Adobe Reader

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Adobe Reader (also known as Adobe Acrobat Reader) is a free application that allows you to view and print PDF files. The Adobe Reader browser plugin allows you to view PDF files directly in a Web browser such as Firefox or Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey.

Note: If you see a message, "This object has been blocked" when downloading a PDF file, it is usually caused by Zone Alarm Pro or other security software which can block downloads of certain file types, including PDF files. See the article Object has been blocked for how to fix this problem and read this ZoneLabs forum topic for a more detailed explanation.

Installing Adobe Reader

You can download Adobe Reader from the Adobe Reader product page or from PluginDoc. If you are using Firefox and have problems with the Software Installation method described in the Adobe Reader Installation instructions for Mozilla Firefox, look for a "click here to download" link under "Download Notes", to manually download the installer. Unless you are using the online Software Installation method you will need to save the download to your Desktop or other location, close your browser and then run the installer. [1]

Adobe Reader plugin

If you are having problems with the plugin such as browser hangs or crashes after viewing a PDF file, or if the Adobe Reader plugin loads very slowly, make sure you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader for your operating system and install any available updates.

Enabling the browser plugin

The following applies to the Adobe Reader browser plugin on Windows. For other operating systems, visit PluginDoc.

If the Adobe Acrobat plugin is enabled, PDF files should open in the browser window or tab. If that's not happening, go to the about:plugins list of installed plugins and look for an entry for Adobe Acrobat (File name: nppdf32.dll). In Firefox 3 (and SeaMonkey 2), you should also open "Tools -> Add-ons (or Add-on Manager) -> Plugins" to verify that the Adobe Acrobat plugin is listed and enabled (if it is "grayed out", select the Adobe Acrobat entry and click "Enable").

If you don't see the Adobe Acrobat plugin listed, close your Mozilla application, open the Adobe Reader program and make sure that "Display PDF in browser" is selected in the Adobe Reader program preferences, under "Internet". If it is already selected, "toggle" the setting as follows: [2]

  1. In Adobe Reader, choose "Edit -> Preferences -> Internet".
  2. Deselect "Display PDF In Browser" and then click OK.
  3. Choose "Edit -> Preferences -> Internet"
  4. Select "Display PDF In Browser" and then click OK.
  5. Reopen your Mozilla application and verify that the plugin is enabled.

In Firefox (and SeaMonkey 2), you must also make sure that the option to use the plugin is selected in your Download Actions or (Helper) Applications listing, as follows (for additional information, read File types and download actions):

  • Firefox 2: Go to "Tools -> Options -> Content / File Types" and click the "Manage..." button. Select "PDF" from the list of extensions, click the "Change Action" button and select "Use this Plugin:" (Adobe Acrobat).
  • Firefox 3: Go to "Tools -> Options -> Applications", select the "Adobe Acrobat Document" entry in the list of content types, open the drop-down menu and select the option, "Use Adobe Acrobat (in Firefox)", as shown here on Windows XP.
  • SeaMonkey 2: Go to "Edit -> Preferences -> Helper Applications", select the "Adobe Acrobat Document" entry, open the drop-down menu and select the "Use Adobe Acrobat (in SeaMonkey)" option.

Note: If Firefox or SeaMonkey 2 is missing the PDF or Adobe Acrobat entry in the Download Actions or (Helper) Applications list, even though about:plugins lists the Adobe Acrobat plugin, completely exit your Mozilla application, open the profile folder and delete the mimeTypes.rdf file [3] (or rename it XmimeTypes.rdf). When you restart your Mozilla browser, all download actions will be reset and you will be able to use the plugin for PDF file downloads.

Disabling the browser plugin

You can disable the Adobe Reader browser plugin and force .PDF links to open the associated program as an external helper application by using one of the methods below:

Method 1: (Firefox 3 and SeaMonkey 2)

  • Firefox 3: Go to "Tools -> Add-ons -> Plugins". Select the Adobe Acrobat entry and click "Disable".
  • SeaMonkey 2: Go to "Tools -> Add-on Manager -> Plugins". Select the Adobe Acrobat entry and click "Disable".

Method 2: (Firefox and SeaMonkey 2)

  • Firefox 2: Go to "Tools -> Options -> Content / File Types" and click the "Manage..." button. Select "PDF" from the list of extensions and click the "Change Action" button. Select "Open them with the Default Application".
  • Firefox 3 Go to "Tools -> Options -> Applications", select the "Adobe Acrobat Document" entry in the list of content types, open the drop-down menu and change the option from "Use Adobe Acrobat (in Firefox)" to "Use Adobe Reader (default)" as shown here on Windows XP.
  • SeaMonkey 2: Go to "Edit -> Preferences ->Helper Applications", select the "Adobe Acrobat Document" entry, open the drop-down menu and change the option from "Use Adobe Acrobat (in SeaMonkey)" to "Use Adobe Reader (default)".

Method 3: This will disable the Adobe Reader plugin in all browsers.

  1. Open the Adobe Reader program and go to the "Edit -> Preferences" dialog.
  2. Select the "Internet" category and deselect (uncheck) "Display PDF in browser".

After closing Adobe Reader, open your Mozilla application’s installation directory, open the Plugins folder and ensure that the file "nppdf32.dll" is not present. If it is, remove it (or rename "nppdf32.dll" to "Xnppdf32.dll"). Failing to remove or rename this file may cause the browser to hang when attempting to open a PDF file.

Note that Mozilla applications may use plugin scanning to locate the Acrobat Reader plugin. You can prevent this by finding and renaming all instances of "nppdf32.dll" on your computer. Alternately, you can disable the plugin scan via about:config or via the user.js file by modifying the value of the preference plugin.scan.Acrobat from the default 5.0 to a value greater than the version installed, e.g., to 10.0.


Bypassing the plugin for specific usage

Even if you have not disabled the plugin you can still bypass it's use to read a PDF document directly with the Acrobat Reader regaining features not available in the plugin.

Windows, Paste the url address ("Copy link location" using Link context menu) of the PDF file into "My Computer" address bar, or into Run, or if on Vista into system Search would work.

Using Adobe Reader without the browser plugin

If you have disabled or are bypassing the plugin (above) then you have the full features of the Adobe Reader available to you.

"Reading Adobe Acrobat Files in single column mode" You can reflow most multi-column PDF documents into a single column for easier reading on your screen using View -> Zoom -> Reflow To return to normal uncheck Reflow. Reflow won't work for all files or for all pages, but most PDF documents can be reflowed. May not look the best, but the main thing is that you can simple scroll up and down without having to scroll across to read other columns.

"Full screen viewing" For full screen Ctrl+L, for Reading Mode (eliminates a toolbar) Ctrl+H, both are toggles so to undo hit the same keys again.

Saving PDF files to disk

You can save PDF files to disk and then open them without using the Adobe Acrobat plugin (or other PDF viewer plugin) by right-clicking links to PDF files and choosing "Save Link As".

To save all PDF files on which you left-click:

  • Firefox 2: Go to "Tools -> Options -> Content / File Types" and click the "Manage..." button. Select "PDF" from the list of extensions, click the "Change Action" button and select ""Save to disk".
  • Firefox 3 Go to "Tools -> Options -> Applications", select the "Adobe Acrobat Document" entry in the list of content types, open the drop-down menu and change the option to "Save File" as shown here on Windows XP.
  • SeaMonkey 2: Go to "Edit -> Preferences ->Helper Applications", select the "Adobe Acrobat Document" entry, open the drop-down menu and change the option from "Use Adobe Acrobat (in SeaMonkey)" to "Save File".

PDF files will now be downloaded to a folder for direct opening in Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer.

Speeding up PDF display - Adobe Reader 6

Adobe Reader 6 is the highest version installable on Windows ME and below. Adobe Reader 6 and the browser plugin automatically load a large number of components when they are opened. These are memory hogs and can cause the plugin to load very slowly. Many Adobe Reader 6 issues have been resolved by upgrading to Adobe Reader version 7 or above. If upgrading doesn't help or if you don't meet the system requirements for the latest version, try one of these workarounds:

Adobe Reader SpeedUp: The Adobe Reader SpeedUp program disables many of the unnecessary components. If Adobe Reader is not installed in the default location, you will have to change the setting in Adobe Reader Speedup's settings. This is easily done by using the Browse button in the program to point it to the correct location.

Manual method: As an alternative, you can use the following manual procedure: [4]:

  1. Open the Adobe Reader "plug_ins" folder, e.g., C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\plug_ins
  2. Create a new folder named "optional", e.g., C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\plug_ins\optional
  3. Move all files and folders from the Adobe Reader "plug_ins" folder to the Adobe Reader "optional" folder, except for these files:
    • eBook.api
    • EWH32.api
    • Search.api

Using an alternative PDF viewer

Alternative PDF viewers are available, such as the Foxit Reader (for Windows, Linux, U3) and the Schubert|it PDF Browser Plugin (for Mac OS X). Other PDF viewers are listed here. It's possible that some PDF files may not work and some functionality may be missing in viewers not made or supported by Adobe. You may wish to keep your Adobe Reader program installed and just disable the Adobe Reader browser plugin (see above) when adding an alternative PDF viewer [5]. That way, if problems arise, you can save the PDF file and open it by right-clicking, selecting "Open with" and choosing your Adobe Reader program.

Using an extension to display PDF files

  • The PDF Download extension gives Firefox users multiple options for handling PDF files such as viewing as HTML, opening within the browser or opening within the default or preferred PDF viewer.
  • The Firefox PDF Plugin for Mac OS X extension uses the built-in PDF support in Mac OS X to display PDF documents within Firefox. Requires Firefox 3 and Mac OS 10.4 or higher. Also works on an Intel Mac, according to user feedback.

External links