Using Acrobat Reader to view PDF files
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 1. Introduction |
Documents on the World Wide Web are stored in a format which allows them to be viewed using a Web browser, for example Internet Explorer or Netscape. The format used for most documents on the Web is the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Various standards are available for HTML and a document will vary in appearance when viewed, depending on the browser in use, its version and the computer platform in use.
To avoid these problems, other formats are often made available on the Web. One of these is the Portable Document Format (PDF) developed by Adobe. PDF allows for total control over the appearance of electronic documents, retaining their original look, complete with text, graphics, photos and color. To read these documents the free Adobe Acrobat Viewer is required. This viewer is becoming quite common place and comes installed on many new computers.
On the UAS-Juneau Web Site you will often see PDF files identified by either the PDF Icon ( ) or the words (PDF: 89KB) so as to identify both the file type and size. |
| 2. Trouble Shooting |
The programs that are used to produce PDF files are Adobe Acrobat along with Adobe Distiller. These programs update and are currently at Version 8.x. As these programs mature it often takes updated Acrobat Readers to interpret the files these programs produce.
If when viewing PDF documents using an Internet browser you notice that pages are not viewing or printing it is likely due to issues with Acrobat and certain browser/OS versions.
A way around this is to backspace in your browser to the page containing the link and to download the document to your computer rather than viewing in your browser.
To download using the PC:
Right-click on the file name (in this case Undergraduate Application for Admission) and select "Save Target as..." and save to a place on your PC. Open the document as you would any other file.
To download using the Mac:
Control-click on the file name (in this case Undergraduate Application for Admission) and select "Save Link Target as..." and save to a place on your Mac. Open the document as you would any other file.
Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. This only occurs with certain versions of Acrobat and OS/Browser combinations. |
| 3. Installation |
Installation of the Acrobat Reader is quick, easy and free from Adobes Web site. Adobe's installation site will walk you through the details. The Reader is used to read and print PDF files. In order to create PDF files you must have the full version of Adobe Acrobat, also available from Adobe's Web Site. For system requirements please check Adobe's System Req. Page.
Faculty and Staff at UAS, if using a PC, require Computing Services for the installation due to permissions. This is accomplished by sending an email to the help desk. You can download the installer and have it ready but the actual install will have to be performed by Computing Services. |
| 4. Reader Use |
| Using the Acrobat Reader is very simple, yet there are a few tools that makes its use easier. Below are just a few of the basics, for a more thorough explanation please use the help menu when in Acrobat and select "Adobe Reader Help…". |
 |
|
Navigating a Document: At the bottom of a PDF document is the page navigation. By entering a number (in place of 1 of 50 in this example) you can just right to a page. The single arrows will take you page by page while the arrow with the vertical line will take you to both the beginning or end of a document. |
| |
|
|
 |
Page Size: These items control, from left to right, Actual Size button display the page at 100%, Fit Page button scales the page to fit within the window and Fit Width (selected in example at left) scales the page to fill the window width. |
| |
 |
Page Zoom: The Zoom buttons are used to reduce (-) or magnify (+) the size of the page. For a specific zoom factor enter it (currently showing 135%) or select the down arrow to the left of the magnify button. |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Hand Button: Used to move a page if it does not fit in the window. Select the Hand Button, click and drag in the direction you wish to view. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Pointer: When the curser turns into a pointed finger, you can click on a link in the document. |
|
|
 |
Saving Copies in Reader: Please note that it is not possible to save copies of completed forms using the Reader. If saving a copy you will only see the file prior to entries being made. If completing a form for submission be sure to print prior to saving or entries will not be detained. This does not apply if Adobe Acrobat (full-version) is being used. |
|
|
|
|
 |
Search: The search button locates a part of a word, a complete word, or multiple words in a document. |
|