open pdfs in acrobat reader externally

asplundj
When I click on a linked pdf file I would like it to open in acrobat reader externally instead of in Firefox is that possible?
  • uppsalo
    I like the idea but not as default, perhaps as a right click menu action?
  • arggem
    I actually prefer it the other way around. When the file name has the .pdf extension, it opens externally in Acrobat. I simply rename the file by deleting the extension, and it opens in FireFox.

    Maybe you need to ADD the extension?
  • asplundj
    It does not open in acrobat reader when I click on a pdf in zotero regardless if I have a extension or not. Since zotero takes a lot of space the pdf that opens in firefox will be tiny
  • hansi linderoth
    edited April 12, 2008
    Yep, sign me up on that wishlist. Why not put a checkbox in preferences, "open pdf with acrobat"?
  • arodrigues
    Agreed: it would be helpful to have the option of opening outside of firefox.
  • arodrigues
    ... or, at least (perhaps easier to implement), that when opening pdfs inside firefox the default option is to open a new tab rather than replacing the currently active webpage. I am finding that all too often I "lose" something else I was already doing on the web because I open a pdf on top of it.
  • mrnlegato
    This is a feature that you need to change in the firefox settings; you can specify a default program to open pdf files (Adobe Acrobat/Reader) instead of the Firefox Adobe plugin.

    Although I agree; I like using Adobe Acrobat Std with pdfs stored in Zotero so that I can modify them with graphics while I read. Presently that means clicking "locate file" and then manually opening the pdf. In all other pdf-reading, though, I do prefer using the Firefox plugin.
  • mrnlegato
    Also check out the "PDF Download" extension for general use (but that doesn't solve the integration with Zotero; Zotero will still always open with whatever is your default pdf viewer)
  • dstillman
    edited April 18, 2008
    There's a hidden pref, extensions.zotero.launchNonNativeFiles, to always open attachments that aren't handled natively by Firefox via the OS. This lets you still open PDFs clicked on from web pages with the Acrobat plugin. Type about:config into the Firefox URL bar to find the pref and set it to TRUE.
  • arodrigues
    Perfect - that was exactly what I needed! Thanks!
  • emailsfh
    Yes, thanks Dan. Came just now looking for this and found my answer right away! Now, if I only I can do the same with linked Word files?
  • CB
    On my machine (ubuntu 8.04, FF3RC1, zotero 1.04), Zotero opens pdf files using one particular pdf viewer (evince), whatever I do.

    extensions.zotero.launchNonNativeFile is set to false. FF preferences are set to open pdfs in acroread (external, not plugin), and pdf links in web pages open appropriately in it. But, oddly, zotero insists on evince. I think it's using the system pdf viewer regardless of FF settings (though I've never figured out exactly how ubuntu/gnome links files to applications; in this case, double-clicking in nautilus opens pdfs in acroread).

    Is there any way I can override zotero's choice here?
  • dstillman
    FF preferences are set to open pdfs in acroread (external, not plugin), and pdf links in web pages open appropriately in it. But, oddly, zotero insists on evince.
    If a file type can't be handled internally (natively by Firefox or via a plugin), Zotero launches it via the OS. It should generally be the same as double-clicking a file in the filesystem, but I guess Nautilus has its own file association settings?

    Using the OS launch mechanism was done to avoid using Firefox's external app window. This way allows users to still display the window for standard browsing (rather than setting a default action) but not be bothered with it every time they load a file from Zotero. We could just have it use Firefox's mechanism, but, then, users can also just change the OS setting. I don't know where that would be on Ubuntu/Gnome though.
  • CB
    Unfortunately the file-association story in Ubuntu (as far as I understand it, which is not that far) is a bit of a mess, with several overlapping systems. The forums have threads going on for weeks about things as simple as getting vim to replace gedit for opening text files.

    The odd thing in this instance is that the *only* other thing in my system that opens pdfs in evince is the gnome-open command, which no-one ever uses, which is just as well as it's apparently deprecated in 8.04 (Hardy). An example of the 'mess' though is that it has been replaced by the (oh so intuitively-named) 'gvfs-open', which isn't even present in a default install. I enjoy and appreciate linux for the most part, but "the Bazaar" does throw up some oddities.

    In short, I don't know enough about this to suggest a solution, and I suspect the fundamental source of the problem is The Mess rather than Zotero. Maybe I should just get rid of evince and replace it with a symlink to acroread.
  • rhend
    @Dan - Perfect solution to an annoying problem - thanks!
  • ohthere
    @Dan: Perfect solution. Thank You! Although I do use PDF X-Change Viewer and I can edit the PDF even when it is opened in add-on, it's not as convenient as it is opened in external viewer. In the add-on mode, the FF tab only shows 'application: external' and not the title of the document. When you open it in an external viewer, you can set the options so that you can see tabs with titles of the documents.
  • soydeedo
    Nice! Thank you for the tip. I just started using zotero and this was my biggest gripe.
  • AJarde
    @Dan: Three years later and your comment is still helpfull! Thanks!
  • MBaque
    perfect! works great ! thanks for the trick !
  • bulima
    my firefox does not open pdfs, i have to open using external pdf viewer. kindly advise me.
  • adamsmith
    start a new thread, please, and explain a bit more. I'm not following even on whether something isn't working or whether you just want something to work differently.

This is an old discussion that has not been active in a long time. Before commenting here, you should strongly consider starting a new discussion instead. If you think the content of this discussion is still relevant, you can link to it from your new discussion.

Sign In or Register to comment.