Home Forums Discussions General Discussion poll: which pdf reader for imported items is best?

What is your experience with pdf readers for imported items?

I'm getting tired of Adobe XI updates and general size/complexity. DC interface seems to different.

Adobe XI
Adobe X
Adobe DC
Foxit
Internet Explorer built-in
others?

I use PDF-ExChange Viewer by Tracker Software. It has a nice interface, it's free and works well with AC. It has never required an update. But with a name like Tracker Software, they probably are tracking every move on my computer...

Also use PDF-Xchange Viewer, small charge to upgrade to pro version can edit and annotate files

Can anything except Adobe be set to be the default viewer in AC so that it opens automatically when you click on the imported item.

I am getting tired of Adobe crashing AC in the middle of a patient encounter.

If you are using Office 2013, which architecture 32-bit or 64-bit are you using?

Yes, you can use anyone you want. I do not believe you can make it the default for just AC, but you can set the default for what opens to read it.

There are a few ways to do it, but go to Control Panel, Default Programs, Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program.

Fine .pdf. Double-clcik the extension and a window will open showing the current program and giving you three other choices, none of which will likely be helpful. But, you can then browse to your program, select it and save. But, anything that arrives to your computer or is on your computer which has .pdf as its extension will open in the other program.

Funny you mentioned DC. I have only one DC which I purchased. It is really different. It isn't on my computer, so it doesn't bother me. Which is a two-fold problem. On one hand, I don't use it enough for it to bother me. But, I don't use it enough to check out its features. But, it does do one thing I love, which if I email it to someone, the pdf is attached as the DC version, and whatever the name of it is goes in the subject line. This may not be an advantage to some and, in fact, for HIPAA reasons, maybe it is not good (although the attachment is still there). Maybe Adobe XI Pro can do that. If anyone knows the setting please let me know.

Adobe is a lot like Symantec/Norton. It is an evil empire. Very costly. Licensing sucks.

Foxit is the best. We have the paid version Foxit PhantomPDF. It can do everything Acrobat pro can.

Thanks.
Adobe is working again.
I don't understand why it sometimes works and sometimes crashes.
If I get ambitious, I will try Foxit.

Do you use Microsoft office? If so which type? 32 bit or 64 bit?

I don't use Office.
On the rare occasions I type a letter or use a spreadsheet, I use Libre Office. It's "free".
But I always throw them a bone.
64 bit

Yes, Office, while being the standard, is pricey. I am lucky enough to get 10 for free. I installed Office 16, and there wad no benefit.

So, that would not be your issue. I guess it's good for people to know that the 64-bit version of Word doesn't "play well" with Adobe. But, I guess when you pay a mortgage payment for both, why should they.

With your problem, it's hard, because it is sporadic, which is the hardest thing to troubleshoot.

This is a crazy question. Have you talked with Adobe support?

Tom,
No need to be ambitious. Just download Foxit and set it as the default for pdf's. Do it on just one machine, if you like, to play with it. Just takes a couple of minutes.

Yes, that is the obvious answer. But, it kinda sucks when you pay that much for Adobe, and it doesn't work. I would do it in this order:

1. Call Adobe support. (Adobe is like Cisco). No slack at all if your support isn't documented perfectly. But, very good when you do have it.
2. Call Sandeep (who will recommend Foxit, although with my personal experience with Sandeep -- I mean very good experience -- he will have already moved on to another 3rd party software.
3. Try other software. Paperport is pretty good. You could talk with Leslie.

I don't know anything about paying for Adobe; I have only used the free version. Sometimes I use that and sometimes Foxit. Tom seems to be just talking about looking at his imported items, so no need for anything else.

In that case, just use Acrobat reader. The following is something I think has been overlooked:

Go to Control Panel | Programs and Features | Right-click Adobe | Select change | Choose to repair Adobe from the pop-up window.

Thank you all for advice.
You are all so very ambitious!
I think the problem is that various Adobe "updates" don't always fit well with AC, or maybe with various "updates" of Windows -- because after a while, the problem goes away again.

The other possibility is that it isn't Adobe at all -- it tends to happen when 2 or 3 office staff are scanning documents into "imported items", and I think there may be some network collision, or maybe the process just slows down so much that there is a time-out and a crash.

Trouble is, this always happens when I am in the middle of a patient visit, and suddenly AC crashes when I'm trying to look up a lab result or other imported item. I restart AC, fuss and fume a bit, then right click the item and "open in default program". Gets me through --

Several years ago I switched to Foxit -- but then switched back to Adobe. I can't remember why, but there was some issue with Foxit at that time. I have tried various programs for editing PDF's (never Adobe's own) -- but have come to the conclusion that since I rarely have to do this, I just print the PDF to UpDox, open it in my X200 tablet, mark it up and print it back to PDF. Clumsy and inelegant -- but it keeps down the number of different programs I have to deal with and maintain.

Just for my own sanity, and maybe your answer included all, but did you try the repair from Programs and Features. It takes very little time.

Did you call support?

I use DC and like it but only for a short time so far.

Well, no. I didn't repair the installation.
In my experience that is usually a waste of time -- I just uninstall and re-install the latest update if I have problems.

And no, I didn't try support. I hate waiting on the phone for 45 minutes to talk to someone who can't speak English -- and I can't imagine that Adobe would put much resources into phone support of their free Adobe Reader.

But maybe I am being too negative.

I just reread the entire thread. Am I m issing something. Does it say Reader anywhere. No, Adobe would help you with Reader. It's free and doesn't come with support.

Yes, you can make any PDF program the default. I don't think you can make it the default specifically for AC.

But, there are tons of Adobe Acrobat knock-offs out there. CutePDF, Foxit, etc.

I'll stick with my recommendation of Fox-It Reader.
https://www.ltmedical.net/amazing-charts/adobe-for-foxit/


Crashes less and loads a lot faster with AC. Also, it works better with a lot of Hospital Portals. Another huge plus is that it includes a free PDF printer so you can print straight to PDF without needing another program.

Foxit Phantom is also a very good competitor for Adobe Acrobat Standard. Maybe not for the pro version, but if you need that, you would know why you need it.

Trying foxit reader. how to conifgure it to clean up the in AC pdf display? Trying to elminate all the menus.

Foxit Reader version 7.2 allowed switching to the "Classic" mode, which eliminated the Microsoft-inspired ribbon view that takes up space at the top of the embedded window in AC Imported Items. Unfortunately the newest update 7.3 has the ribbon view only, and it can't be turned off. You can still find the prior version (7.28) on download sites online. As always, always scan all software from 3rd party sites with your antiviral program before installing.

I'm trying pdf-xchange viewer. so far small, light and good.

I got tired of abode dc updates and bloat - too complicated.