Illinois EPA

Help Viewing Adobe Acrobat PDF Files

Some documents on the Illinois EPA web site, particularly forms and reports, are made available as Adobe Acrobat PDF files. These files end with the extension ".pdf". If you have having problems viewing these files, this page might help.

Which files are Acrobat files?

Acrobat files are indicated in one of several ways:

• With the Acrobat logo near the link, e.g. or
• With the text "PDF" after the link
• With the extension ".pdf" in the filename

Do I need Acrobat to view Acrobat files?

You do not need the Acrobat software (which is a commercial product), but you do need the Acrobat Reader software (which is available for free download from Adobe's web site).

How do I install Acrobat Reader?

It is likely that Acrobat Reader has already been installed on your computer. If not, you will need to install it:

1. Download the software from the Acrobat Reader download page at Adobe's web site, following their instructions. (Remember the location on your computer where you downloaded the software.)
2. Find the downloaded softare on your computer and double-click it to run the installation program. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.

I can view some PDF files, but not others. What should I do?

This is usually caused either by a large PDF file or a slow Internet connection. In either case, you can often view these files successfully if you download them to your computer first. (See below for instructions.)

How do I download a PDF file to my computer?

1. Use your mouse to right-click on the link.
2. From the menu that appears, choose "Save Target As..." (Internet Explorer) or "Save Link As..." (Netscape).
3. When the "Save As" dialog box is displayed, choose a location on your computer for the file. Remember this location so you can find the file later. (Make sure the filename ends with a ".pdf" extension, as this will identify it as an Acrobat file.)

How do I view a PDF file after I have downloaded it?

Find the downloaded PDF file on your computer, then double-click it to view it. Acrobat will start and display the file.

Some PDF files look bad. Is there a problem with them?

Computer monitors display files at about 95 DPI (dots per inch). Printers generally print files at 300 DPI, 600 DPI, or more. If a file was generated at 95 DPI, it will look good on your computer monitor, but can look a bit fuzzy when printed. Similarly, if a file was generated at 300 DPI or more, it will look good when printed, but can sometimes look odd when viewed on your computer monitor. So, if a PDF file looks odd on screen, try printing it.

I've followed the advice given here, but I'm still having problems viewing some PDF files.

Are you using an older version of the Acrobat Reader software? The latest version (as of this writing) is version 5. Many people are still using version 3. Most Acrobat files generated using a new version of the software can still be viewed using an older version. However, there are sometimes problems. If you are not using the latest version, visit Adobe's Acrobat Reader download page to download and install it.