|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most computer users these days have received (or at some time, will receive) a file with a PDF extension. However, to read and/or print this file, you MUST have a reader program which can do this. The program required Adobe Acrobar Reader - but where do you get the program?
Acrobat Reader is distributed free by the distributors, Adobe Systems Inc., and as such is readily available from all sorts of places, on magazine and application CDs (you may even have Acrobat Reader on CDs supplied with your PC), perhaps on CDs accompanying books you may have purchased on PC software or hardware and of course on the internet. However, I firmly believe that the best way to get the latest version (version 6) is to purchase a copy of PC Pro or Computer Shopper. Both are monthly UK computing magazines issued during the first 10 days of every month and both of which include a magazine CD. For many years now, these CDs have ALWAYS included the latest version of Acrobat Reader. As a result, not only will you have Acrobat Reader but you'll also have the magazine and a CD full of possibly useful programs (several of which are demos). The latest version is also ALWAYS available on the internet from the Adobe Systems site. However, it is a rather longwinded process and the latest download is very big (8.7Mb), taking perhaps 45 minutes to 1 hr 15 mins or possibly more with a 56k modem although this depends on the speed of your connection. If you are on broadband then there is no need to worry about size since it is an “always connected” connection to the Internet.
Of course, you may already have Acrobat Reader on your PC. If you have a .PDF file
on your system, then any PDF files you have will be represented by a symbol (termed
an icon) as shown here (or similar). This 
means that you should be able to double-click
the file using the mouse and Acrobat Reader will automatically open and load the
file into it. You could also look for a directory or folder which has the name Reader
or Acrobat Reader or possibly just Acrobat. Yet another way is to search for PDF
files using the Windows Find feature. To do this, go to Start at the bottom left
of the screen and click. From the menu displayed, select Find and then Files or Folders.
In the dialogue box type "*.PDF" (don't include the inverted commas), select the
hard drive/s you want to search and press RETURN. Windows will then search for any
PDF files you may have on the selected drive/s and tell you where they are, if found.
If any PDF files are found and they are not represented by the icon above or similar,
then you are unlikely to have Acrobat Reader on your system. In the same way you
can search for the Acrobat Reader program file to find out if you have the program
on your system. In this case search for ACRORD32.EXE.
You may well have questions to ask about what has been said on this page. If so, then please feel free to contact us (see the Contact Us page) and we will try to answer any questions you may have.