What's covered

• Configure the browser to open PDF files within the browser window
• Configure the browser to open PDF files in an Acrobat window
• Download a PDF file to your hard disk

Configure the browser to open PDF files within the browser window

When you install Acrobat or Adobe Reader on a system with a browser, you automatically configure the browser to open PDF files within the browser window. Acrobat and Adobe Reader install ActiveX plug-in files that allow you to use Internet Explorer or AOL to open PDF files. If either application is installed, but PDF files don't open in the browser window, work through the following steps to configure the browser:

1. Make sure that the system meets the requirements for the Acrobat product that you use.

Acrobat can't run correctly if the system doesn't meet the following requirements:

• Intel Pentium processor
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 1 or 2, or Tablet PC Edition, or Windows 2000 with Service Pack 2
• 128 MB of RAM (256 MB recommended)
• 460 MB (Professional) or 360 MB (Standard) of available hard-disk space; optional installation files cache (recommended) requires an additional 300 MB of available hard-disk space.
• 1024 x 768 (Professional) or 800 x 600 (Standard) screen resolution
• CD-ROM drive, if installing from a CD
• Internet Explorer 5.5 or later

2. Make sure that the ActiveX folder contains files required for web browsing.

To open PDF files in a browser window, the ActiveX folder must contain the following files: Acropdf.dll; Acroiehelper.dll; Gbdetect.dll; and Pdfshell.dll. If any of these files are missing, repair Acrobat or Adobe Reader by choosing Help > Detect And Repair, or reinstall the application.

You can find the Active X folder in Program Files/Adobe/Acrobat 7.0.

3. Use a supported version of the browser.

Make sure that you use a browser that Acrobat and Adobe Reader support, such as Internet Explorer 5.5.

4. Restart Windows after installing Acrobat or Adobe Reader to update the Windows registry.

To ensure that the Windows registry provides the information your web browser requires to view PDF files, restart Windows. If the Windows registry doesn't update after you install Acrobat, it's possible that the web browser can't find the references it requires to access PDF files.

5. Remove older versions of Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

If you have an older version of Acrobat or Adobe Reader installed on the system, remove it. You can remove it by using the Add Or Remove Programs utility in Windows.

6. Repair Acrobat.

If you use Acrobat, repair or replace corrupt or missing files by using the Detect And Repair feature or the Add Or Remove Programs dialog box.

To repair Acrobat, do the following:

1. Choose Start > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add Or Remove Programs.
3. Select Acrobat and click Change.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to repair Acrobat.

7. Reinstall Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

To ensure that the correct plug-in information is added to the Windows registry, reinstall Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

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Configure the browser to open PDF files in an Acrobat window

If you want the browser to open PDF files in a separate Acrobat window, configure it to use Acrobat or Adobe Reader as a helper application. Then, when you select a PDF file in Internet Explorer or AOL, the browser opens the PDF file in an Acrobat window instead of the browser.

To configure the browser to use Acrobat or Adobe Reader to open PDF files, do the following:

1. Quit Internet Explorer or AOL.
2. Start Acrobat or Adobe Reader.
3. Choose Edit > Preferences.
4. Select Internet in the list on the left.
5. Deselect Display PDF in Browser, and click OK.
6. Restart Internet Explorer or AOL.

Note: The next time you select a link to a PDF file, the browser may prompt you to open or save the file. If you choose to open the file, the browser opens the file in the helper application that you specified. If you choose to save the file, the browser downloads the file to the hard disk.

For more information about the general preferences in Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, see the Acrobat Help.

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Download a PDF file to your hard disk

You can download a PDF file to the hard disk from a web page's link. Downloading PDF files doesn't require the ActiveX plug-in file. (If you want to open and view the PDF file after downloading it, make sure that you have Acrobat, Adobe Reader, or Acrobat Reader installed.)

To download a PDF file from a link, do the following:

1. Right-click the link to a PDF file, and then choose Save Target As from the pop-up menu.
2. In the Save As dialog box, select a location on your hard disk, and then click Save.
   

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Products affected

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