Adobe Acrobat Reader is a great way to download large, complex documents such as our catalog, IF it is set up right. However, for some inexplicable reason, it does not always come set up right! If your computer locks up when you try to download, you either don't have Acrobat Reader or it needs adjusting. Don't worry, it's easy to fix.
Why use Acrobat? What is a "PDF"? When we prepare our catalog for the print shop, we end up with a file that would take four days to download! With Adobe Acrobat, we can convert that to a version that looks great on the screen and downloads in less than 15 minutes! The advantage of this "Portable Document File" becomes clear.
Do you have the Acrobat Reader? If you don't find it in your program directory and don't see the logo below on your desktop, you probably don't. If you click the logo, it should link you directly to the Adobe download page where you can get your free copy. Just answer a few questions and choose the right version for your machine. This is a big download, so it takes a while. (Netscape offers a free "smart download" program that's great with long downloads if you have problems with dropping the phone connection.) After you have it on your hard drive, click it or follow Adobe's directions to install. After it is installed, you can make your adjustments. If you have Version 4, there is no advantage in upgrading to Version 5.
If you have Acrobat 3 installed, we recommend you update with the free upgrade below. Acro 3 really does not do well with web integration. If you want to continue using it, we recommend you edit your preferences to exclude ALL web integration. If presented with the option, choose DOWNLOAD instead of OPEN. Open the file once you have the download saved and are offline. Remember where you saved it! I have a folder called CATALOGS, which makes it easy to remember.
If you need to edit your preferences, here are some clues for PC users. We suspect the options for Macs will be similar. Note that pdf downloads may work on some sites and not on others. This is usually owing to the host server not allowing "byte serving." If your computer just hangs up while trying to open a file, choose the download option. In some configurations it might take the entire download time before the first page shows. This is not normal and it isn't the file's fault. Check your settings. ALLOW FAST WEB VIEW should be checked in Acro 5.
If you have Acrobat 5, open the program, click EDIT, PREFERENCES and OPTIONS. We have everything but PAGE CACHE turned on under web browser options and it works great.
If you have Acrobat 4, open the program, click FILE, PREFERENCES and
GENERAL.