One of the drawbacks of publishing on the World Wide Web is that, depending upon the computer platform and software used, what the viewer sees on their screen at home can end up looking much different from what the author originally intended. 

Files saved in the Portable Document Format, or PDFs, are an ideal solution to this problem.

PDF is a file format developed by Adobe that preserves the exact layout of a document, no matter what computer platform the viewer is using, or what application the original document was created in. 

PDFs are also more compact, making downloads faster.   Because of this, PDF has become the preferred format for distributing large, graphics-intensive documents through the Internet.

While the software used to create PDFs  "Adobe Acrobat"  costs several hundred dollars, the Adobe Acrobat Reader used to view PDF documents is free and easily downloadable for Internet users. 

If you've already got an older version of Acrobat Reader on your computer, you should upgrade to the newest version, Acrobat Reader 5, which offers many improved features such as the ability to save files downloaded in a Web browser (like many project files on this site), compatibility with screen readers for visually impaired users, and better resolution for LCD screens.

Installing Acrobat Reader is usually uncomplicated, but here's a quick guide to resolving some common problems.

basic instructions

Most sites offering PDFs for download provide a link to Adobe's Acrobat Reader download site. 

If not, you can go to Adobe's Acrobat Reader 5 to download it to your computer.  At the download site, you will be prompted to select your operating system and to register as a user (Adobe requires a name and email address, but they will not send you future email unless you request it).  When you click the "Download" button, be sure to remember where on your computer you save the file.

The download will take approximately 20 minutes, depending upon your operating system and Internet connection speed.

The file you download will be an executable program (ending with .exe): click on it twice to begin the installation. 

It is recommended you shut down any other applications that may be running before beginning the installation.  Follow the onscreen prompts to complete the installation procedure. 

Once installation is complete, you can double-click on the Adobe Acrobat Reader icon to open the program.  Alternatively, double-clicking on any PDF should automatically open the document within Acrobat Reader.  When surfing the Web, PDFs should now open automatically in your browser when you click on the link. 

If you have successfully installed Acrobat Reader, now you're ready to view and print all of our creative projects.  If you had some problems, continue reading and maybe some of our troubleshooting tips will help.

If you have trouble downloading the file:

• Try a different download site, such as download.com or hotfiles.com.                           
• Download the file when the Internet is less busy, late at night or early in the morning.                           
• Use a different browser.

If you have trouble installing the application:

• Make sure your computer meets the minimum requirements to run the program.  These should be listed on the download page.                           
• Make sure the file was downloaded completely, and is not damaged.  If you're not sure, download the file again.                           
• Free memory to make room for the installation: empty your Recycle Bin, run Disk Cleanup (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Utilities) to delete temporary files, delete any unused programs and files (or transfer them to removable storage), and run Disk Defragmenter [link to Defragment Your Drive]

If you have trouble viewing PDF files in Acrobat Reader:

• Make sure the file you downloaded isn't damaged or incomplete.  An unstable Internet connection can disrupt a download.                           
• Make sure your computer has enough free RAM memory to open the file: close other windows and applications, empty your Recycle Bin, or run Disk Cleanup.  It may help to restart your computer.                           
• If you still can't open the file, or it will not load completely, contact the author or download site to report a problem.

For more help with Acrobat Reader, visit Adobe. COM.