RE problems reading PDF files: Ref Andrew's original query I go along with Adrian's response below. I have no problem seeing PDF's (or djvu's and suchlike)in v4 saved in the Media folder and linked as ole using XP with Parallels on my Mac. Colin Sent from my iPad On 5 Sep 2011, at 08:01, family-historian-users-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > > <<snipped>> > But FH doesn't have any preset when adding a file for pdfs only about 10 > other types of files. So why not? > <<snipped>> > No idea - must be something to do with whether it renders the document > itself or just shows an icon to it. > > <<snipped>> > 2 When I add the pdf file to a person and then try to open it, the > programme and whole computer just hangs for a couple of minutes before > starting to work again but doesn't open the file. > > Does this mean I now have to re-scan all the documents as jpegs or convert > the documents (many from others) from pdfs to jpegs for FH to use them > properly? > <<snipped>> > > Do NOT do this unless you want to really start wasting your disk space - a > .JPG of a simple text document will take a lot more disk-space than the .PDF > version of it. In addition, you will lose ANY ability to look inside the > "document" except with the human eye - no searching inside, because there is > NO inside to a .JPEG. > > My gut feeling is that something is wrong with the way Windows is attempting > to deal with a .PDF on your machine. I just tried a bit to refresh my memory > - if I open up the multimedia record containing the .PDF, I see an icon for > the .PDF. It's the icon for Adobe Acrobat Reader in my case. When I double > click the icon, up comes Reader with the .PDF. My guess is that as soon as > you double click, FH has handed control over to Windows to open that file. > If it's hanging and can't open it, then that suggests there's something > wrong with the linkage to .PDF stuff. Totally outside FH. > > Can you double click a .PDF file OUTSIDE FH but inside Windows and have it > work correctly? > > Do you know what .PDF reader should be used in Windows? Adobe's Reader or > have you got something else? Have you got two? > > I'd be inclined to do an uninstall (in Windows) of anything .PDF connected. > That way - I hope - Windows will revert to a total position of ignorance re > .PDFs. Then close down and reboot everything just in case stuff is lurking. > Double check by double-clicking a .PDF - should fail totally. Now reinstall > Adobe Acrobat Reader (and frankly I'd install the proper thing first before > playing about with anything else). > > Then try again.... > > If it still doesn't work - err, I'm not sure, especially if you can open up > a .PDF in Windows by double clicking outside FH. At that point I'd suspect > something odd in how Parallels is working. > > Best of luck........ > > Adrian B