Using Adobe Acrobat (pdf) Files

University of Kentucky, Department of Chemistry

If you are using a computer in the campus Microlabs, your web browser should already be equipped to deal with these files. When you click on a pdf document, Acrobat Reader should start automatically and display your file. You may then print it (but not alter it). If your computer does not use the Reader correctly, ask one of the consultants for assistance.

If you are not using a computer in the University MicroLabs and/or your computer does not have a copy of Acrobat Reader, you can get a free copy by going to Adobe's free Acrobat Reader page and downloading it to your computer.

Once you have downloaded your free copy of Acrobat Reader you will then need to configure Netscape to use it. There are two ways to do this:

1. Use the plug-in version of Reader. Simply follow the instructions given with the software to install the Reader plug-in in the Netscape plugins directory.

2. Have Netscape automatically launch the Reader when you click on a pdf document. These instructions are for a Mac, but the Windows version is almost identical. After you unpack an install the Reader program simply:
   1. In Netscape 3.x, select "General Preferences..." from the Options menu.

   2. In the "Preferences" dialog box, choose "Helpers" from the popup menu.

   3. Click the "New..." button.

   4. In the "Edit Type" dialog box, enter "application/pdf" in the "Description:" field, enter "pdf" in the "Mime Type:" field and enter "pdf" in the "Suffixes" field.

   5. Under "Handled By", click on "Application" if you are not using the plug-in version.

   6. Click on "Browse...." then locate and select the Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Exchange application.

   7. Click on "OK." in the "Edit Type" dialog box to save your settings.

Problems? Contact Terry Todd at ttodd1@pop.uky.edu.

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