Adobe Reader - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is Adobe Reader?
A. Adobe® Reader® is free, universal software that lets you open, view, search, and print Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files with built-in security features. To date, more than 500 million copies of Adobe Reader have been distributed worldwide on 23 platforms and 26 languages.
Q. Do I need Adobe Acrobat to use Adobe Reader?
A. No. Adobe Reader is a stand-alone application that you can use to open, view, search, and print PDF files, such as those created by Adobe Acrobat or Adobe LiveCycle software.
Q. How do I download Adobe Reader?
A. Visit the Adobe Reader download page or the Adobe Reader main page on Adobe.com. You can also download Adobe Reader wherever you see the Get Adobe Reader icon. Once you have clicked the link or icon, you will be led through easy steps that allow you to identify your language, platform, and connection type. Once you have completed this simple process, the Adobe Reader software downloads and installs automatically on your system.
Q. Is Adobe Reader free?
A. Yes. Adobe Reader is free software available on the Adobe Web site at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html or wherever you see the Get Adobe Reader icon.
Q. Can I create a PDF file using Adobe Reader?
A. No. PDF files can only be created using Adobe Acrobat or Adobe LiveCycle software.
Q. Can I edit a PDF file using Adobe Reader?
A. No. You cannot make permanent changes to PDF files using Adobe Reader; however you can perform many edit-like functions using Adobe Reader if the author has enabled these functions using Acrobat 7.0 Professional. For example, you can highlight text and add comments on sticky notes. If you're looking to create and exchange documents, collect and compare comments, and tailor file security to distribute reliable and polished Adobe PDF documents, look into using Adobe Acrobat software.
Q. Can I mark up and review files in Adobe Reader?
A. Yes, if this functionality has been rights-enabled by the PDF author. Adobe Acrobat or Adobe LiveCycle software lets PDF authors turn on special commenting tools in Adobe Reader on a document-by-document basis. This capability enables Adobe Reader 7.0 users to easily review and mark up PDF files with a variety of commenting and markup tools. You can add sticky notes; indicate text edits; and highlight, cross out, or underline text. You can also add premade or dynamic stamps.
Q. Is the PDF file I'm reading secure?
A. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 supports encryption and password protection for added security. A PDF file can be made uneditable by the author so that he or she can specify changes a recipient is allowed to make, such as filling in and signing forms. There are security settings to restrict editing, printing, and extracting content. PDF file authors can also add watermarks to communicate the nature of the document (for example, "confidential" or "draft"). Such features help prevent reviewers from making any permanent changes to a document that is still in review.
Q. Can I read digital editions (formerly eBooks) using Adobe Reader?
A. Yes. Adobe Reader 7.0 provides full support for digital editions. You can download a digital edition onto your desktop or handheld computer and view high-quality graphics, pictures, and fonts for a rich reading experience. Find out more about digital editions.
Q. What else can I do with Adobe Reader 7.0?
A. Adobe Reader 7.0 lets you to save a wide range of files attached to PDF documents, including word processing documents, spreadsheets, digital audio files, videos, or other file types. Simply drag the attachment into Windows Explorer or onto the Macintosh desktop, then modify the file in the same manner you would modify other files. (Note that you must have the native application that created the file in order to modify it.) Adobe Reader 7.0 also allows you to search within open PDF files or any PDF file residing on a local machine. You can search entire PDF files or portions of a file. You may also be able to select and copy information to the clipboard or export information into other applications, if the Adobe PDF author has permitted these capabilities via security settings.
Q. On what platforms can I read a PDF file?
A. Adobe Reader 7.0 is supported by the later Windows® platforms (Windows 2000 with Service Pack 2, Windows XP Professional or Home Edition, or Windows XP Tablet PC Edition), Mac OS X v.10.2.8 or 10.3, Palm OS® 3.0 (or later) and Pocket PC 2002 or 2003 platforms for handheld devices, Symbian OS™, Linux®, AIX®, HP/UX, and Solaris™.
Q. Why can't I make changes to my Adobe PDF file?
A. Adobe Reader is a stand-alone application that you can use to open, view, search, and print PDF files. If you're looking to create and exchange documents, collect and compare comments, and tailor file security to distribute reliable and polished Adobe PDF documents, look into using Adobe Acrobat.
Q. If I want someone to review a PDF file, how can I be sure they will know how to do so when they receive the file?
A. When the PDF author has enabled these capabilities in Acrobat 7.0 Professional or Adobe LiveCycle software, Adobe Reader 7.0 reviewers will be alerted that the document is enabled for review and markup. A How To pane will open automatically with instructions on how to use the commenting and markup tools to add comments to the file. You can always hide the How To pane if you do not need it. You will also notice a commenting toolbar that was previously unavailable. This toolbar will allow you to mark up and comment on the document as well as return your comments to the sender for efficient consolidation.