Using Arobat Reader
Using Acrobat Reader
Adapted from: a CD-ROM provided by Beazer Publishing
The Toolbar
When you open a file in Acrobat Reader, the toolbars become visible. You will probably use some buttons and/or key commands more than others - most of them are for navigating the document.
Above is a ‘screen dump’ of a page from a text
book opened in Adobe Reader. It indicates the buttons, described below, numbered
1 to 12. Descriptions of the features indicate relevant the Shortcut Keys:
1. Bookmarks
Bookmarks are a quick and easy way to navigate large documents. Bookmarks
are inserted by the publisher and can be viewed (and hidden) by clicking the
Bookmark tab or Alt V N B Use Tab and Enter to view and select options (eg
alter the print size of the Bookmark, go to the Bookmark etc).
2. The Hand Tool (the default tool)
Choose this to move the page around within the window (instead of using scroll
bars). The mouse cursor appears as a hand that changes to a pointing finger
when rolled over links. If the pointing finger has a little ‘w’
on it, the link is a WWW link. Click the icon or Alt T S H. [To change from
the Hand Tool to the Text Tool click Alt T S E.]
3. Magnifying Glass Tool
Use this to zoom in on pages. To go back to the previous view, right click
and choose Go Back or the enlargement (%) you desire or Alt T Z then I for
Zoom In or O for Zoom Out or D for Dynamic Zoom. (This will also work with
the Hand Tool).
4. First Page
Clicking on this will take you to the first page of a document or Alt V G
F or with the Hand Tool selected (see 2), click Home.
5. Previous Page
Use this to go back to the previous page or Alt V G P or with the Hand Tool
selected (see 2), click Left Arrow.
6. Next Page
Use this to ‘turn’ to the next page or Alt V G N with the Hand
Tool selected (see 2), click Right Arrow.
7. Last Page
Use this to skip to the last page of the document Alt V G L with the Hand
Tool selected (see 2), click End.
8. Previous View (Back) Button
Click this to go to the previous view (same as right-clicking and choosing
‘go back’) or Alt+Left arrow.
9. Next View (Forward) Button
Click this to go to the next view (after you have used 'Previous View') or
Alt+Right arrow.
10. Jump to page
Type the number of the page you wish to go to into the dialog box, then press
Enter or click Ctrl+Shift+N and type the required page number and then click
Enter.
11. 100% Zoom Tool
Click this to view the current page at 100% or click Ctrl+1.
12. Full Page Tool
Click this to fit the current page inside the window or Ctrl+0.
13. Page Width Tool
This will fit the current page's width to the width of the window or Ctrl+2.
14. Find/Search Tool
You can search the document for keywords with this tool or Ctrl+F or Shift+Ctrl+F.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Other Useful Functions
- Select the Text Tool: Alt T S E
- Copy: (First make sure that the Text Tool is selected
– Alt T S E.) Highlight the text you wish to select (mouse or Shift
and Right Arrow) then click Ctrl+C.
Note: some CDs are locked to the Copy command. - Paste: Open a document into which you wish to paste and then click Ctrl+V.
- Print: CTRL+P
You can print straight from Acrobat Reader. If you wish to print a range of pages, type the first and last page numbers of the range separated by a dash, i.e. specifying “10-23” will print pages 10 to 23. If you wish to print only certain pages, enter the page numbers in the print dialogue box separated by commas, i.e. specifying “3,9,26,125” will print only these four pages.
Note: some CDs are locked to the Print command. - Zoom to a particular enlargement percentage: Ctrl+M then type in your preferred percentage number then Enter
- Automatically scroll text: Shift+Ctrl+H
- Read out loud – this page only: Shift+Ctrl+V
- Read out loud – to end of document: Shift+Ctrl+B
High Contast Settings and PDF files
Take these steps to view PDF files with high contrast settings:
- open the PDF file
- Go to Edit, Preferences (CTRL+K)
- Under Categories, click Accessibility
- In this window, tick of check the folowing items:
- Replace Document Colors
- Use High Contrast Colors
- Change the color of line as well as text
- Now go to the drop down menu beside High Color Combination and choose your preference, eg white text on black
These preferences should load next time you open any PDF file.
CDs: Trouble Shooting
Is your computer having trouble reading the disc?
Make sure the disc is clean and free of scratches. Do not use abrasives or solvents, as these will damage the disc. You may use a soft, clean, lint-free cloth and wipe from the centre of the disc to the edge. If the disc is particularly grubby, washing the unprinted side under warm water with a mild soap or detergent is sufficient. Try to avoid cleaning the printed surface of the disc, as this is the side the reflective coatings are on and can become damaged, making the disc unreadable.
The lasers in CD-ROM drives will deteriorate after about two years of regular use, therefore older drives can have trouble reading some CDs. When this happens, the disk will spin up, then slow down, then spin up – it may do this several times – and the data on the disc will be read very slowly (if at all). You may even have Windows ask you to insert the disc again, even though it is in the drive.
If you have cleaned the disc and still these problems, try copying the PDF file to your hard drive and use it from there. If you can’t do this, test the disc on another computer and see if it works. If it does, the fault lies with your CD-ROM (even though it may read other discs without a problem).