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Need some help ... computer question

#1
Hi. I'm hoping someone can help me view pdf links in Firefox (3.6.8.) using Foxit pdf reader. I've tried looking for answers online. I can download pdf files and open them with Foxit, but this is cumbersome.

I downloaded the latest versions of both the Foxit program and the plugin, but I get only a blank screen when I click on pdf links. In Foxit preferences, I checked "enable in web browser" (does this conflict with the plugin?) In Firefox options, I associated Adobe Acrobat pdf files with the Firefox plugin (tried Firefox app too). Restarted FF. No luck.

Alternatives I tried:

(1) I can open pdf's in Firefox with the Adobe PDF plugin. If this plugin is completely separate from Adobe Reader application, then I suppose it's a possible solution, but I was hoping to use Foxit for everything pdf-related.

(2) Using the PDF Download addon by Nitro, I can choose to download, view as html, open with separate app (Foxit), or view as image. There's an enormous ad banner, though. There are also negative reviews about needing to send docs to their server for conversion and changing registry keys which don't change back after uninstalling, etc.

Is anyone able to use Foxit with Firefox? I'd appreciate any help.
Edited: 2010-08-05, 4:50 am
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#2
With no PDF-related plugins, Firefox gives the open/save/cancel box for a PDF, and you can make "open" use Foxit. To get that result, or to use the Foxit plugin, you may have to uninstall Adobe Reader entirely, because it has bad manners and seems reluctant to let its own plugin be disabled.
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#3
Many thanks, bladethecoder. Smile

Indeed, I was able to get Foxit to open pdf links by uninstalling both the Adobe and the Foxit plugin. This means launching a separate application to view pdfs, but since it's small compared to Adobe, I suppose that's not a big deal. (I guess the Foxit plugin doesn't work)

[In case this helps anyone else: It wasn't entirely obvious to me how to uninstall plugins. There're no uninstall buttons. The "uninstall Foxit plugin" in the Foxit folder didn't do anything. Some are located in Firefox's plugins folder, others are located in the plugins folder of their related program, and others are separate programs in control panel. Uninstalling Adobe Reader got rid of the Adobe plugin.]

One last question. Is it necessary to delete these pref thingies as some grumpy person online suggested? I wasn't able to find "pref.js" in "profile" in Firefox.

Quote:... this addon marked as ad and greyware, it's even annoying after uninstalling. Every key changed or added by this trash in ur "config" is present even after uninstalling adding more suspicion to its behaviour. Launch "about:config" and search "pdfdownload" after uninstalling.
**To delete the keys added:
1- Launch ur "prefs.js" (present in ur FF's profile folder) by a text editor such as Notepad.
2- Search "pdfdownload" in the file.
3- Delete the following 7 keys (present consecutively)
user_pref("extensions.pdfdownload.defaultAction", "showPopup");
user_pref("extensions.pdfdownload.firstInstallation", false);
user_pref("extensions.pdfdownload.last-version", "3.0.0.1");
user_pref("extensions.pdfdownload.openPDF", "defaultViewer");
user_pref("extensions.pdfdownload.openPDFLink", "openPDFNewTab");
user_pref("extensions.pdfdownload.openPDFtoHTML", "openHTMLNewTab");
user_pref("extensions.pdfdownload.savePDFBtnInstalled", true);
4- Save the file. (make sure not to change any other line, and make sure it's saved with the same name and extension)
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JapanesePod101
#4
prefs.js is where the about:config stuff is stored when Firefox is closed. You can search "pdfdownload" in about:config, right-click on each option you want to get rid of and choose "reset". Then they should go away the next time you restart Firefox.

I don't think it really matters though, since those settings won't do anything without the addon installed.
Edited: 2010-08-05, 5:34 pm
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#5
good to know. thks again.
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