TechNote (Archived)

Tips for distributing PDF files on the Web (Acrobat 6.x-7.x)

What's covered

Optimize PDF files

Use server software that supports page-at-a-time downloading

Reduce the size of PDF files

Use URLs with 256 or fewer characters

Create HTML links to PDF files

Follow these tips if you distribute Adobe PDF files on the Web. These tips address problems that visitors might encounter when they try to view PDF files on your Web site.

Optimize PDF files

Optimizing PDF files reduces their file sizes and prepares them for page-at-a-time downloading (Also known as byte serving,or as Fast Web View in Adobe Acrobat 6.x or 7.x). Page-at-a-time downloading enables PDF files to appear quickly, even over slower modem connections.

Note: Acrobat 6.x and 7.x doesn't byte serve PDF files smaller than 250K on a fast modem connection (that is, broadband or LAN). However, Acrobat always byte serves PDF files on a slower modem connection.

To optimize PDF files:

1. Open the PDF file in Acrobat, and choose Edit > Preferences.

2. Select General in the left panel of the Preferences dialog box.

3. Select Save As Optimizes for Fast Web View, and then click OK.

4. Choose File > Save As, then name the file, specify a location, and click Save.

Use server software that supports page-at-a-time downloading

To determine if the server software supports page-at-a-time downloading, do the following:

-- If you use Microsoft Information Internet Server, contact Microsoft for information about which versions support page-at-a-time downloading.

-- If you use Apache, use version 1.2.1 or later or run a CGI script that enables page-at-a-time downloading. Contact Apache for more information about CGI scripting.

-- If you use other server software, contact the manufacturer for information about page-at-a-time downloading support.

Reduce the size of PDF files

Large PDF files take longer to appear. Reduce file size by changing the compatibility level or using PDF Optimizer. Visit the Adobe Web site at www.adobe.com/epaper/tips/acr6optimize/main.html for additional tips on reducing the size of PDF files.

Reduce file size by changing the compatibility level

To reduce file size by setting the compatibility level to a later version (for example, from Acrobat 5.0 compatibility to Acrobat 7.0 compatibility):

1. Choose File > Reduce File Size.

2. Choose an option from the Compatible With menu, and then click OK.

Note: While choosing compatibility with the latest version of Acrobat may produce the smallest file, you may not be able to view the resulting PDF files in earlier versions of Acrobat.

Reduce filesize using PDF Optimizer

PDF Optimizer in Acrobat 6.0 and 7.0 Professional enables you to examine space usage in a PDF file and reduce its file size. For more information about PDF Optimizer, see "Optimizing Adobe PDF Files" in Acrobat 6.0 or 7.0 Help.

Use URLs with 256 or fewer characters

Modify the paths or locations of PDF files so that their URLs contain 256 or fewer characters, and then upload the files again. (Long URLs can be problematic for older browsers.) If the URL was generated by an ASP script, see "Create HTML links to PDF files," below.

Create HTML links to PDF files

If your Web site serves PDF files automatically via an ASP script or through the POST method, consider creating HTML links to the PDF files instead. (Older browsers may have difficulty locating PDF files served automatically via an ASP script or through the POST method). For more information, see document 325875 , "PDF pages don't appear in Web browser window."