Configuring Internet Explorer and AOL for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0 to Display PDF Files

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Configuring Internet Explorer and AOL for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0 to Display PDF Files Adobe Document number 315029

Adobe Acrobat 3.0x and 4.0 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 Acrobat viewer. Internet Explorer and the AOL browser will display PDF files in the browser window automatically when the Acrobat plug-in files are installed. Acrobat 3.0x viewers are compatible with Internet Explorer 3.0x and 4.x and AOL 3.x and 4.x. Acrobat 4.0 viewers are compatible with Internet Explorer 3.x, 4.x, and 5.x, and AOL 3.x and 4.x.

Installing the Acrobat Plug-in Files The Acrobat 3.0x installer automatically installs the plug-in files (Pdf.ocx, Pdf41.ocx, or Pdf42.ocx, and Pdf.tlb) to the Reader\ActiveX or Acrobat3\ActiveX folder when you install Acrobat Reader 3.0x or Acrobat 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 Acrobat viewer to display the file within the browser window.

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

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:

If you're using an Acrobat 3.0x viewer, make sure that a Pdf*.ocx file and a Pdf.tlb file are in the Acrobat3\ActiveX or Reader\ActiveX folder.
If you're using an Acrobat 4.0 viewer, make sure that the Pdf.ocx and Pdf.tlb files are in the Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Acrobat\ActiveX\ or Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\ActiveX\ folder.
Reinstall your Acrobat 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 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.

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

Exit Internet Explorer or AOL.
Choose Start > Find > Files Or Folders.
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.
Choose Start > Run.
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
Click OK.
Repeat steps 4-6 for every Pdf*.ocx file installed on your system.
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.
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.)
Restart Windows.
Start Internet Explorer or AOL; the browser will start an Acrobat viewer in a separate window to display PDF files when you click a link to a PDF file.
Choose View > Options, then select Programs.
Click File Types.
Select Adobe Acrobat Document in the Registered File Types scroll box, then click Edit. If Adobe Acrobat Document is not listed, select New Type.
Type "Adobe Acrobat Document" in the Description text box.
Type "application/pdf" in the Content Type (MIME) text box.
Type "pdf" in the Default Extension for Content text box.
Select Open from the list of Actions and then click Edit. If Open is not listed, click New.
Click Browse, locate and then select the Acrobat Reader 3.0x or Acrobat Exchange 3.0x application file, then click Select.
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.

Acrobat 4.0 Viewers To configure Internet Explorer or AOL to use an Acrobat 4.0 viewer as a helper application:

Start your Acrobat 4.0 viewer.
Choose File > Preferences > General.
Deselect Web Browser Integration in the Options section and then click OK.
Exit from the Acrobat 4.0 viewer.
Restart Internet Explorer or AOL.

Note: The next time you select a link to a PDF file in Internet Explorer, a dialog box will appear that asks what you would like to do with the file. If you select "Open this file from its current location," Internet Explorer will open the PDF file in your Acrobat viewer as a helper appliction. If you select "Save this file to disk," Internet Explorer will save the PDF file to your hard disk, from where you can open it later.

For more information about the general preferences in your Acrobat 4.0 viewer, refer to the Acrobat 4.0 User Guide or the Acrobat Reader 4.0 User Guide.

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:

Right-click the link to a PDF file, then choose Save Link As (Internet Explorer 3.x) or Save Target As (Internet Explorer 4.x or 5.0 or AOL) from the pop-up menu.
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):