PDF Frequently Asked Questions
General PDF Questions
Downloading, Viewing and Printing PDF Files
System Requirements
General PDF Questions
Q1: What is a PDF File?
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It was created by Adobe Systems Incorporated originally as a means of electronically exchanging and reviewing documents. Today, PDF files have become commonplace in the Internet community. PDF file names can be identified by their "PDF" extension.
Q2: Why does Intel use PDF instead of HTML for its technical documentation?
Documents can be viewed from Windows*, UNIX*, and Mac OS* platforms.
Page-based documents are correctly formatted for printing.
Vector graphics allow viewers to magnify pages to more easily read text and view detailed graphics.
Q3: What software do I need to view and print PDF files and how can I get it?
To view PDF files on Intel's Web site, you must have the latest released version of Adobe Acrobat* Reader. Acrobat Reader is available for a variety of platforms and may be distributed freely. If you are running a current version of Netscape Navigator* or Microsoft Internet Explorer*, Acrobat Reader will install a plug-in that allows viewing of PDFs from within your browser's window.
Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0
Downloading, Viewing, and Printing PDF Files
Q4: When I try to download a PDF file, the transfer stops before the file is complete.
If you are using Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer with the Adobe Acrobat plug-in...
If your web browser has Adobe Acrobat Reader configured as a helper application...
Q5: I get an error message when I try to open a PDF.
Most likely, the file did not download completely. When this happens, Adobe Acrobat Reader often gives a message that the file is damaged or corrupted, or simply that it cannot be opened.
See incomplete download on the Developers' Web Site Help FAQ.
If that doesn’t work, post a message in the Developers' Web Site Newsgroup. We will investigate and repair the file if it is corrupted.
Q6: My browser doesn't recognize the PDF file.
If Netscape Navigator 3.0 (or later) or Microsoft Internet Explorer was not installed at the time you installed Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0, the plug-in did not get installed properly. Either reinstall Acrobat Reader or look for an option in you browser to configure helper applications or viewers.
Q7: I downloaded the PDF file and it opens correctly. Now how do I save it?
There are three ways to save PDF files after downloading them from the Web. First, be sure you are running the latest released version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (currently 3.0).
If you are using the plug-in (i.e., viewing the PDF in your browser's window)...
If you are using Acrobat Reader as a helper application...
- Before closing the PDF document, go into your browser's cache directory and copy the file to another location on your hard drive or a network drive.
- Exit Acrobat (if still open). Change your browser's helper applications preferences to save the PDF file instead of launching the associated application. Download the file again and, when prompted, specify a location for the file.
Q8: I printed out a PDF file. Why don't all of the graphics print completely?
Be sure you printer meets the minimum printer requirements. Usually, lack of printer RAM is the cause of incomplete graphics printing.
Q9: How can I get a PDF document to print faster?
Install Adobe Type Manager* (ATM) to your system (Windows 3.1, Windows 95) or add more RAM to your printer.
System Requirements
Q10: What hardware/operating system configuration do I need to access PDF files?
Windows* 95 and Windows NT*
Sun SPARCstation*
HP Series 9000 workstation
IBM RS/6000* workstation
Silicon Graphics workstation
Linux workstation
DOS
Macintosh
Printer Requirements
Windows 95 and Windows NT
- Intel386, Intel486, Pentium®, or Pentium® Pro processor-based personal computer
- Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 3.51 or later
- 8MB of RAM (16MB for Windows NT)
- 10MB of available hard disk space
- Optional: Adobe Type Manager (ATM) improves screen display and printing performance (Windows 95 only)
Sun SPARCstation*
- SunOS* 4.1.3 or 4.1.4, or
- Solaris* 2.3, 2.4, or 2.5 operating system software
- OpenWindows* (version 3.0 or later), Motif* window manager (1.2.3 or later), OpenLook version 3.0, or Common Desktop Environment (CDE) 1.0 and above
- 32MB of RAM
- 12MB of hard disk space
HP Series 9000 Workstation, Model 700 or Greater
- HP-UX* 9.0.3 or later operating system software
- X Window System* X11R5 running HP-VUE or CDE 1.0
- 32MB of RAM
- 12MB of available hard disk space
IBM RS/6000* Workstation