Acrobat reader vs. Foxit PDF Reader

[Radimus]

There are dozens of posts here regarding Acrobat reader and the hoops involved in installing, upgrading, configuring it etc.

Has anyone done any comparisons to some freeware alternatives to Adobe Acrobat reader like Foxit PDF Reader.

http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

This one has no installer, just extract to a folder and assoc PDF to the included exe

[MCT]

ya, this is what i use

it as they say "pwndz"

[1chaoticadult]

Foxit PDF Reader is what I use also. No bloatware like Acrobat and very easy to install and use.

[dcrowder32]

I just downloaded and tested it. Looks very good. Opens very fast. Small program size with no installer is nice. Thanks for telling us about this program! Never did like Adobe Reader.

[a06lp]

those of you who use this, how do i "associate" it with pdf files?

(ex: i click a link in my browser of a pdf, and it should open in this)

[Wyz]

Great little program.. Just downloaded it and it opens PDf files so quick.

Gone are the days of Acrobat Reader.

Anyone found a good freeware pdf writer?

thanks for the link to this.

Wyz

[Radimus]

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

http://www.cutepdf.com/Products/CutePDF/writer.asp

http://www.pdf995.com/download.html

http://www.primopdf.com/

[bucketbuster]

those of you who use this, how do i "associate" it with pdf files?

(ex: i click a link in my browser of a pdf, and it should open in this)

This is what I do:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}]@="PDF Document"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\AuxUserType]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\AuxUserType\2]

@="PDF"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\AuxUserType\3]

@="Foxit PDF Reader"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\DefaultExtension]

@=".pdf, PDF Files(*.pdf)"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\DefaultIcon]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE,1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\DocObject]

@="0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\InprocHandler32]

@="ole32.dll"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Insertable]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\LocalServer32]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\MiscStatus]

@="32"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Printable]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\ProgID]

@="FoxitReader.Document"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Verb]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Verb\0]

@="&Edit,0,2"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Verb\1]

@="&Open,0,2"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document]

@="PDF Document"

"BrowseInPlace"="1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\CLSID]

@="{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\DefaultIcon]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE,1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\DocObject]

@="0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\Insertable]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\protocol]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing\server]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing\verb]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing\verb\0]

@="&Edit"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\open\command]

@="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE\" \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\print]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\print\command]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE /dde"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\print\ddeexec]

@="[print(\"%1\")]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\printto]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\printto\command]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE /dde"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FoxitReader.Document\shell\printto\ddeexec]

@="[printto(\"%1\",\"%2\",\"%3\",\"%4\")]"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}]

@="PDF Document"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\AuxUserType]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\AuxUserType\2]

@="PDF"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\AuxUserType\3]

@="Foxit PDF Reader"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\DefaultExtension]

@=".pdf, PDF Files(*.pdf)"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\DefaultIcon]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE,1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\DocObject]

@="0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\InprocHandler32]

@="ole32.dll"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Insertable]

@=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\LocalServer32]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\MiscStatus]

@="32"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Printable]

@=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\ProgID]

@="FoxitReader.Document"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Verb]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Verb\0]

@="&Edit,0,2"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}\Verb\1]

@="&Open,0,2"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document]

@="PDF Document"

"BrowseInPlace"="1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\CLSID]

@="{14E8BBD8-1D1C-4D56-A4DA-D20B75EB814E}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\DefaultIcon]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE,1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\DocObject]

@="0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\Insertable]

@=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\protocol]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing\server]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing\verb]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\protocol\StdFileEditing\verb\0]

@="&Edit"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\open]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\open\command]

@="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE\" \"%1\""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\print]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\print\command]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE /dde"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\print\ddeexec]

@="[print(\"%1\")]"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\printto]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\printto\command]

@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\PDFREA~1\\PDFREA~1.EXE /dde"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FoxitReader.Document\shell\printto\ddeexec]

@="[printto(\"%1\",\"%2\",\"%3\",\"%4\")]"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\Foxit PDF Reader]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\Foxit PDF Reader\MainFrame]

"ShowTollBar"="1"

"ShowStatusBar"="1"

"ShowMenu"="1"

"MainShowCmd"="3"

"ShowFullScreenCheckRegister"="0"

"ShowBookmark"="1"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Local AppWizard-Generated Applications\Foxit PDF Reader\Settings]

Just put PDFReader in $Progs and add the above to your regtweaks.reg

[a06lp]

are these regtweaks machine-specific? or they'll work on any computer?

[Radimus]

wouldn't it be easier to start it minimized or hidden, count to 5, and taskkill it?

[dcrowder32]

First time you run program, a popup asks to associate pdf files with the application.

[clavicle]

Or you can use the installs.bat. This file runs in installation of windows xp to silently do the job.

assoc .pdf=acrobat

ftype acrobat=%programfiles%\Acrobat\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %%1 %%*

====================

OR

====================

assoc .pdf=acrobat

ftype acrobat=%programfiles%\Foxit\PDFReader.exe %%1 %%*

BTW what about search capabilities of Foxit PDF Reader??

[prathapml]

Foxit reader looks good, its biggest advantage being no need to install, and small program foot-print, and quick running. So if I'm distributing a PDF on CD and am not sure if the recipient will have a PDF reader. including this one an attractive option. But it seems to crash on any PDF that is 8 MB and above.

If speed of opening PDFs is what is being considered to move to Foxit, check out Adobe Reader SpeedUp. You can even have it run silently (by using a file called deployment.ini inside the ZIP file). My Acrobat Reader v6.02 now loads in under 1 second, and yet the plugins (which make it slow, actually) are available if any PDF uses advanced features provided by the plugin. Under such circumstances, alternatives look ugly.

[Radimus]

I had some guys here test it..

I have tried it on XP and W2k.  In general, lots of nice features, obvious to use.

Two problems I have seen, under XP, after expanding to full page with the 4 arrow button, if you Escape to get back to regular screen, the Windows Taskbar does not come back.  If the small 4 arrow icon is used to return to regular screen, Taskbar appears normal.

Under W2K and XP, clicking in the gray area just outside the displayed page causes a program error in the exe, and the program terminates.

DL'ed DD2642, with fillable fields in Adobe Reader, this reader does not allow completing of the form.