Adobe reader question

[Guest guest]

I downloaded Adobe Acrobat Reader just now and went through the

installation process. Then when I clicked to open a link in pdf, it

opened in Preview instead. Why? I don't see Adobe Acrobat Reader in

my Applications folder. The Acrobat icons on the desktop seem to be

installers rather than the program itself.

Why does this kind of thing have to be so complicated???

Jane

(using an iBook)

[Guest guest]

By default, Preview opens pdfs. To change this, control click on any

pdf file, go to Get Info, and where it says " Open with: " you can change

the program in which pdfs are opened. Or if you don't want Adobe

Reader to open every pdf, instead of going to Get Info in the

control-click contextual menu, go to Open With and make your choice

that way

Also, while installing it's possible you didn't specifically choose to

install Adobe Reader in the Applications folder, therefore it's on your

desktop. You can drag the program into your Application folder to get

it off your desktop.

a

> I downloaded Adobe Acrobat Reader just now and went through the

> installation process. Then when I clicked to open a link in pdf, it

> opened in Preview instead. Why? I don't see Adobe Acrobat Reader in

> my Applications folder. The Acrobat icons on the desktop seem to be

> installers rather than the program itself.

>

> Why does this kind of thing have to be so complicated???

>

> Jane

> (using an iBook)

>

>

[Guest guest]

a wrote:

>By default, Preview opens pdfs. To change this, control click on any

>pdf file, go to Get Info, and where it says " Open with: " you can change

>the program in which pdfs are opened.

What does it mean to " click on a pdf file " ? If I click on a link to a

pdf file, it opens in Preview and it's too late to say what program I

want it opened in. How do I get something to open as a pdf so I can

click on it and change the opening default?

Jane

[Guest guest]

That's why I said " control click " . You press control and click at the

same time, and a contextual menu appears. Same idea as right clicking

on a Windows PC with a mouse that has more than one button.

a

> a wrote:

> >By default, Preview opens pdfs. To change this, control click on any

> >pdf file, go to Get Info, and where it says " Open with: " you can

> change

> >the program in which pdfs are opened.

>

> What does it mean to " click on a pdf file " ? If I click on a link to a

> pdf file, it opens in Preview and it's too late to say what program I

> want it opened in. How do I get something to open as a pdf so I can

> click on it and change the opening default?

>

> Jane

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

a wrote:

>That's why I said " control click " . You press control and click at the

>same time, and a contextual menu appears. Same idea as right clicking

>on a Windows PC with a mouse that has more than one button.

Where is " Get Info " located? I expected it to be in the menu that

appeared with the control-click, but that menu has only " open link in

new window, " " download linked file, " " add link to bookmarks, " and

" copy link. "

Jane

[Guest guest]

You're confusing me now . The menu you speak of is like you are

right in a browser, like Safari, and are trying to open a pdf right off

the Web. I'm talking pdfs you have right on your desktop, or elsewhere

on your hard drive.

It's on the same menu on mine. I'm on an iMac, running OS X Panther.

Okay, so another method is to just highlight the file by clicking on it

once in the FINDER and you can either " Get Info " under FILE in the

menu, or it's usually right there in the FINDER window itself.

The following is in the Help files:

----------

Getting information about files and folders

You can see information about applications, files, folders, disks, and

servers using the Info window. Information about the item includes the

kind, size, location, date created, and date modified. If the item you

have selected is a hard disk, removable disc, or server volume, the

Info window includes information about format, capacity, available

space, and used space.

You can also change settings in the Info window. Depending on the type

of item you have selected, you may be able to use the item as

stationery, lock the item, change its name and extension, determine

which application to open it with, change its ownership and

permissions, and write a comment.

To open an Info window for an item:

In a Finder window, select the item and choose File > Get Info.

If you want to see information for different items in the same Info

window, press the Option key and choose File > Show Inspector. As you

select items in the Finder, the information for each item appears in

the window in turn.

a

> a wrote:

> >That's why I said " control click " . You press control and click at the

> >same time, and a contextual menu appears. Same idea as right clicking

> >on a Windows PC with a mouse that has more than one button.

>

> Where is " Get Info " located? I expected it to be in the menu that

> appeared with the control-click, but that menu has only " open link in

> new window, " " download linked file, " " add link to bookmarks, " and

> " copy link. "

>

> Jane

>

>

[Guest guest]

I do believe Jane is referring to opening downloaded .pdf files with Adobe

Reader, from a browser. IE: clicking on the files' link within the browser

and having Adobe catch it.

I'm not familiar with Mac's OSs, but in Windows you can go into a folder's

Tool's menu and open Folder Options, a tab called " File Types " allows you to

alter file/program associations manually. That's how I'd do it on a Windows

machine, I'm not sure if there's anything similar on Apple computers.

>

> You're confusing me now . The menu you speak of is like you are

> right in a browser, like Safari, and are trying to open a pdf right off

> the Web. I'm talking pdfs you have right on your desktop, or elsewhere

> on your hard drive.

>

> It's on the same menu on mine. I'm on an iMac, running OS X Panther.

>

> Okay, so another method is to just highlight the file by clicking on it

> once in the FINDER and you can either " Get Info " under FILE in the

> menu, or it's usually right there in the FINDER window itself.

>

> The following is in the Help files:

>

> ----------

>

> Getting information about files and folders

>

> You can see information about applications, files, folders, disks, and

> servers using the Info window. Information about the item includes the

> kind, size, location, date created, and date modified. If the item you

> have selected is a hard disk, removable disc, or server volume, the

> Info window includes information about format, capacity, available

> space, and used space.

>

> You can also change settings in the Info window. Depending on the type

> of item you have selected, you may be able to use the item as

> stationery, lock the item, change its name and extension, determine

> which application to open it with, change its ownership and

> permissions, and write a comment.

> To open an Info window for an item:

>

> In a Finder window, select the item and choose File > Get Info.

>

> If you want to see information for different items in the same Info

> window, press the Option key and choose File > Show Inspector. As you

> select items in the Finder, the information for each item appears in

> the window in turn.

>

> a

>

>

>

> > a wrote:

> > >That's why I said " control click " . You press control and click at the

> > >same time, and a contextual menu appears. Same idea as right clicking

> > >on a Windows PC with a mouse that has more than one button.

> >

> > Where is " Get Info " located? I expected it to be in the menu that

> > appeared with the control-click, but that menu has only " open link in

> > new window, " " download linked file, " " add link to bookmarks, " and

> > " copy link. "

> >

> > Jane

> >

> >

>

>

[Guest guest]

Gail wrote:

>I do believe Jane is referring to opening downloaded .pdf files with Adobe

>Reader, from a browser. IE: clicking on the files' link within the browser

>and having Adobe catch it.

Yes, thank you. That is what I have been talking about. (I don't

understand what else I could have been talking about.)

>I'm not familiar with Mac's OSs, but in Windows you can go into a folder's

>Tool's menu and open Folder Options, a tab called " File Types " allows you to

>alter file/program associations manually. That's how I'd do it on a Windows

>machine, I'm not sure if there's anything similar on Apple computers.

Now you've lost me. What folder?

Jane

[Guest guest]

I realize what Jane's trying to do. On a Mac, if you want a specific

program to open a certain type of file (and you want something other

than the default program to do it), you have to change it via the

Finder's 'Get Info'. No doubt it can also be done via the Terminal

(command lines, like DOS), but " Get Info " is very simple once you

realize it's there and have done it once. It's very much a manuel

operation as it is in Windows.

On a Mac, PDFs are opened by default with a program called Preview.

PDFs will not open in Adobe Reader (or any other program) when clicked

on unless you state your new preference in the Finder's " Get info "

first. It doesn't matter if that file is being opened in a browser or

off your hard drive, you have to choose your program preference if you

want to open it with something other than the default.

Not the exact same as Windows (which I'm very familiar with), but not

that different either.

a

> I do believe Jane is referring to opening downloaded .pdf files with

> Adobe

> Reader, from a browser. IE: clicking on the files' link within the

> browser

> and having Adobe catch it.

>

> I'm not familiar with Mac's OSs, but in Windows you can go into a

> folder's

> Tool's menu and open Folder Options, a tab called " File Types " allows

> you to

> alter file/program associations manually. That's how I'd do it on a

> Windows

> machine, I'm not sure if there's anything similar on Apple computers.

>

>

> >

> > You're confusing me now . The menu you speak of is like you are

> > right in a browser, like Safari, and are trying to open a pdf right

> off

> > the Web. I'm talking pdfs you have right on your desktop, or

> elsewhere

> > on your hard drive.

> >

> > It's on the same menu on mine. I'm on an iMac, running OS X Panther.

> >

> > Okay, so another method is to just highlight the file by clicking

> on it

> > once in the FINDER and you can either " Get Info " under FILE in the

> > menu, or it's usually right there in the FINDER window itself.

> >

> > The following is in the Help files:

> >

> > ----------

> >

> > Getting information about files and folders

> >

> > You can see information about applications, files, folders, disks,

> and

> > servers using the Info window. Information about the item includes

> the

> > kind, size, location, date created, and date modified. If the item

> you

> > have selected is a hard disk, removable disc, or server volume, the

> > Info window includes information about format, capacity, available

> > space, and used space.

> >

> > You can also change settings in the Info window. Depending on the

> type

> > of item you have selected, you may be able to use the item as

> > stationery, lock the item, change its name and extension, determine

> > which application to open it with, change its ownership and

> > permissions, and write a comment.

> > To open an Info window for an item:

> >

> > In a Finder window, select the item and choose File > Get Info.

> >

> > If you want to see information for different items in the same Info

> > window, press the Option key and choose File > Show Inspector. As

> you

> > select items in the Finder, the information for each item appears in

> > the window in turn.

> >

> > a

> >

> >

> >

> > > a wrote:

> > > >That's why I said " control click " . You press control and click

> at the

> > > >same time, and a contextual menu appears. Same idea as right

> clicking

> > > >on a Windows PC with a mouse that has more than one button.

> > >

> > > Where is " Get Info " located? I expected it to be in the menu that

> > > appeared with the control-click, but that menu has only " open

> link in

> > > new window, " " download linked file, " " add link to bookmarks, " and

> > > " copy link. "

> > >

> > > Jane

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Jane...what happens when you click on a pdf in a browser on a Mac? It

downloads unto your hard drive, usually unto the desktop, unless you

changed this default mechanism. So, on your Mac, you have copies of

pdfs that you can control-click on, GET INFO and change the application

that opens PDFs.

There's not much more I can say about this without repeating myself.

You need to do what I said in order to get what Adobe Reader to open

PDF files no matter if they are being opened in a browser or off your

hard drive. So find a PDF on your hard drive and do what I explained

to do with it from the beginning.

Sorry if I'm sounding frustrated. I'm in a LOT of pain right now, and

I don't understand why you're not getting it, and I don't know how to

make it any clearer. Maybe somebody else with a Mac can say it a

different way? I did provide you with Apple's own Help file text, and

I haven't a clue what else could help.

a

> Gail wrote:

> >I do believe Jane is referring to opening downloaded .pdf files with

> Adobe

> >Reader, from a browser. IE: clicking on the files' link within the

> browser

> >and having Adobe catch it.

>

> Yes, thank you. That is what I have been talking about. (I don't

> understand what else I could have been talking about.)

>

> >I'm not familiar with Mac's OSs, but in Windows you can go into a

> folder's

> >Tool's menu and open Folder Options, a tab called " File Types "

> allows you to

> >alter file/program associations manually. That's how I'd do it on a

> Windows

> >machine, I'm not sure if there's anything similar on Apple computers.

>

> Now you've lost me. What folder?

>

> Jane

>

>

[Guest guest]

a wrote:

>Jane...what happens when you click on a pdf in a browser on a Mac? It

>downloads unto your hard drive, usually unto the desktop, unless you

>changed this default mechanism. So, on your Mac, you have copies of

>pdfs that you can control-click on, GET INFO and change the application

>that opens PDFs.

I'm very sorry you're in pain. Please just ignore me. (Unless you

feel like venting about whatever is causing the pain.)

Maybe someone else here knows why the Get Info thing (which I finally

found, now that I realize I have to start from the downloaded thing

on the desktop instead of the live link on the web page) will not

allow me to change from Preview to Adobe Acrobat. AA shows up in the

list of possible choices, but choosing it does not work. Preview

remains in the operating seat no matter how many times I try to

choose AA.

Jane

[Guest guest]

Okay Jane, let's try this with a fresh start.

I've downloaded the most recent version of Adobe Reader as mine was an

older version. Wanted to make sure that we were on the exact same

page, so to speak.

Now, Adobe Reader will not show up in your application folder at all.

Okay, that clears that up. It's still there, you just can't access it

until you go to open a pdf file.

**Important: PDF files will NOT open in Firefox or Internet Explorer

(for the Mac). I have not checked Opera or Mozilla, but according to

the Adobe Reader download page, it only works with Mozilla for Windows

(and other browsers), not Macs. As far as I've tested, Adobe Reader on

the Mac only works within Safari.

Okay, Get Info: when you changed it from Preview to Adobe Reader (not

Acrobat) did you also click the " CHANGE ALL " button that's under " Use

this application to open all documents like this " ? It's right there

under where you changed it from Preview to A. Reader.

Also important, which I didn't realize until downloading the latest

Adobe Reader: Restart your computer. It may not be important, but do

it anyway to save headaches. I had to do it. Seems Safari won't

recognize Adobe Reader's existence until you do this. I always restart

my computer after installing (sometimes I also repair the

permissions...but that's another topic), and didn't come to me at all

that others might not.

After doing the Get Info process and restarting, open Safari and see a

pdf will open right in the browser. It should work. If not, there's

another step I can take you through (within Adobe Reader

preferences...but this comes already set up to open pdfs in a

browser/Safari, at least when I downloaded it), but we'll wait to see

what happens for now. It should work with the above instructions.

(Fingers crossed!)

>

> I'm very sorry you're in pain. Please just ignore me. (Unless you

> feel like venting about whatever is causing the pain.)

>

To address this, first off, no thanks, I'm fine, it's just increasingly

painful for me to be at a computer these days (I don't have a laptop,

wish I did so I could lie down whilst computing, it would save me a lot

of agony!). I take it you assume I meant I was frustrated with you,

rather than the situation and my seeming inability to express what

would make sense to you, which was what I meant. I had said right away

that I was sorry if I appeared frustrated. I was never good at hiding

my real thoughts, but for some reason, they're always mistaken for

something worse than they actually are.

a

> Maybe someone else here knows why the Get Info thing (which I finally

> found, now that I realize I have to start from the downloaded thing

> on the desktop instead of the live link on the web page) will not

> allow me to change from Preview to Adobe Acrobat. AA shows up in the

> list of possible choices, but choosing it does not work. Preview

> remains in the operating seat no matter how many times I try to

> choose AA.

>

> Jane

[Guest guest]

a wrote:

>... I take it you assume I meant I was frustrated with you,

>rather than the situation and my seeming inability to express what

>would make sense to you, which was what I meant. I had said right away

>that I was sorry if I appeared frustrated. I was never good at hiding

>my real thoughts, but for some reason, they're always mistaken for

>something worse than they actually are.

No, no. ( " No worries, " as the Aussies say.) I just don't want anyone

pushing themselves through pain to respond to my tedious computer

stupidity (to which there is no end, apparently).

Have to leave for work now, but I'll work on following your very

helpful instructions when I get back (and some of my own frustration

will have dissipated by then, I hope).

Jane