[pchelpers] PDF problems at TechRepublic

Hi Cy

> I find it interesting that Firefox would not open that file even
> though it is my default browser. I had to use IE to even see the
> file.

Can you view PDF files at other links correctly in Firefox? Most Google
search results include many PDF links. Or if you type any word plus
"filetype:pdf" into Google (without the quotes) you get only PDF results.

These kind of normal links to PDF files work for me, but i get an empty 
Firefox page when i click on the link Nigel provided: 
http://techrepublic.com.com/i/tr/downloads/home/10_firefox_extensions.pdf

I've run into that problem and other viewing or download
problems at TechRepublic before, and i just presumed that their Internet
pages are incorrectly programmed (i.e. in violation of international
standards). I haven't bothered to write to them about it; one reason
being that http://validator.w3.org and
http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator can't be used yet to verify PDF
links for standards conformance.

However, since Re-Na was apparently able to get the page directly in
Firefox by just clicking on Nigel's link, maybe there's something wrong
with your and my Firefox setup. Have other people been able to display 
the page in their browser just by clicking on the link, as Re-Na 
apparently did?

I had to type "Firefox extensions" into the search box
on the home page http://techrepublic.com. That produces the link
http://techrepublic.com.com/5138-10877-5843496.html?tag=search but its
Download Now link doesn't work either. It produces a new popup page that 
is empty. Behind it is also a new page with "If your download doesn't 
begin automatically, please click here." Even clicking that link doesn't
work, which is not surprising because it's the same as the one Nigel
provided. Instead, one has to rightclick on it and choose Save Link As.

So, if i can't find a way to fix this problem, which is perhaps the same
as yours, Nigel, by asking at http://forums.mozillazine.org, i will try 
to contact TechRepublic. Since more and more people are using Firefox, 
most webmasters fix things that cause problems with FF (almost always 
due to website, not FF problems) very quickly when politely asked to do so.

One of these might be a good workaround:
https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=636
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=298550

One of these might help in some cases (those that i've tried didn't though):
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=888508#Adobe

If nothing else works, do you have the IE-View extension, Cy?. It's a 
more convenient way to view a page in IE than having to copy the address:
https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&category=Popular&numpg=10&id=35

Ekhart



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