Configuring Internet Explorer and AOL for Windows 95 and NT4.0 to Display PDF Files

Courtesy of Adobe Corporation

Configuring Internet Explorer and AOL for Windows 95 and NT4.0 to Display PDF Files

FaxYI number 731006

Adobe Acrobat 3.0x includes ActiveX plug-in files for Windows 95 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 Acrobat viewer (i.e., Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Exchange).

The Acrobat installer automatically installs the plug-in files (Pdf.ocx, Pdf41.ocx, or Pdf42.ocx, and Pdf.tlb) to the Reader\ActiveX or Acrobat3\ActiveX directory when you install Acrobat Reader 3.0x or Acrobat Exchange 3.0x. If you then select a PDF file, the file will download to the browser's Temp directory, and then Internet Explorer or AOL uses your Acrobat 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.

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:
- Make sure a Pdf*.ocx file and a Pdf.tlb file are located in the Acrobat3\ActiveX or Reader\ActiveX directory.

- Reinstall your Acrobat viewer to make sure the correct plug-in information is added to the Windows registry.

- Restart Windows to make sure Internet Explorer or AOL is accessing the most current Windows registry information.

Configuring Your Browser to Use Acrobat as a Helper Application
If you'd rather have your PDF files appear in a separate Acrobat viewer window, you can configure Internet Explorer or AOL to use the viewer as a helper application. Internet Explorer or AOL then starts an Acrobat viewer, which displays PDF files within the Acrobat viewer window, instead of within the browser window.

To configure Internet Explorer or AOL to use Acrobat 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:\Acrobat3\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 Acrobat3\Exchange\ActiveX and Acrobat3\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 Acrobat viewer in a separate window to display PDF files. If you're using Internet Explorer 3.0x or earlier, continue with steps 12-20.
12. Choose View > Options, then select Programs.
13. Click File Types.
14. Select Adobe Acrobat Document in the Registered File Types scroll box, then click Edit. If Adobe Acrobat Document is not listed, select New Type.
15. Type "Adobe Acrobat 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 Acrobat Reader 3.0x or Acrobat Exchange 3.0x application file, then click Select.
20. Select Use DDE, then click OK to close each dialog box.

To reestablish the original Internet Explorer or AOL settings, reinstall Acrobat Reader 3.0x or Acrobat Exchange 3.0x.

Downloading a PDF File to Your Hard Drive
You can download PDF files to your hard drive either from a Web page's link or using an Acrobat viewer's Save As command (Internet Explorer 3.x or earlier only). After you download a PDF file to your hard drive, you can copy text, distribute the file, or save the file to a disk.

To download a PDF file from a link:
1. Right-click the link to a PDF file, then choose Save Link As (Internet Explorer) or Save Target As (AOL) from the pop-up menu.
2. In the Save As dialog box, select a location on your hard drive, then click Save.

To download an open PDF file (Internet Explorer 3.x or earlier only):
1. Choose File > Save As.
2. In the Save As dialog box, select a location on your hard drive, then click Save.

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