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Practical PC Housekeeping for Members of FACHRS

This part of the FACHRS website deals with some simple practical questions, or frequently asked questions that relate to using a PC for historical research. Initially the focus will be on aspects that affect the use of the FACHRS website by members. As this electronic help desk progresses a useful store of information will be assembled.

Adobe Acrobat Reader Back to Members' PC Helpdesk

Introduction to Adobe Acrobat Reader

Why do FACHRS use Adobe?

 Should I obtain the Acrobat Reader Program?
Are there different types of PDF file readers? How does Adobe Reader work with my Internet Browser? Where can I get a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Introduction to Adobe Acrobat Reader
Many members will have heard about the company Adobe® that make a wide variety of specialist software for the publishing and graphics industries. It is a well respected enterprise. One of the objectives of Adobe was to introduce a file format that could cross all the boundaries of the differing PC / Computer platforms such as Microsoft Windows®, Mac OS®, and Unix® by introducing a 'portable document format' and this is where the file type 'pdf' comes from. Documents prepared in Adobe Acrobat PDF format preserve the exact look and content of the original file or document. So if an author prepares a document in PDF format it overcomes the problems faced by multiple different versions of word processing documents. Also in the difficult world we have today of transferable viruses in documents, PDF files appear to remove that risk. PDF files also use a compression technique that, for some types of large files, introduce the benefit of reducing a large document file size to a manageable size as a PDF. In addition if an author has embedded sound files or a movie file in a PDF document, and you have either a Windows or a Macintosh system, you can play those movies and sounds provided that you have Apple QuickTime® 2.0 or later software. Adobe Acrobat authoring software is an expensive specialist solution, but the software program to read the files is not because the Adobe Acrobat Reader is free of charge, and you cannot get much cheaper than that!

Why do FACHRS use Adobe?
The FACHRS webmaster uses Adobe Acrobat for three prime reasons.

  1. To reduce the risk of inadvertently propagating the distribution of viruses.
  2. To preserve the 'look and feel' of papers submitted by members for publication.
  3. To make available documents that both PC and Mac users can access

Should I obtain the Acrobat Reader Program?
FACHRS will, whenever possible, provide alternative document formats but sometimes the wide variety of choices of document type can make that difficult. Adobe Acrobat could always be the safe option for you. In addition many other internet web sites also distribute documents using Adobe Acrobat and has become an almost 'defacto' standard.

Are there different types of PDF file readers?
There are different software programs that will read PDF files, and some other programs will generate PDF files. As this page focus is on Adobe Acrobat, the most popular program, members should be aware that Adobe Acrobat Reader underwent a major change with version 4.0 of the reader. Version 3.0 of Adobe Acrobat Reader had been in in use for many years, so if you have an 'older' PC system you may well have Adobe Reader version 3.0
Documents created with Reader version 4.0 or above cannot be opened in earlier versions of Acrobat. If you use Adobe Acrobat Reader it would be prudent to secure the free upgrade.

How does Adobe Reader work with my Internet Browser?
When you install the Adobe Reader program it detects which Internet browser you are using. If you are using an 'Adobe compatible' browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer the software automatically installs a 'plug-in' so that you can read the files on-line. The Acrobat Reader Program 'help files' provides advice on how to use the Reader with other browsers such as the Macintosh versions.

Where can I get a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader?

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free viewer program available from Adobe. To obtain a licensed copy you just visit the Adobe Internet site and download the free copy. The file can be large (over 2MB) so an alternative is to obtain a copy from any of the free cover CDRs that are usually attached to the from of PC Magazines. Also many commercial software suppliers publish their user guide or handbook on the Program CD Rom and most often when they do,  you will find a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader in a folder on the CD, it will be in a directory/folder called Acroread. The best way to verify if you have the most recent version of Adobe Reader is to check with Adobe what version is currently being supplied on the Adobe Web Site. If you want to check or download the latest version click here 

PDF files and virus activity

On August 7th 2001 the first known virus for Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files was discovered. This virus does not work with Adobe Acrobat Reader. The virus OUTLOOK.PDFworm (also known as VBS.PeachyPDF @mm) requires the full version of Adobe Acrobat to function. If you use Adobe Acrobat Reader you are safe.
For those members who do have access to the full version of Adobe Acrobat (the one that costs hundreds of pounds) there is a patch on both the Symantec (Norton) web site, and the McAffee web site. The McAffee web site gives the best description of the worm virus. According to Norton there have been less than 49 infections globally up to 7th August.
Here is some extra data, the virus spreads in an email that may have in the subject line "You have one minute to find the peach" or "Find the peach" or "Find" or "Peach" or "Joke" The email will contain an attachment called "find.pdf" or "peach.pdf" or "find the peach.pdf" or "find_the_peach.pdf" or "joke.pdf" or "search.pdf"
Obviously if you receive such an email the first action is do not open it, get rid of it by deleting it and then empty your 'deleted mail' folder. If you did in fact open the pdf file in the full version (not Acrobat Reader) then because the full version allows macros to run, the worm virus will send itself to all the email addresses in the Outlook Address Book, if this happened to you, then update your antivirus definition files and scan your system to remove the virus. If you have updated your Norton Antivirus definition files after the 8th August 2001 you already are protected from this virus.
The FACHRS webmaster has contacted the Norton Anti-virus centre and has taken suitable precautions to avoid the FACHRS web propagating this virus.

Copyright © FACHRS 2001