CONFIGURING WINDOWS BROWSERS

A. Netscape Browser Configurations and Tips

When accessing PDF files on the Web, you have two options: opening the PDF file within the browser window, or opening the PDF file in PDF® Reader® as a separate application. The following instructions will help you configure Netscape Navigator™ and Microsoft Internet Explorer® for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, and Windows NT 4.0 to use PDF® Reader® in one of these ways.

Configuring Netscape 4.x

You can configure Netscape for Windows to use PDF® Reader® as a browser plug-in or as a helper application. When Reader® is configured as a plug-in, the PDF file displays within the browser window. When Reader® is configured as a helper application, the PDF file displays in a separate Reader® window.

Configuring Netscape 4.x to use the PDF® Reader® plug-in

The PDF® Reader® installer configures Reader® as a browser plug-in by default. When you install PDF® Reader®, the installer places the nppdf32.dll plug-in in Netscape's plug-ins folder at:

c:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator\Program\Plugins

You may need to manually move the (Nppdf32.dll) plug-in from the Adobe/PDF-or Reader/Browser folder to the Netscape\Communicator\Program\Plugins folder.

No other action is needed. After restarting Netscape, clicking a PDF file link in a Web page opens the file in an PDF® Reader® window within Netscape's browser window. All the toolbars and controls available in Reader® as a stand-alone application are available when using the browser plug-in.

Configuring Netscape 4.x to use PDF® Reader® as a helper application

If you don't want PDFs to open in your browser window, you can set up Reader® as a helper application. When you use this configuration and click a PDF file link in a Web page, Netscape opens PDF® Reader® as a separate application where you view the PDF. To configure Netscape to use PDF® Reader® as a helper application:

1. In Netscape, choose Edit > Preferences to display the Preferences dialog box.

2. Select Applications in the Navigator category of the Category list:

3. Click New Type.

4. In the New Type dialog box, do the following:

a. Type Portable Document Format in the Description of Type text box.

b. Type pdf in the File Extension text box.

c. Type application/pdf in the MIME Type text box.

a. Click Browse, locate and select the PDF® Reader® 4.0x application file,

and then click Open. The path to the PDF® Reader® 4.0x application file displays in Application to Use text box.

5. Click OK to close the New Type dialog box, and then click OK to close the Preferences dialog box.

6. Restart Navigator.

Once Reader® is set up as a helper application, you can switch between using Reader® as a helper application and using the browser plug-in by selecting and deselecting Web Browser Integration in the Options area of the General Preferences dialog box in PDF® Reader® 4.0x.

CONFIGURING WINDOWS BROWSERS

B. Microsoft Explorer 4.x and 5.x Configurations for Reader

You can configure Internet Explorer for Windows to use PDF® Reader® as a browser plug-in or as a helper application. When Reader® is configured as a plug-in, the PDF file displays within the browser window. When Reader® is configured as a helper application, the PDF file displays in a separate Reader® window.

Configuring Internet Explorer 4.x and 5.x to use the PDF® Reader® plug-in

PDF® Reader®'s default configuration for Internet Explorer uses ActiveX controls to open a PDF within the browser window. The PDF® Reader® installer automatically installs plug-in files (Pdf.ocx, Pdf41.ocx, or Pdf42.ocx, and Pdf.tlb) to the Reader\ActiveX directory when you install PDF® Reader®. Clicking a PDF file link in a Web page opens the file in an PDF® Reader® window within Internet Explorer's browser window. All the toolbars and controls available in Reader® as a stand-alone application are available when using the browser plug-in.

Configuring Internet Explorer 4.x and 5.x to use PDF® Reader® as a helper application

If you don't want PDFs to open in your browser window, you can set up Reader® as a helper application. When you use this configuration and click a PDF file link in a Web page, Internet Explorer opens PDF® Reader® as a separate application where you view the PDF.

To configure Internet Explorer to use Reader® 4.0x as a helper application:

1. Exit from Internet Explorer.

2. Start PDF® Reader® 4.0x.

3. In PDF® Reader®, choose File > Preferences > General:

4. Deselect Web Browser Integration in the Options / General Preferences dialog box:

5. Click OK, and then exit from the PDF® Reader®. 6. Restart Internet Explorer. The next time you select a link to a PDF file in Internet Explorer, a File Download dialog box will prompt you to specify what to do with the file:

If you select "Open this file from its current location," Internet Explorer opens the PDF file in PDF® Reader® as a helper application.

If you select "Save this file to disk," Internet Explorer saves the PDF file to your hard disk, where you can open it later.

 

Note: If you deselect "Always ask before opening this type of file," Internet Explorer will default thereafter to the last option selected. If "Always ask before opening this type of file" remains selected, you will continue to get the prompt.

Once Reader® is set up as a helper application, you can switch between using Reader® as a helper application and using the browser plug-in by selecting and deselecting Web Browser Integration in the Options area of the General Preferences dialog box in PDF® Reader® 4.0x.

CONFIGURING WEB LINK LAUNCH BEHAVIORS

C. Microsoft Explorer 4.x and 5.x Configurations for Reader

1. General Control Settings

If you want to control how Web Links are opened, click the Right Mouse Button on a Web Link and select one of the three options (see Fig 1.1):

Open WebLink in Browser (Netscape, Internet Explorer etc) Append To Document (Conversion of Web Page using Web Capture, pages placed at the end of the current PDF)

Open WebLink as New Document (Conversion of Web Page using Web Capture in a new PDF document)

Fig 1.1

You can also extract the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the Web Link by selecting the last option 'Copy Link Location.

2. Link Web Browser Errors

Navigator is probably configured to use your PDF viewer as a plug-in. There are two options for correcting this problem:

Solution 1: Configure Navigator to use your PDF viewer as a helper application. For instructions, see "Configuring Netscape 4.x to use PDF® Reader® as a helper application." at the top of this page.

Solution 2: Switch to Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later.

AOL users; look for more browser tips lower on this page.

CONFIGURING WINDOWS BROWSERS

D. WEB LAUNCH ERRORS

Unsupported Web Browser Errors

The solution for this error is to choose a new browser.

1. In PDF, choose File > Preferences > Weblink.

2. Click Browse in the WWW Browser Application section.

3. Select another Web browser (e.g., Netscape Navigator), then click Open.

4. From the Connection Type pop-up menu, choose the option that corresponds to your Web browser (e.g., Navigator), or choose Standard if you're using another Web browser (e.g., NCSA Mosaic).

5. Click OK to close the Weblink Preferences dialog box.

Manually connect to Weblinks from within Internet Explorer by entering the URL into Internet Explorer's Address text box and pressing enter. For more information, refer to your Internet Explorer documentation or contact Microsoft.

 

TIP: Holding down the control key as you move your mouse over a Web Link will make the Tool Tip display the Internet address of the link. Note: You should set your PDF® "Web Capture" settings to NEVER verify stored images! Go to file > preferences > web capture for these settings.

CONFIGURING WINDOWS BROWSERS

E. AOL BROWSER LAUNCH ERRORS

No Helper Application Defined Errors

Helper applications are separate programs that deal with files that your AOL Web browser isn't equipped to handle. For example, there are helper applications that decode and decompress file archives, play special sound formats, and show animated movies.

The "No Helper Application Defined" error message means you have run into a file that requires a helper application, and you either don't have the helper application or your AOL Web browser doesn't know where to find it. In most Web browsers, you can select helper applications in the "Preferences" or "Options" menu item, where you should see an option to choose "Programs," "Helpers," or "Viewers."

Each file type will have a description which includes the file extension (like .txt for text or .pdf for a Adobe® PDF® file), a content type (called the MIME type, which is server information that tells the browser what kind of information it is, like "text/plain" or "audio/x-wav"), and then the location and name of the helper application used to process that file.

You can modify existing helper applications, add new ones, and remove old ones.

pdf=application/pdf is the file extensions for Adobe® PDF® files supported by the members.aol.com Web server.

Again, the MIME-type tells the AOL Web server how to send the file and tells the AOL Web browser what kind of application to use to open the file. You can set up a helper application to view any of these files types with the Helper Application button. If a helper application has not been set up for .PDF® file types, you will likely receive gibberish or an unreadable file that will be of no use to you.

 

Your Software!

CONFIGURING WINDOWS BROWSERS

F. AOL BROWSER LAUNCH ERRORS

Configuring AOL for Windows 95, 98, and NT 4.0

Adobe® PDF® 3.0x and 4.0x include ActiveX plug-in files for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0 that enable Internet Explorer and America Online (AOL) Web browsers to display PDF files in the browser window using an PDF® viewer. Internet Explorer and the AOL browser display PDF files in the browser window automatically if the PDF® plug-in files are installed.

PDF® 3.0x viewers are compatible with Internet Explorer 4.x and AOL 4.x; PDF® 4.0x viewers are compatible with Internet Explorer 4.x and 5.x and with AOL 4.x and 5.x.

Installing the PDF® Plug-in Files

The plug-in files install automatically with PDF® viewers:

PDF® 4.0.x viewers

The PDF® 4.0x installer automatically installs the plug-in files Pdf.ocx and Pdf.tlb to the Program Files\Adobe®\PDF® 4.0\PDF®\ActiveX\ folder when you install PDF® 4.0x.

The PDF® Reader® 4.0x installer automatically installs the plug-in files Pdf.ocx and Pdf.tlb in the Program Files\Adobe®\PDF® 4.0\Reader®\ActiveX folder when you install PDF® Reader® 4.0x.

PDF® 3.0x viewers

The PDF® 3.0x installer automatically installs the plug-in files (Pdf.ocx, Pdf41.ocx, or Pdf42.ocx, and Pdf.tlb) to the Reader®\ActiveX or PDF®3\ActiveX folder when you install PDF® Reader® 3.0x or PDF® Exchange 3.0x.

If you select a PDF file in your browser, the file will download to the browser's Temp folder, and then Internet Explorer or AOL will use your PDF® viewer to display the file within the browser window.

Disclaimer: Adobe® Systems, Incorporated does not support AOL's software or files sent or received using AOL. If the following suggestions do not enable you to view PDF files the way you prefer, refer to your AOL software documentation or contact AOL.

 

TIP: If you select a PDF file and Internet Explorer or AOL prompts you to save the file to disk or open it outside the browser window, or does not respond, do one or more of the following: - If you're using an PDF 4.0x viewer, make sure that a Pdf.ocx and a Pdf.tlb files is in the Program Files\Adobe\PDF 4.0\PDF\ActiveX folder or the Program Files\Adobe\PDF 4.0\Reader\ActiveX folder. - If you're using an PDF 3.0x viewer, make sure that a Pdf*.ocx file and a Pdf.tlb file are in the PDF3\ActiveX folder or the Reader\ActiveX folder. - Reinstall your PDF viewer to make sure that the correct plug-in information is added to the Windows registry. - Restart Windows to make sure that Internet Explorer or AOL is accessing the most current Windows registry information.

CONFIGURING WINDOWS BROWSERS

G. AOL BROWSER LAUNCH ERRORS

Setting AOL Browsers to Use PDF as a Helper Application

If you'd rather have PDF files appear in a separate PDF viewer window, you can enable the browser to use the viewer as a helper application. Internet Explorer or AOL then starts an PDF viewer, which displays PDF files within the PDF viewer window, instead of within the browser window.

PDF 4.0x Viewers

To configure an PDF 4.0x viewer as a helper application:

1. Exit from Internet Explorer or AOL.

2. Start the PDF 4.0x viewer.

3. Choose File > Preferences > General.

4. Deselect Web Browser Integration in the Options section and then click OK.

5. Exit from the PDF 4.0x viewer.

6. Restart Internet Explorer or AOL.

The next time you select a link to a PDF file in Internet Explorer, a dialog box will prompt you to specify what to do with the file. If you select "Open this file from its current location," Internet Explorer opens the PDF file in the PDF viewer as a helper application. If you select "Save this file to disk," Internet Explorer saves the PDF file to your hard disk, from where you can open it later.

For more information about the general preferences in the PDF 4.0x viewer, refer to the Adobe PDF 4.0 User Guide or the Adobe PDF Reader 4.0 User Guide.

PDF 3.0x Viewers

To configure Internet Explorer or AOL to use an PDF 3.0x viewer as a helper application:

1. Exit Internet Explorer or AOL.

2. Choose Start > Find > Files Or Folders.

3. Type "pdf*.ocx," choose your local hard drive from the Look In pop-up menu, and then click Find Now. Make a note of the pathname to each Pdf*.ocx file on your system.

4. Choose Start > Run.

5. Type "regsvr32 -u X:\[path]\pdf*.ocx" in the Open text box, where "X" is the drive and "[path]" is the path to a Pdf*.ocx file. For example: regsvr32 -u C:\PDF3\Exchange\ActiveX\pdf42.ocx

6. Click OK.

7. Repeat steps 4-6 for every Pdf*.ocx file installed on your system.

8. Delete the Pdf*.ocx and Pdf.tlb files from the PDF3\Exchange\ActiveX and PDF3\Reader\ActiveX directories or from the Reader\ActiveX directory. (You must delete all the Pdf*.ocx files; if you rename or move the files, Internet Explorer or AOL can still use them).

9. If Netscape Navigator is installed, locate the Nppdf32.dll file in the Netscape\Navigator\Program\Plugins directory or the Netscape\Communicator\Program\Plugins directory, and then move or rename the file. (Internet Explorer and AOL can use the Nppdf32.dll file if it cannot locate a Pdf.ocx file.)

10. Restart Windows.

11. Start Internet Explorer or AOL; the browser will start an PDF viewer in a separate window to display PDF files when you click a link to a PDF file.

12. Double-click My Computer, choose View > Options, and then select Programs.

13. Click File Types.

14. Select Adobe PDF Document in the Registered File Types scroll box, then click Edit. If Adobe PDF Document is not listed, select New Type.

15. Type "Adobe PDF Document" in the Description text box.

16. Type "application/pdf" in the Content Type (MIME) text box.

17 Type "pdf" in the Default Extension for Content text box.

18. Select Open from the list of Actions and then click Edit. If Open is not listed, click New.

19. Click Browse, locate and then select the PDF Reader 3.0x or PDF Exchange 3.0x application file, then click Select.

20. Select Use DDE, then click OK to close each dialog box.

 

Download PDF Viewers: click here

CONFIGURING WINDOWS BROWSERS

H. AOL BROWSER LAUNCH ERRORS

Additional Browser Error Configuration Guides:

For instructions on configuring Navigator for Mac OS, see document 314544.

For instructions on configuring Navigator for Windows, see document 313692.

For instructions on configuring Internet Explorer for Mac OS, see document 314807.

For instructions on configuring Internet Explorer for Windows, see document 315029.

As a last ditch effort to correct faulty browser interaction with PDF®, configure your browser to use PDF® as a helper viewer, see document 32897

E-mail your PDF or ProForce Software tips to support@proforcerealestate.com

Your Software!