Adobe Acrobat Help

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view and print documents in Adobe Document Format (PDF).

Troubleshooting Common Problems
Printing PDF documents
Windows XP issues

Viewing, saving, and printing PDF files

Viewing

Clicking on the link to a PDF file should cause the PDF file to download and open for viewing.

The Acrobat tool bar has tools for

Navigating within the document .
(You can also scroll and use the Page Up and Page Down keys.)
Adjusting the size of the text .
Rotating the document's orientation .

Printing
Click on the printer icon on the Acrobat tool bar to print the document.

Saving
Click on the diskette icon on the Acrobat tool bar to save the document on your computer.

Downloading - alternate method

You can also download a PDF document to your computer this way:

Right-click on the link to the PDF document and save it on your computer:

INTERNET EXPLORER: Click "Save Target As".
NETSCAPE: Click "Save Link As" and be sure to change the extension of the file name to .pdf when you save it.

Double click on the file you have saved. If Acrobat Reader has been installed on your computer, it should launch and display the document.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Viewing PDF documents

Problem

Solution

Acrobat does not start when I click on the link to a PDF file.
If the test document does not appear, then you may need to download and install Acrobat Reader.

If the test document does appear, then trying saving the PDF file on your computer (see downloading - alternate method, above) and opening it from there.

Acrobat starts but the document does not display.

Some PDF files are very large and take a long time to download. Also, the server may experience slowdowns during times of peak activity.
Look at the status bar (at the bottom of your browser window where the document is loading) and see if it indicates that a document is being downloaded.

If downloading activity is occurring, you may need to just give it more time.
If downloading activity is not occurring (or appears to be "stuck"), then you may either click your browser's BACK button and try again, or try saving the PDF file to your computer (see downloading - alternate method, above) and opening it from there.

Document displays sideways or upside down. Click the Rotate View icon on the Acrobat tool bar until the document appears right side up.

Document size needs to be changed (e.g. document is too small to read on the screen). Use the Zoom in/Zoom out tool on the Acrobat tool bar to change document's display size. You can click on the "-" and "+" signs, or use the drop down menu.

Printing PDF documents

Problem

Solution

Document does not print.

Try using the print icon on the Acrobat tool bar (rather than your browser's print function). On the print dialog box that appears, make sure that the option to "Print to file" is unchecked.
If print icon is grayed out, it may mean that the document's security prevents printing.
To learn more about resolving Windows printing problems, you can go to Adobe's Resolving Windows printing problems page.

Document takes a very long time to print.

Some factors that affect print time:

The size of the file
The type of network connection with which you are working
The speed of the computer on which you are working
The type and memory of the printer you are using

Document prints only odd or even pages. Select the "Even and Odd Pages" option on the Acrobat print dialog box (that appears when you click the printer icon).

Document prints as mirror image. Select the "Print as image" option on the Acrobat print dialog box (that appears when you click the printer icon).

Windows XP issues

Adobe Acrobat 4 is not compatible with Window XP. Please download and install Acrobat Reader version 5 or later.

Additional Help

Additional help for the Adobe Acrobat Reader can be found at <http://www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html>.

Viewing	Clicking on the link to a PDF file should cause the PDF file to download and open for viewing. The Acrobat tool bar has tools for Navigating within the document . (You can also scroll and use the Page Up and Page Down keys.) Adjusting the size of the text . Rotating the document's orientation .
Printing	Click on the printer icon on the Acrobat tool bar to print the document.
Saving	Click on the diskette icon on the Acrobat tool bar to save the document on your computer.
Downloading - alternate method	You can also download a PDF document to your computer this way: Right-click on the link to the PDF document and save it on your computer: INTERNET EXPLORER: Click "Save Target As". NETSCAPE: Click "Save Link As" and be sure to change the extension of the file name to .pdf when you save it. Double click on the file you have saved. If Acrobat Reader has been installed on your computer, it should launch and display the document.

Problem	Solution
Acrobat does not start when I click on the link to a PDF file.	If the test document does not appear, then you may need to download and install Acrobat Reader. If the test document does appear, then trying saving the PDF file on your computer (see downloading - alternate method, above) and opening it from there.
Acrobat starts but the document does not display.	Some PDF files are very large and take a long time to download. Also, the server may experience slowdowns during times of peak activity. Look at the status bar (at the bottom of your browser window where the document is loading) and see if it indicates that a document is being downloaded. If downloading activity is occurring, you may need to just give it more time. If downloading activity is not occurring (or appears to be "stuck"), then you may either click your browser's BACK button and try again, or try saving the PDF file to your computer (see downloading - alternate method, above) and opening it from there.
Document displays sideways or upside down.	Click the Rotate View icon on the Acrobat tool bar until the document appears right side up.
Document size needs to be changed (e.g. document is too small to read on the screen).	Use the Zoom in/Zoom out tool on the Acrobat tool bar to change document's display size. You can click on the "-" and "+" signs, or use the drop down menu.

Problem	Solution
Document does not print.	Try using the print icon on the Acrobat tool bar (rather than your browser's print function). On the print dialog box that appears, make sure that the option to "Print to file" is unchecked. If print icon is grayed out, it may mean that the document's security prevents printing. To learn more about resolving Windows printing problems, you can go to Adobe's Resolving Windows printing problems page.
Document takes a very long time to print.	Some factors that affect print time: The size of the file The type of network connection with which you are working The speed of the computer on which you are working The type and memory of the printer you are using
Document prints only odd or even pages.	Select the "Even and Odd Pages" option on the Acrobat print dialog box (that appears when you click the printer icon).
Document prints as mirror image.	Select the "Print as image" option on the Acrobat print dialog box (that appears when you click the printer icon).