PDF Information

***Note: this is provided as a means of assisting users with PDF files. We recommend that you check with your technical support desk before installing software or implementing any changes.***


PDF files can be configured by the user in a variety of ways, either to open in a browser window or to download to a hard drive. For our website, there are many PDF files, so you may want to set your preferences so that they open in a browser window rather than dowloading.

In order to use PDF files, you will most likely want to have Adobe Reader installed. According to Adobe, any browser that supports Adobe Reader should open the file in your browser window as long as 1) Reader is installed and 2)both Adobe Reader and your browser preferences are set properly. You can obtain a free version of this software online. Please go to Adobe's website at:

http://www.adobe.com/products/reader

Alternate location for downloads: http://www.download.com/Adobe-Reader/3000-2378_4-10000062.html.

Internet Explorer Users:

Be sure that you have installed Adobe Reader and configured it to open PDFs with your browser. To do this, open the Adobe Reader application, go to Reader > Preferences > Internet > then check box at the top that reads "Display PDF in browser using: Adobe Reader". If you experience difficulty, remember to check the browser's settings for PDF files.

Firefox Users:

Many Firefox users experience problems with Adobe Reader. For Firefox users on Windows Vista/XP or Mac OS 9.x or earlier platforms, PDF Download is an add-on that many users say will provide much more flexibility with PDF viewing and dowloading. (Important: see Exceptions for MAC Firefox users below.)

Mac Users:

For opening PDF files, in general for OS 10.x platforms we recommend using Safari as the browser with Acrobat Reader installed. To set PDF files to open in the browser, open the Adobe Reader application, go to Reader > Preferences > Internet > then check box at the top that reads "Display PDF in browser using: Adobe Reader". (If you experience difficulty, remember to check the browser's settings for PDF files.) However, if you are a Firefox user running OS 9.x or earlier, see "Firefox Users" above.

EXCEPTION for MAC OS 10.x Firefox

For users running the newest OS 10.x (Leopard) especially those with Intel-based processors, the PDF Download (browser plugin) is not compatible. This is a known issue (bug) that will hopefully resolved with future versions of Firefox, plugins for Firefox, or Mac OS 10 updates. For more information, visit the following: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=637074

Other Suggestions:

For PC platforms, another popular PDF utility is Foxit PDF Reader. You can get a free download at:

http://www.download.com/Foxit-PDF-Reader/3000-2079_4-10313206.html