Troubleshooting tip for Microsoft Explorer users

Enabling the Browser to Use Acrobat as a Helper Application

It appears that PDF files are more easily viewed in Microsoft Explorer if text appears in a separate Acrobat window. You can enable the browser to use Acrobat or Acrobat Reader as a helper application. Internet Explorer or AOL then starts Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, which displays PDF files within an Acrobat window instead of within the browser window.

To configure Acrobat or Acrobat Reader as a helper application:

1. Exit from Internet Explorer or AOL.
2. Start Acrobat or Acrobat Reader.
3. Choose Edit > Preferences > Internet (Acrobat 6.0 or Acrobat Reader 6.0), or choose Edit > Preferences > General (Acrobat 5.0 or Acrobat Reader 5.0).
4. In the Options section, deselect Display PDF in Browser (Acrobat 5.0/6.0 or Acrobat Reader 5.0/6.0).
5. Click OK, and then exit from Acrobat or Acrobat Reader.
6. Restart Internet Explorer or AOL.

Note: The next time you select a link to a PDF file in Internet Explorer and AOL, a dialog box will prompt you to specify what to do with the file. If you select “Open this file from its current location,” Internet Explorer and AOL open the PDF file in Acrobat as a helper application. If you select “Save this file to disk,” Internet Explorer saves the PDF file to your hard disk, from where you can open it later.

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Updated 15 September 2003
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