What to do when PDF pages don't
appear in Web browser window
- A solution from the Adobe Acrobat Support Pages
PIEA uses many PDF files in
its site. These files can range from very small to very
large, but still, some difficulties may occur in downloading
and viewing these files. Any number of issues may be the
cause, so we have included this help document to assist you
in properly viewing the PDF files.
An Adobe Acrobat product
(such as Acrobat, Acrobat Reader, or Adobe Reader) may be
unable to display a PDF file inside a compatible Web browser
window if the Acrobat product can't read the PDF file, if
the Web browser isn't configured correctly with the Adobe
PDF Browser plug-in, or if the Web server on which the PDF
file is stored can't serve the PDF file. Work through this
document to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.
Solution 1: Clear
your temporary internet files and try again.
PDF files that show up as blank or corrupt, or that freeze
your browser, were likely damaged during the download
process. In order to fix this, clear your browser's cache,
close the browser and make another attempt. If you do not
do this, any additional attempts may force your browser to
view the cached (and, therefore, damaged) version of the PDF
file instead of downloading again from the web server.
Solution 2:
Configure Acrobat Reader to NOT open PDF files in browser.
Open Acrobat Reader, and select Edit/Preferences. In
the window that opens, click on the Options link in
the left menu, and uncheck the option that
says "Open PDF in Browser". Now, return to your browser and
clear your temporary internet files again. Refresh the
page, and click on the link to the PDF file. Follow any
options to allow the PDF file to display in Acrobat Reader
instead of Internet Explorer.
Solution 3: Upgrade
the Acrobat product.
Upgrade to the latest version of the Acrobat product. For
upgrade information, visit the Adobe Web site at
www.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catAcrobat.
(The free Adobe Reader 6.0 is available from the Adobe Web
site at
www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.) If you
are already running the latest version, remove and reinstall
the application.
Solution 4 (Windows
only): Upgrade Internet Explorer.
Upgrade to Internet Explorer 5.5 or later, which corrects
display issues of PDF files sent dynamically using POST or
ASP (Active Server Page) methods.
Solution 5: Try to
open a local copy of a PDF file in the Acrobat product.
Determine if the Acrobat product can open the PDF file from
the local hard drive rather than from the Web:
- In Internet Explorer,
right-click the link to the PDF file, and then choose
Save Target As from the pop-up menu (Windows), or click
and hold the link to the PDF file and choose Download
Link to Disk from the pop-up menu (Mac OS).
- Specify a name and
location for the PDF file, and then click Save.
- Open the Acrobat
product, choose File > Open, and try to open the PDF
file that you saved in step 2:
- If the PDF file
opens, complete Solution 7.
- If the Acrobat
product displays a blank screen or returns an error
when you try to open the PDF file, clear your
temporary internet files and refresh your browser
window, and attempt again.
Solution 6 (Windows
only): Enable Acrobat ActiveX Control.
In Internet Explorer 4.x or later, enable the Acrobat
ActiveX Control in the security options:
Note:
This procedure changes Internet Explorer's security
options for all ActiveX Controls. If you prefer to use
stricter security, contact your Network Administrator or
Microsoft for information about using the Administrator
Approved setting in Internet Explorer's Security panel.
To enable the ActiveX
Control:
- Close Internet
Explorer and the Acrobat product.
- Choose Start >
Settings > Control Panel, and then double-click
Internet (or Internet Options).
- Click the Security
tab in the Internet Properties dialog box.
- Choose the
appropriate zone for the location hosting the PDF
file (for example, Internet or Local Intranet).
- Click the Custom
security level.
- In the Security
Settings dialog box, select Enable under Run ActiveX
Controls and plug-ins, and then click OK.
- Click OK in the
Internet Properties dialog box.
Solution 7 (Windows
only): Check the number of characters in the URL.
If the URL for the PDF file contains more than 256
characters, do one of the following:
- Ask the provider of the
PDF file to modify the path to the file or location of
the file so that the URL contains 256 or fewer
characters, and then ask the provider to repost the PDF
file. (After the provider reposts the PDF file, you may
need to click Refresh to reload the Web page.)
- Upgrade to Internet
Explorer 5.5, which supports pathnames that contain an
unlimited number of characters.
Solution 8: Optimize
large PDF files.
If the PDF file is 4 MB or larger, ask the provider to
optimize the PDF file.
If you continue to have
problems, please contact the email address or phone number
listed on the page where the PDF file was linked.
