Doesn't open PDF format. How to open a pdf file on a computer

The PDF file format has become widely used due to its flexibility and cross-platform functionality. PDF documents accurately display fonts, vector and raster graphics, and page layout. Not all, but some PDF files support searching within documents and following links. Books, magazines, instructions, reports, receipts, payment orders and other documents are posted on the Internet in PDF format, which, when read or printed, must be displayed in the form in which their author prepared them.

How to open a PDF file - the answer to this question, presented below in the form of a review of six programs for working with this format, will be of interest not only to beginners looking for a one-time solution. Experienced users will probably be interested in learning about alternatives to the programs they currently use to work with PDF files. There are quite a lot of programs on the software market today that allow you to work with PDF files. Let's consider universal solutions that allow you to view PDF files, among other functionality, and separate programs designed to exist specifically for this format. So, let's begin.

1. Standard PDF reader Windows 8/8.1

It would seem that the problem of reading PDF files should have been resolved in versions of the Windows 8/8.1 system, because they include a standard Metro application, which will obediently open this format by default. Yes, the standard application can be used as a one-time solution to extract the necessary information from a PDF file or print a document, but a standard PDF reader is not suitable for permanent work in the desktop part of the operating system. Like most Metro applications, the standard PDF reader is slower than desktop programs and has limited functionality.

2.Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word in the 2013 version of the office suite can work with PDF files. But the most popular text editor from the software giant does not display the PDF document in its original form, but converts it into a regular Word document. The PDF conversion occurs in a new Word document, while the original PDF file remains untouched.

To open a PDF file in Microsoft Word, you don't just need to drag the file into the text editor window. You need to either set Microsoft Word as the default program to open the PDF format, or open the file through the Open menu.

When you open a PDF file, you will see a notification from Microsoft Word that the file has been converted to a text document.

Microsoft Word will open downloaded PDF files from the Internet in reading mode - a protected mode from external threats.

To edit a document, you must switch to normal editing mode.

Microsoft Word can also save text documents in PDF format.

Microsoft Word is not a full-fledged program for working with original PDF documents; a text editor can be used for one-time situations. Or when the process of converting PDF to text format is deliberately needed.

3. Browsers

Browsers are a universal tool for both web surfing and viewing PDF documents. Internet Explorer and other browsers can play PDF documents. Their functionality for working with this format is minimalist, but this is the simplest option to view or print a PDF document that does not require fiddling with installing unnecessary software. To open a PDF file, simply drag it into your browser window.

4. Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF is a free PDF viewer that users of low-power computing devices are sure to enjoy.

It is not demanding on computer resources and quickly processes PDF files, which, despite their impressive volumes, can be processed more slowly by other programs. Other advantages of the Sumatra PDF program include a pleasant interface and an internal library that displays readable documents.

In addition to PDF files, the program can also play other e-book formats - DjVu, FB2, ePub, XPS, etc.

5. Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader is a classic of the genre. This is perhaps the most famous PDF viewer. The free Adobe Reader from the software developer - also the well-known company Adobe Systems - offers a little more functionality than other simple viewer programs. These are functions such as: photographing the selected area, leaving comments, rotating pages, adding bookmarks, playing embedded text, graphic, video and audio elements, storing PDF documents in cloud storage from Adobe and many others.

It is necessary to distinguish another product of this company from the free Adobe Reader viewer - the paid Adobe Acrobat program. Its different versions, differing accordingly in different capabilities, offer advanced functionality for creating and editing PDF documents for professionals.

6. Foxit Reader

Another PDF reader, no less popular than Adobe Reader, is the free Foxit Reader. This is a very fast program; like Sumatra PDF, it is not demanding on computer resources and quickly processes PDF documents. At the same time, the Foxit Reader program is equipped with far from simple functionality. Among its features are: adding annotations and text to PDF documents, functionality for collaboration between several users, converting PDF into simple text files, playing attachments built into documents (text, graphics, video, sound).

The interface of the new version of Foxit Reader is radically different from the minimalism of older versions in the classic style of a PDF reader. Now the appearance of the program resembles the products of the Microsoft Office suite. The Foxit Reader interface is designed in the Ribbon style, where program sections are represented by horizontal tabs. The similarity with Microsoft office suite products is also reminiscent of the organization of the “File” menu, the flat style of functional command icons, the presence of a customizable quick launch panel, and, of course, the design of the program as a whole.

Foxit Reader is not only a free PDF viewer, the program has functionality for creating and editing PDF documents. And all this in the same free version.

In the same article I will tell you how to open a pdf file. So, Portable Document Format (PDF) was developed by Adobe Systems and was not widely used at first. The reason for this is a paid viewing and editing program from the developer. Also, the documents did not support external links and were of decent size. This did not contribute to the spread of the format during the low-speed Internet. Later, with the release of a free version of the program for reading PDF documents - Adobe Reader, the format began to gain wide popularity. I open all PDF files using a browser

You can, as when viewing a regular web page, CTRL + (+ or -) change the scale for more comfortable viewing.

Since the browser is always installed, there is no need for additional software discussed below. And the less we install on our computer, the more stable it works.

When you launch the application, a window will appear where you can select the type of toolbar. Available in Classic and Tabbed. Choose the one you like and click OK

Foxit Reader is also a fast app, but it doesn’t allow you to use the left and right arrows to turn pages in the usual way. One more note - it is in English.

STDU Viewer - opens not only pdf files

Another mega application for opening PDF, Djvu, ePub files and more. In order to download, you need to click on the button below. The official website page will open where you can download the installer, portable version and version for commercial use

There you can see how much the file you download weighs. Let's focus on the installer (2.5 MB). Download and launch.

Confirm that you will use the program only for personal purposes by checking the appropriate box and clicking Next >

When installing, you can view the supported file extensions in the shell integration window. This is the most versatile utility of all presented here. Click Next >

This is what a PDF file looks like opened in STDU Viewer

Also a pleasant and intuitive interface. The navigation buttons are located and are easily visible. The first impression is very positive.

Conclusion

In the article how to open a pdf file we looked at the four most common programs for the Windows operating system. These are: Adobe Reader, Sumatra PDF, Foxit Reader and STDU Viewer. The heaviest application turned out to be from the creator of the format - Adobe Reader - 36.5 MB. It is followed by Foxit Reader - 15 MB and Sumatra PDF with STDU Viewer, both 2.5 MB.

Of all the programs presented, Adobe Reader, of course, has the greatest functionality. It allows you to add your text to the document, add stamps and sign. Since this is a program from the developer, all innovations will be supported first in Adobe Reader. During installation, the program is added to startup (notification area) in order to receive updates in a timely manner. The presence of a large number of programs in startup can negatively affect the performance of weak computers. (If anything, read the article The computer is slowing down, what should I do?) You can also optimize Windows loading using the task scheduler.

Foxit Reader. The utility is lighter than Adobe Reader and has more modest capabilities. The free version of Foxit Reader can be used for commercial purposes. Perhaps due to this, it has become quite widespread.

Sumatra PDF and STDU Viewer. Two mega lightweight utilities (installation file - 2.5 MB). They have the ability not only to open PDF documents, but also to view files with other useful extensions. One of them is *.djvu, in which you can also find a lot of information. STDU Viewer, unlike Sumatra PDF, can open files with the extension *.fb2, which deserves the title of the most universal program.

Summarize. If you need additional functionality, it is recommended to choose Adobe Reader. If you need to use the program for commercial purposes, then Foxit Reader. If you are going to use the program “at home” and versatility is important to you, then Sumatra PDF or STDU Viewer are an excellent option.

P.S. The file I use in this article is called Healthy Eating Basics.

Many information materials on the Internet can only be downloaded in pdf format, but many users do not know what to do next with such documents or how to open such a file on a computer. That is why we decided to dwell on this issue in more detail.

Figure 1. Appearance of the PDF file shortcut

What is pdf format?

PDF, or Portable Document Format, is a text and multimedia file format that is independent of a computer system. Since this method of presentation is very convenient, it is in this way that program installation guides, instructions, reference books and catalogs are usually made.

But it is impossible to open and view PDF on a computer without installing special applications. The Windows 8 operating system has a built-in tool for viewing such documents, but its operation often does not satisfy users, and additional programs have to be installed.

How to open a PDF file on a computer?

There are many applications designed to work with this format. Let's look at the most popular:

1. . This is the most common program for working with the PDF format. By installing this software, any documents will be opened easily and quickly, like regular text files. Additional features include the function of adding comments and annotations. The only disadvantage of the Adobe product is that it periodically experiences glitches that slow down the computer.
2. . The program takes up little space in the device's memory, but it works quite quickly. Compared to Adobe, Foxit Reader has fewer functions, but if you plan to use the software only at home, this program will be quite enough for you.
3. . A simple utility designed not only to open PDF files, but also other similar formats. In addition, this software is ideal for computers with low power.

This is a collection of utilities for editing, reading, and flexible printing of PDF files.

With this application, the user can not only open and view any PDF file, but also make some adjustments to it.

Using Adobe Reader as an example, let's look at how easy it is to work with PDF files.

The first step is to download the Adobe Reader program itself (Figure 2).

Note: When you download, you will be prompted to install the optional McAfee Security Scan product. If you do not need it, simply uncheck the box next to the program name.

Figure 2. Window for selecting installation options for the Adobe Reader application

After this, you need to wait for the download and double-click on the downloaded file. The installation comes down to the standard procedure: launch, select the installation location, click “Next” and after a few minutes of waiting, when a message appears indicating that the installation is complete, click “Finish” (Figure 3).

In this lesson we will show you how to install Adobe Reader, with which you can view pdf files.

In the last lesson, I told you how to open a pdf file using Foxit Reader. You can read about this. In this lesson we will talk about another program with which you can open pdf files. It's called Adobe Reader.

First of all, we need to go to the program’s website in order to download it. To do this, in the address bar of your browser you need to enter the website address www.adobe.com/ru/ and press the Enter key or simply follow this link -. The main page of the company's website will open in front of you. Here we need to select the "Menu" link.

After selecting the "Menu" item, you will see a pop-up window in which we need to select the "Adobe Reader" link.

You will be redirected to a new page where you need to uncheck the “Install the free McAfee Security Scan Plus utility” option and click on the “Install now” button.

After downloading the program installation file to your computer, you need to run it. To do this, double-click on it with the left mouse button to begin installation of the program.

Now all you have to do is wait a little while the program does all the necessary operations and at the very end you just need to click on the “Finish” button. That's it, the program was installed successfully.

Also, the installation will create a special shortcut on your desktop with which you can launch the program.

Now you can open pdf files with peace of mind. To open a pdf file, simply double-click on it with the left mouse button. If for some reason the file opens in another program, then it is possible to configure the opening of files through Adobe Reader manually. You can read how to do this in one of my lessons here

In this new lesson I will tell you which program you can use to open DjVu files on your computer.

Free Lossless Audio Codec or FLAC for short is a format of audio files that are compressed without loss of quality. It compresses a little worse than MP3, but the sound quality is much higher, which is why this format is more popular among music lovers. Today I will tell you how you can open FLAC.

PDF is one of the most common formats for documentation, e-books and instructions. In PDF format, you can save information in any form, and it will be displayed the same everywhere, i.e. The formatting and layout of the document will always be the same. This is why the PDF format has earned its recognition.

To begin with, I would like to immediately clarify that the programs that will be discussed open PDF files only FOR VIEWING, i.e. It is IMPOSSIBLE to change anything in a document using them. Some programs only allow you to modify the text, but not the content. The PDF format itself is quite specific, and even with the help of editors, the process of editing it is not at all similar to working with a Word document.

In the simplest case, you can read the file in any modern browser: Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, Edge. The functionality will be limited: only viewing content and printing. To do this, simply drag the file to an empty browser tab. But if the PDF file does not open this way, then try installing one of the programs.

Uncompromising Acrobat

In order not to have any problems with displaying PDF files, it is best to install the program of the format developer itself - Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Just select the program language “Russian” if the download page itself does not correctly determine it. The installation process is trivial, just click “Next” all the time.

Adobe has a complete package for working with PDF documents, including creating and editing - but it is paid.

Acrobat Reader provides a good set of features and flexibility in customization for ease of use. It's completely free for both home and commercial use and is on my list. When you first start, you will need to confirm the use of a free license. Most likely, you won’t even have to go into the settings, because the program works great by default.

In the latest versions of Adobe Reader, there is still a very small opportunity to change the file. These are tools for highlighting text and inserting comments. The title “Text Highlighting” is probably not a very good Russian translation, because... “Text highlighting” is more suitable. To highlight the text, click on the icon in the toolbar and select the text, and the add comments icon is located immediately to the left.

By default, text is highlighted in yellow. You can change the highlight color only after highlighting with the default color. To do this, double-click on the selection and in the window click on the icon and select “Properties”. From there you can remove the highlight and add or change a comment.

Alternative programs for PDF

Acrobat Reader, of course, is far from the only PDF viewer. The developers managed to make an ordinary viewer a relatively heavy product. Basically there are no problems, but the program takes a long time to install and sometimes slows down.

Foxit Reader

The program is lightweight and has a simple interface. As a result, Foxit Reader launches quickly and is less demanding on computer resources.

Particular attention is paid to security, namely, at the first launch it is suggested to set the safe mode, in which attachments in the document are not opened and scripts are not run. Foxit Reader allows you to select text, insert comments, graphic objects, multimedia files (video and audio), but you can edit text only in the paid package Foxit PDF Editor.

However, over time, Foxit Reader has also become heavier, so I advise you to run its portable version.

Portable versions are distinguished by the fact that they are lighter and installation is very quick or not required at all. When you first start it, a window with two buttons will pop up, select “Not Now”. For the program to become in Russian, you need to go to the menu “File -> Preferences -> Language -> select Russian”

And restart the program with the “Restart Now” button.

The easiest - Sumatra PDF

This is already an open source project, the program is the lightest and is not at all demanding on resources. Can open not only PDF, but also CHM, XPS, DjVu, CBZ and CBR files.

Two versions are available: for installation and portable (works without installation). Since Sumatra PDF is already very lightweight, I advise you to download the full version, so you can immediately install the program to open all PDF files by default.

The program has practically no settings, everything is easy and simple.