NSCC: PDF Questions and Help

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Photo: Download Adobe Acrobat Reader to read PDF Files

Download the free Acrobat Reader

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What is a PDF File?
A PDF file is a special document that can be read and printed on any computer without any changes to format or appearance. They are called PDF files (Portable Document Files) and always end in the ".pdf" ending. It is a convenient way to get copies of college documents or flyers on the Internet. These documents are available for students in print form on campus if you have difficulty accessing the pdf files on this site.

How do I read a PDF File?
In order to read or print a PDF file, you must have a special program installed - the most popular program is the free Adobe Reader. It is free and easy to download and install. Visit the Download Adobe Reader page to download the program, and follow their directions to install it. Once it is downloaded and installed, you can return and read any PDF file on this -or any other- website.

If you already have Adobe Reader and want to upgrade to the latest version, you can do that from the Adobe website as well.

Recommendation
When downloading an entire document to your computer for later use, we recommend using the "Save As"* function in your browser to ensure the entire document is saved to your harddrive for use off-line and for printing. To use the "Save As" function, Windows PC users can use the right-click button on their mouse to get a menu with the "Save As" option. Mac users can click the link and hold (keep your finger down without releasing) for a few seconds, and a menu with the "Save As" option will appear.
*Note: Terms will vary by browser. It may say "Save As" or "Save Target As" or "Download to Disk" or some variation of these terms.

PDF Help

Accessing

An Adobe Reader is needed in order to download and read PDF documents. The Reader is commonly bundled with popular graphics and publishing software, and is also available as a free download (viewer only) via the Adobe website. You may access the Adobe Reader download web page at http://www.adobe.com/.

The NSCC website uses Acrobat version 7.0 Professional to create and distribute PDF documents.

For assistance with downloading and/or installing this software, see the Acrobat technical support section of Adobe's website.
Adobe also has information about PDF and the visually challenged.

Once the Reader software is properly installed, just click on a link to a PDF file and it will be loaded for viewing on your computer. Note that the file is sent to your computer as a temporary file that will be deleted when you exit your browser.

When printing Adobe PDF files from within your web browser, do NOT use the web browser print facility. Instead, use the print button at the left end of the special Adobe toolbar, which appears immediately above the viewing window. You will then get a "Print" pop-up window which will give you several options, including the option to print the entire document, or you can specify 1 or more pages to print.

How to save

To save the file for later use once you have loaded it for viewing, on most browsers you just select "File" then "Save As..." from the menu bar. To just save without viewing, right-click (Windows) or control-click (Macintosh), and choose 'Save Target As' from the pop-up menu.

Troubleshooting

I'm unable to open and view a PDF file from the NSCC website.
You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader version 5.0 or newer to view and print PDF files from the NSCC website. If you have Acrobat Reader version 4.0, you will not be able to open, view, or print some or all PDF files created with 5.0 or newer.

I can open and view a PDF file but am unable to print it, or the printed output does not match what I see on the screen.

If you have Acrobat Reader 6, choose File > Print, click on the "Advanced" button, check the "Print as Image" option, and try printing again.
If you have Acrobat Reader 5.1, choose File > Print, and deselect the "Optimize for Speed" option in the Print dialog box, and try printing again. If that doesn't work, choose File > Print, and check the "Print As Image" option in the Print dialog box, and try printing again.

I'm able to print a PDF file, but the page prints slightly smaller in size than expected.

If you have Acrobat Reader 6, choose File > Print, and in the drop down list next to "Page Scaling," make sure that "None" is selected.
If you have Acrobat Reader 5.1, choose File > Print, and make sure that the "Shrink Oversized Pages to Paper Size" option in the Print dialog box is NOT checked.
If you have Acrobat Reader 4, choose File > Print, and make sure that the "Fit To Page" option in the Print dialog box is NOT checked.

The PDF file contains an instructional "sticky note" that floats above the document. How do I keep this sticky note from printing?

If you have Acrobat Reader 6, choose File > Print, and in the drop down list next to "Print What," make sure that "Document" is selected.
If you have Acrobat Reader 5.1, choose File > Print, and make sure that the "Comments" option in the Print dialog box is NOT checked.
If you have Acrobat Reader 4, choose File > Print, and make sure that the "Annotations" option in the Print dialog box is NOT checked.

Still Haven't Found the Answer?

If you are having problems with Adobe Reader, Adobe has frequently asked questions available on the Adobe Reader support website.

If you cannot find the answer to your question, you can contact the Webmaster using the email provided on the Contact Us page.