Opening a PDF

Adobe's Portable Document Format (PDF) will consistently render the same when printed and across devices. It is a common format for official documents. PDF documents can be printed, viewed, edited, signed, and shared online. You have several options to open PDF files from K-Meleon.

PDF reader plugins

A PDF reader plugin will allow you to open PDF documents within K-Meleon just like other web pages. The most reliable and supported plugin for Windows 7 and up is the Foxit Reader for Mozilla browsers.

To install the Foxit PDF Reader in K-Meleon:

1. Download the Foxit Reader installer: https://www.foxit.com/pdf-reader/
2. During the installation process check the boxes to install browser plugins.
3. After installation is complete, restart K-Meleon.
4. Type about:addons into the address bar.
5. You should see the Foxit Reader Plugin for Mozilla with options to activate and deactivate.

Windows XP and Vista users can use the SumatraPDF plugin. To use the SumatraPDF plugin:

1. Download and install the older version 2.5.2 from SumatraPDF's archive.
2. Click the Options button on the first screen.
3. Check the Install PDF browser plugin box in the installer.
4. If the plugin is installed, updates will apply to both the application itself and the plugin. SumatraPDF officially supports Windows XP in versions up to 3.1.2 and there are unofficial builds for later versions.
5. Type about:addons into the address bar.
6. You should see SumatraPDF Browser Plugin with options to activate and deactivate.

It is also possible to use Adobe's own plugin, but will require an older version of their PDF reader that still supported the NPAPI.

PDF.js extension

Mozilla Firefox and SeaMonkey render PDF documents using PDF.js, an extension that sandboxes the rendering within the browser's own javascript engine. This is more secure than the NPAPI system originally used by Adobe's plugin. K-PDF is an extension that is simply an unofficial port of PDF.js to K-Meleon. It builds on the work of Isaac Schemm and Just Off who ported the Mozilla PDF viewer to SeaMonkey and Pale Moon respectively. To install K-PDF:

1. Download the K-PDF extension: https://rjjiii.github.io/K-Meleon/K-PDF/
2. Click the Install K-PDF button and K-Meleon will prompt you to install the extension.
3. Click OK and Install to proceed.
4. Type about:addons into the address bar.
5. You should see K-PDF with options to enable or disable.

External PDF readers

External PDF readers are other applications on your computer that can handle PDF documents. To view a PDF with an external reader:

1. Click a link to a PDF on a web page.
2. A downloading window will appear with a progress bar and the download location of your document.
3. After the download completes, click Open File and the document will open in your computer's default PDF reader.
4. You can change your default application to open a PDF by going to Edit > Preferences (F2) >> Browsing > File Handling, choosing PDF, and clicking the Change Action button.

Get Adobe's reader

If you do not have a PDF reader, you can download one below. Adobe provides both free and paid PDF readers from their website:

https://get.adobe.com

Get an open-source reader

SumatraPDF Reader is a lightweight PDF reader that runs quickly on older hardware. You can also use SumatraPDF as a plugin by installing the older version 2.5.2 from SumatraPDF's archive; Scroll up to the PDF reader plugins section for instructions.

There is an unofficial port of SumatraPDF, to use more recent versions in XP. The unofficial port only works as an external application and has not undergone the same level of bug testing.