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How can I download PDFs from Firefox?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by Moses

AnonymousUser
AnonymousUser
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When I try to download a pdf a blank tap opens with the link for the pdf location in the address bar. Then a pop-up window opens asking me, which file to open (on my computer) as if the pdf I am trying to open is on my local computer and not the web site I am going to... "I mean really, if it was on my computer would I really be using Firefox?" When I changed the preferences for how pdf's are handled to save the files this only opened a new, blank tap with the url in the address bar, it did not bring up the "Which file would you like to open" box....

This happened

Every time Firefox opened

== Week of July 12, 2010

When I try to download a pdf a blank tap opens with the link for the pdf location in the address bar. Then a pop-up window opens asking me, which file to open (on my computer) as if the pdf I am trying to open is on my local computer and not the web site I am going to... "I mean really, if it was on my computer would I really be using Firefox?" When I changed the preferences for how pdf's are handled to save the files this only opened a new, blank tap with the url in the address bar, it did not bring up the "Which file would you like to open" box.... == This happened == Every time Firefox opened == Week of July 12, 2010

All Replies (4)

Moses
Moses
  • Moderator
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Firefox is not a PDF reader. You need to download Adobe Reader from the Adobe site and then you can view PDFs from Firefox.

AnonymousUser
AnonymousUser Question owner
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Thanks for your reply... I have always had the Adobe application on my computer. When the problem 1st arose I updated Acrobat and Firefox to their latest versions... But the problem still exists. I have no problem from Safari.... FYI - I am on a Mac...

AnonymousUser
AnonymousUser Question owner
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I just had this exact same thing. To fix it I went to Firefox Preferences -> Applications and looked for Preview.app Document (application/pdf). I changed it to "Use Preview".

Preview was once the default but at some time I'd installed Adobe Acrobat reader. I'm not really interested in Adobe's product so I must have removed it. It's had security issues in the past.

Now PDFs render in Preview as they should. Hope this helps.

I have firefox 3.6.x running on PowerPC OS X 10.5.x

AnonymousUser
AnonymousUser Question owner
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I tried your suggestion and unfortunately it did not work... I get the same "open" box that pops up asking me what file to open with no ability to select any application... I think that Firefox is asking me to find the pdf file on my hard drive is stead of pull it from the web... He's (Firefox) is confused...

The true definition of success is NOT needing a computer, cell phone or my wife to tell me where something is...