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What is Adobe Acrobat?
Adobe Acrobat is a system that allows people on different types of computers to view documents that contain complex formatting. An Adobe Acrobat Reader is available for most plaforms (Windows, Mac, Unix, etc.), and all of them can read the same PDF (Portable Document Format) documents.
We use Acrobat for documents like result charts and catalogue pages, since it would be very difficult (if not impossible) to accurately display them in plain HTML.
How do I get the Acrobat Reader?
Just download it from Adobe's Web site. This is a free download -- you'll only pay your normal Internet access charges.
I've downloaded the file but don't know what to do next.
(This section applies to the Windows version only -- see Adobe for help on other versions.)
The file you downloaded from Adobe is the installation program. Simply run it to install the Acrobat Reader. (See your Windows documentation if you're not sure how to run a program.)
When you install the Reader, it will automatically configure itself for most major Web browsers. If it doesn't (i.e., you click on a PDF file but don't get the document on screen), you'll need to configure your browser yourself. The procedure varies from browser to browser -- what you need to do is set up a "helper application" for use with PDF files. Most browsers have a configuration screen for this (for example, Netscape users use "Options/General Preferences/Helpers", and AOL users hit the "Prefs" button, then "Helper Applications"). The information you need is as follows:
Description: Adobe Acrobat Document (this can be anything)
Type: application/pdf
Extension: PDF
Application: (This varies from version to version -- it's the executable program. For example, in some versions it's C:\ACROREAD\ACROREAD.EXE.)
NOTE: In some versions, the name of the downloaded installation program and the actual Reader program are the same -- ACROREAD.EXE. Don't point your browser to the installation program.
I've got it installed and an Acrobat document is on my screen. Now what?
There are two versions of the Adobe Acrobat reader: the standard version and the plug-in. If you're using the standard version, the catalogue pages will be loaded into a separate reader program when you click on the hip number. To return to your browser, simply exit this program.
If you're using the plug-in, the catalogue page will actually be loaded into your browser, so you can use the usual "Back" and "Forward" controls to navigate.
Full installation and troubleshooting documentation can be found at Adobe's Web site.
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