To access PDF Files, Adobe® Acrobat® Reader software must be used. If you currently have this software installed on your computer, you can use it to view or print PDF Files after you have downloaded them. Your browser may already be configured to use the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader as a "helper application," so that you can automatically view a PDF File when you select it.
If you do not have the Adobe® software installed, your browser may give you the option of downloading and saving PDF Files for later viewing and printing. In this case, you do not need to configure your browser, but you will still need to have the Adobe® software installed in order to access the downloaded PDF Files.
It is also highly recommended that PDF Files be printed on a PostScript® printer, if one is available. Although PDF Files may print legibly on other printers, a PostScript® printer will ensure a correct rendering of the document.
If you do not have the Adobe® software installed, you can install it by downloading a free copy. Please note that the system requirements for this software are: 4 MB of RAM, 5 MB of hard disk space, plus 7 MB of additional temporary disk space available during installation. For instructions, go to the Adobe® site at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html
Accessibility: Online conversion tools are available from Adobe® to help visually disabled users convert PDF documents into either HTML or ASCII text, which can then be read by a number of common screen reader programs.
Current as of: July 2010
Internet Citation: PDF Help. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. December 2013.