Your computer's combination of hardware and software -- and the versions of the software -- are important factors in determining what you will see when you click on an PDF file. Rather than trying to predict exactly what you will see under the numerous possible combinations of hardware, browsers, and Acrobat versions, we will describe the most common situations.

Topics in this help page:

• Viewing with Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Viewing with Adobe Acrobat Application
• Downloading and opening files
• Accessibility

Viewing with Adobe Acrobat Reader

The free Acrobat Reader is recommended for use with a computer that does not have Adobe Acrobat installed. This product allows the user to open and view PDF files.

• When you click on a link to a PDF file, the browser launches the Acrobat Reader plug-in automatically to let you view and print the PDF file directly.
   
• To go back to the previous page in the browser, simply click the browser's "back" arrow in the upper left corner of the screen.

Viewing with Adobe Acrobat Application

• When you click on a link to a PDF file, the browser asks whether you want to open the file or save it to disk. To view the file, choose the "open" option. The browser will launch Acrobat Reader and open the file in the Reader. Occasionally, you may have to use the Windows Task Bar (or the Apple Active-Applications list (in the upper right corner)) to activate Acrobat Reader after it's launched by the browser.
   
• If you chose to save the file, choose a folder and enter a file name in the Save dialog. Remember to note the name you give the file and which folder you put it in. Then you can launch Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer's START menu and use the File/Open menu to open the downloaded file. Or you can find the file on your hard drive or server and double-click the file icon -- the file will automatically launch in Acrobat Reader.
   
• To go back to the previous page in the browser, simply close the Reader, click the browser's button on the Windows Task Bar (or choose the browser application from the Apple Active-Applications list).

Note: Some older versions of your browser or Adobe Acrobat Reader may not offer this smooth click-and-open integration, in which case you should use the download option.

Downloading the File

You can download any file (Word, Excel or PDF) to your hard drive or server according to the following table:

• When the Save dialog comes up, select your folder location and enter a file name. Remember to note the name you give the file and what folder you put it in. After the file has been downloaded, you may need to close the download status box.
   
• Then you can launch Adobe Acrobat Reader from your computer's START menu (Windows) and use the File/Open menu to open the downloaded file. Or you can find the file on your hard drive or server and double-click the file icon -- the file will automatically launch in the Reader.

Accessibility in Adobe Products

Viewers with visual disabilities can go to Adobe's Access Website for tools and information that will help make PDF files accessible.