Portable Document Format (PDF) Download Help

If you don't already have it, you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files.

Adobe.com provides detailed help pages:

Most Common Problems

FAQs

I can view the document in my browser, but it doesn't save it to my computer's hard disk.

To download the file instead of viewing it on a Macintosh computer...
1) Click and hold on the link to the file.
2a) Netscape: From the pop-up menu, select "Save This Link As..."
2b) Explorer: From the pop-up menu, select "Download Link to Disk."
3) Netscape: Select the "Source" format rather than the "Text" format.
4) Select the destination folder where you want to save the file.
5) Click "Save."
6) Open the file using Acrobat Reader.

To download the file instead of viewing it in Explorer for Windows...
1) Click on the link to the file with the mouse's right button.
2) From the pop-up menu, select "Save Target As..."
3)Select the destination folder where you want to save the file.
4) Click "Save."
5) Open the file using Acrobat Reader.

To save the file after your browser has loaded it for viewing...
1) With the PDF document visible, choose "Save As.." from the "Edit" menu.
2)Select the destination folder where you want to save the file.
3) Click "Save."

How do I change my browser's preferences so it always downloads the file to my computer?

In Internet Explorer for Macintosh:
1) Choose "Preferences" from the "Edit" menu.
2) Choose "File Helper" from the "Receiving Files" section.
3) Choose "Portable Document Format" from the list.
4) Select the "Change" button.
5) Under "Handling" select the "post-process with application" or "Save to File" option.
6) Select "OK" to save your change.

In Netscape for Macintosh:
1) Choose "Preferences" from the "Edit" menu.
2) Choose "Applications" from the "Navigator" section.
3) Choose "Portable Document Format" from the list.
4) Select the "Edit" button.
5) Under "Handled by" select the "Save to disk" option.
6) Select "OK" to save your change.

When I download the PDF file, it shows up on my computer, but it won't open when I double-click on it.

Try opening it from within Acrobat Reader rather than double clicking on it, or

Try dragging the icon for the file onto the icon for Acrobat Reader (if your computer supports drag-and-drop file opening), or

If you save the file from your browser on a Macintosh, save it as "source" rather than "text."