The Adobe Acrobat Reader is a viewer.

Like using a 3D viewer so you can see photographs in 3D. Without the viewer the images just look like a blurred mistake.

You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to be able to view files that have been saved into what is called pdf format
(portable document file format).

Pdf format allows text files (and more sophisticated files) to be published in a form that is easy to send, download, view and print from the web.

The file sizes are small, and the files hold all their attributes like bolded headlines, colour, etc in a more accurate way.

Small file sizes are quick to download and look at.
And speed is king on the internet!

Adobe is the company who developed the software for creating pdf files.

They make the viewer freely available on their site, so people can view files that have been made by users of their software. [Or other software, such as Desktop Publishing software, that Adobe has licensed to use their pdf file creation capability].

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Getting the Acrobat Reader

Chances are you already have it on your system, as it comes as part of many operating systems and software packages, or freely available on CDs from computer magazines, etc.
If you have, then any pdf files on this site should just open automatically for you to view, save if you want, and printout.

Here are the steps to getting the viewer:

1. Find the Adobe site and go to the page where you can download the viewer.
2. Do the download.
3. Install the viewer on your system.
4. Use it.

1. Find the site
Well that's pretty easy.
Here's their logo for you to click right here and now.
It will open a new window that lets you download the software.

2. Do the download

• Go to the box at the bottom of the page and make the selections relevant to you.
• Choose English, Windows ...(whatever version you are using), and most of us will select Dialup because we are connected to the net using a 56k modem.
• Or choose Broadband if that's you (lucky devil).
• The box automatically expands for the next step.
• There's some stuff there for you to read.
• Then you click the Download button.
• A new page opens and the download should start.
• When a File Download window pops open asking you to Open or Save the file, choose Save.
  [Adobe is a reputable company so we should be able to trust their files to be bug free (or run your virus scanner on it! to be sure)]
• When you choose save a new Save As box opens. It will save to your Desktop by default or choose another place for it to go.
• It's about a 10 Mb download so will take a wee while.
• When the Download Complete window appears choose Open.
• The software will automatically "unpack" itself and prepare to install itself.

#3. Installing the software

• A setup window will appear telling you this is the installation part of the process, recommending that you close all other programs. If you have to get out of the installation to close other programs, you can find the icon on your desktop - just click it and the installation process will start again.
• The Adobe Acrobat Reader files and software will be stored on your C: drive in the Programs folder by default.
• Just keep clicking Next and the whole thing will be done!
• Voila! You now are ready to roll with pdf's for ever more!

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