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PDF Help: Opening

Opening PDFs

Below are suggestions to fix common errors that you might see when opening a PDF.  If you need help with a PDF issue that does not appear on this page, Ask a Librarian.

The PDF is Blank or Won't Open

Often, a PDF will display a blank or gray screen.

 

First, wait a few moments for the PDF to load.  PDF download times can vary depending on internet speed and file size.  If a few minutes have passed and the PDF has not loaded, try reloading the page.

If the PDF is still not displaying, access the PDF in a different browser.  Internet Explorer seems to be especially prone to this behavior and you may find that using Firefox or Chrome instead will alleviate the issue.

If this does not work, save the PDF to your computer and open the saved file, rather than viewing the PDF in your browser.

Finally, try disabling Protected Mode in Adobe Reader.

A Network Error Has Occurred Message

Patrons using Internet Explorer may see this message while attempting to open a PDF.

A network error occurred while accessing this document on the internet. Would you like to chose the document or reload it?

This message indicates that the file is too large to be opened in Internet Explorer.

To get around this error, save the PDF to your computer and open the saved file, rather than viewing the PDF in your browser.

You may also want to view the PDF in a different browser, such as Firefox or Chrome.

If these suggestions do not work, try disabling Protected Mode in Adobe Reader.

The Adobe Reader Toolbar is Missing

The Adobe Reader toolbar is invisible by default in Adobe Reader 10 and above.  To view the Adobe Reader toolbar, move your mouse over the bottom of your browser window.  In the EBSCO databases, move your mouse over the top of the PDF.

To revert to the full version of the Adobe Reader toolbar, click the Adobe Reader icon on the far right of the toolbar.

Please note that many browsers will not remember that you have selected the full toolbar.  You may need to tell Adobe Reader to revert to the full toolbar multiple times.