&D PDFs working with the new LaunchBox Reader:

Thank you very much! I came here to ask the very same question. I had a different reader (CDisplayEx) which is extremely fast but doesn't have the smooth transitions like the LBR. The extra parameters are the perfect touch, thanks!

[malarrya]

On 8/23/2026 at 2:47 PM, Knowcontrol said:

Thank you very much! I came here to ask the very same question. I had a different reader (CDisplayEx) which is extremely fast but doesn't have the smooth transitions like the LBR. The extra parameters are the perfect touch, thanks!

Glad to hear it worked out for you!

I am sure you already know but, one thing I forgot to mention is that you then have to bulk change the default emulator for your PDFs to the new LB Reader.

Edited August 24 by malarrya

[GotGroomedOnKik]

On 8/23/2026 at 2:45 PM, Knowcontrol said:

You'll need to add them as images (jpg, png) with the exact same file name as the magazine and drop them in the Images > magazine_name > Box - Front folder. You can do this for the back as well. There are a few VERY detailed threads on the forum regarding tools to extract the front and rear images from various formats. I worked on my collection a few months ago and don't recall my workflow, sorry. Here are the parameters to get a nice looking 3D model though! My workflow was to open the magazines in their respective archive application (.cbz can only be opened in 7zip, .cbr can only be opened in WinRAR) and extract the front and back covers. I then needed to rename the images. I believe I was able to edit most file names fairly easy with Bulk Rename Utility to match the magazine issue name. 

i appreciate this a ton, i just figured out the controller situation finally. now imma get to work on the magazines later today. hopefully it wont be too much of a headache🙏

[GotGroomedOnKik]

On 8/23/2026 at 2:45 PM, Knowcontrol said:

You'll need to add them as images (jpg, png) with the exact same file name as the magazine and drop them in the Images > magazine_name > Box - Front folder. You can do this for the back as well. There are a few VERY detailed threads on the forum regarding tools to extract the front and rear images from various formats. I worked on my collection a few months ago and don't recall my workflow, sorry. Here are the parameters to get a nice looking 3D model though! My workflow was to open the magazines in their respective archive application (.cbz can only be opened in 7zip, .cbr can only be opened in WinRAR) and extract the front and back covers. I then needed to rename the images. I believe I was able to edit most file names fairly easy with Bulk Rename Utility to match the magazine issue name. 

alright, i was finally able to get it all sorted out. i didnt automate it because it seemed a little intimidating downloading apps/scripts just to do covers for me. but at least i know i did it somewhat right. ( or as best i could)
since you said cbz. files work in 7-zip i simply extracted all magazine issues to a folder, deleted everything but  all "0, 00,000,1,01,001" cover files and manually named them "Front - Gameinformer issue #_" 
it was time consuming doing the naming thing, but it was super easy and fast to import them afterward. 
i couldnt find out how to import them as a batch but i found out you can just drag and drop an image into the metadata editing page instead of having to click the add button and add it from the pop up window. 
after that it was just a matter of continuosly just clicking next and drag and dropping the images. 

it was a little time consuming and im sure there are faster ways, but i gotta say, now that its done i feel extremely satisfied. 

[Knowcontrol]

On 8/27/2026 at 12:04 AM, GotGroomedOnKik said:

it was time consuming

Yeah, you did it the very hard way. All you needed to do was just drop them into the Images > magazine_name > Box - Front folder as I posted the other day. As long as the image name matches the issue name then the images will show up automatically (or with a CTRL+a, F5 refresh) 

The Bulk Rename Utility (also previously mentioned) is your friend. It'll save a TON of time renaming magazine issues. It could have done that job for you in 5 seconds (after setting up the renaming scheme).

Edited Saturday at 12:05 AM by Knowcontrol

[GotGroomedOnKik]

1 minute ago, Knowcontrol said:

Yeah, you did it the very hard way. All you needed to do was just drop them into the Images > magazine_name > Box - Front folder as I posted the other day. As long as the image n
ame matches the issue name then the images will show up automatically (or with a F5 refresh) 

The Bulk Rename Utility (also previously mentioned) is your friend. It'll save a TON of time renaming magazine issues. It could have done that job for you in 5 seconds (after setting up the remaining scheme).

 i'll do a small batch of around 10 magazines using the bulk rename and magazine folder and see how that workflow is. 
i appreciate all the help, i thought i'd never get the magazines set up

[GotGroomedOnKik]

On 8/26/2026 at 9:15 PM, Knowcontrol said:

The Bulk Rename Utility (also previously mentioned) is your friend. It'll save a TON of time renaming magazine issues. It could have done that job for you in 5 seconds (after setting up the remaining scheme).

holy hell, that bulk renaming tool is a godsend. it looks daunting the first time opening it, but dude. youre a lifesaver for showing me that🙏

Edited Friday at 08:50 PM by GotGroomedOnKik