Help With Adobe PDF Files

We use Adobe PDF files to provide high-quality printable versions of forms, journal articles, teaching aids, and many other items on our site. Unlike common HTML formats, PDF files are designed to look the same on any operating system and to print the same on any printer.

Most browsers come with Adobe Systems’ Adobe Reader software installed. If you need a copy of the Reader, you can download it for free from the Adobe Reader page of Adobe’s website.

This help section answers the following questions:

What is PDF?

PDF files are not loading in my browser. What should I do?

How do I download a PDF instead of having it load in my browser?

When I print some PDFs, some words or characters are distorted even though they look fine on screen. How can I fix this?

Adobe Reader just doesn't seem to work right for me. What can I do?

What is PDF?

PDF is short for “Portable Document Format.” PDF documents can be viewed, navigated, and printed from almost any operating system using Adobe Reader software, which is available free from Adobe Systems, Inc.

PDF files are not loading in my browser. What should I do?

If you cannot load PDFs in your browser you probably need to install or upgrade Adobe Reader. Go to Adobe’s Adobe Reader page and follow the instructions there for downloading and installing the software.

How do I download a PDF instead of having it load in my browser?

On Microsoft Windows operating systems, most browsers load PDFs directly into a browser window (technically Windows does download the PDF, but to a temporary area). To download a PDF to a folder of your choosing, move your mouse over the PDF link and click the right mouse button. In the popup menu, select “Save Target As...” You will then be able to pick the place on your hard drive where you want to save the file.

On Macintosh operating systems, clicking a PDF automatically downloads it to a default location, usually your desktop. If a PDF does not automatically download, you can trigger the download otion by pressing the CTRL key on the keyboard as you click the link. In the popup menu, select “Download Link to Disk.”

When I print some PDFs, some words or characters are distorted even though they look fine on the screen. How do I fix this?

You can usually fix PDF printing problems by obtaining and installing the most recent print driver available for your particular printer. Most printer manufacturers, such as Hewlett Packard, provide free printer driver updates from their Web sites.

Adobe Reader just doesn't seem to work right for me. What can I do?

For more detailed information about PDF files, Adobe Reader, and related issues, visit the Adobe Reader technical support page.