>>>I'll keep that should I ever need it
>>>
>>>Since acrobat 8, what I do is
>>>
>>>(1) Create an object that mimimizes any window that becomes the forground window
>>>(2) if adobe not open, start one
>>
>>Through ShellExecute?
>>
>No, I find the app in the registry that is associated to .pdf and 'open'
>
>
>>Also, if it's already running - what do you do?
>
>nothing
>
>
>>>(3) Do my thing with printto
>>>(4) Destroy the object created in (1)
>>>
>>>
>>>The only disadvantage is that it leaves a minimized acrobat reader in the task bar
>>>
>>>Life used to be easier
>>>
>>
>>So, the extra Adobe instance minimized is left running, correct?
>
>Only if no acrobat was open before I started printing

I guess you may try killing it - but there are possible dangers of having another instance opened in between - so probably better to leave it running.