Adobe Reader: Difference between revisions
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===Speeding up PDF display=== | ===Speeding up PDF display=== | ||
Adobe Reader 6.x and the browser plugin automatically load a large number of components when they are opened. These are memory hogs which can make the plugin run very slowly or even crash when it is opened/closed and has caused issues with many users. If Firefox hangs when closing after viewing a PDF file, make sure you are using the newest version of the plugin (at the moment 7.0). | Adobe Reader 6.x and the browser plugin automatically load a large number of components when they are opened. These are memory hogs which can make the plugin run very slowly or even crash when it is opened/closed and has caused issues with many users. If Firefox hangs when closing after viewing a PDF file, make sure you are using the newest version of the plugin (at the moment 7.0). | ||
==== Adobe Reader Speedup ==== | |||
If upgrading to the latest version of Adobe Reader doesn't help, try using the [http://www.tnk-bootblock.co.uk/prods/misc/index.php Adobe Reader Speedup] program, which disables many of the unnecessary components. (Note: This solution does not work for all users; in some cases Firefox itself crashes, rather than Reader. See discussion.) | |||
==== Manual procedure #1 ==== | |||
The Adobe Reader Speedup doesn't work when Reader is not installed to the default location. You can use this instead: | |||
*Install Adobe Reader 6 | *Install Adobe Reader 6 | ||
*Navigate to the folder where you installed Acrobat 6. It will look something like: | *Navigate to the folder where you installed Acrobat 6. It will look something like: <tt>C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader</tt>. | ||
*Find the plug_ins folder and rename it plug_ins_disabled then create a new folder named plug_ins. | *Find the "plug_ins" folder and rename it "plug_ins_disabled" then create a new folder named "plug_ins". | ||
*Copy the following files from "plug_ins_disabled" to "plug_ins": EWH32.api, printme.api, and search.api | *Copy the following files from "plug_ins_disabled" to "plug_ins": EWH32.api, printme.api, and search.api | ||
*Note that this can | *Note that this can break searching PDFs in your browser. | ||
==== Manual procedure #2 ==== | |||
An alternative method that does not break Adobe Reader functionality is to make the plugins optional. Reader will then only load them as required, making start up quicker. | |||
*Exit reader. | *Exit reader. | ||
*Locate the | *Locate the plugin directory: e.g. <tt>C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\plug_ins</tt> | ||
*Create a new folder called | *Create a new folder called "Optional" i.e. <tt>C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\plug_ins\Optional</tt> | ||
*Move all the | *Move all the plugins, including other subdirectories, to the "Optional" folder. | ||
===Saving PDF files to disk=== | ===Saving PDF files to disk=== |
Revision as of 13:33, 26 April 2005
Adobe Reader is the official software that allows you to view and print PDF files. It includes a browser plugin that allows you to view PDF files directly in Firefox or Mozilla Suite.
Adobe Reader plugin
Speeding up PDF display
Adobe Reader 6.x and the browser plugin automatically load a large number of components when they are opened. These are memory hogs which can make the plugin run very slowly or even crash when it is opened/closed and has caused issues with many users. If Firefox hangs when closing after viewing a PDF file, make sure you are using the newest version of the plugin (at the moment 7.0).
Adobe Reader Speedup
If upgrading to the latest version of Adobe Reader doesn't help, try using the Adobe Reader Speedup program, which disables many of the unnecessary components. (Note: This solution does not work for all users; in some cases Firefox itself crashes, rather than Reader. See discussion.)
Manual procedure #1
The Adobe Reader Speedup doesn't work when Reader is not installed to the default location. You can use this instead:
- Install Adobe Reader 6
- Navigate to the folder where you installed Acrobat 6. It will look something like: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader.
- Find the "plug_ins" folder and rename it "plug_ins_disabled" then create a new folder named "plug_ins".
- Copy the following files from "plug_ins_disabled" to "plug_ins": EWH32.api, printme.api, and search.api
- Note that this can break searching PDFs in your browser.
Manual procedure #2
An alternative method that does not break Adobe Reader functionality is to make the plugins optional. Reader will then only load them as required, making start up quicker.
- Exit reader.
- Locate the plugin directory: e.g. C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\plug_ins
- Create a new folder called "Optional" i.e. C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\plug_ins\Optional
- Move all the plugins, including other subdirectories, to the "Optional" folder.
Saving PDF files to disk
You can save PDF files to disk and then open them without using the Adobe Reader plugin by right-clicking links to PDF files and choosing "Save Link As".
To make your browser automatically save all PDF files on which you left-click, go to "Tools -> Options -> Downloads -> File Types". Scroll to PDF, press "Change Action" and then select "Save to disk". PDFs will now be downloaded to a folder for opening in Reader separately. Note that this procedure will not work if PDF is not currently listed as a recognized file type. Instead, you should disable the plugin as described below.
Disabling the plugin
You can prevent Adobe Reader from forcing the plugin into your browsers by starting Adobe Reader and navigating to "Edit -> Preferences -> Internet". However, this may not prevent Mozilla applications from finding and using the plugin, since they may use plugin scanning to locate it themselves. To prevent this, you should open the relevant configuration file for your application and disable the scan by changing the line
pref("plugin.scan.Acrobat", "5.0");
to
// pref("plugin.scan.Acrobat", "5.0");