Are there standards about PDF links?

[ajtruckle]

Hello

Are there any standards that tell you to incloude a PDF reader download link if you link to PDF files on your page?

I seem to recall one validation package bringing this up as an issue but I don't think CSE version does. I am not worried about it. I just wanted to know if there is a standard or not about this.

Thanks.

Andrew

[Lou]

Have you check the Adobe website for how to construct the link?

I would include a link to http://get.adobe.com/reader/

[ajtruckle]

Hello

I actually provide two links:

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php

with relevant images. But your link seems better for adobe.

Andrew

[Albert Wiersch]

For what it's worth, I much prefer the Foxit reader. Adobe just seems so bloated and a security risk. It's been quite awhile since I last used Adobe Reader.

I don't have any PDF's on my site, but if I did, I'd probably have a small link or graphic to the Foxit reader.

[ajtruckle]

So there is no standard or expectation... and yes, I use Foxit too!

[MikeGale]

The fact that Adobe was taking years rather than months to fix vulnerabilities, and that it is bloatware make any download standard, problematical.

Do you really want to shoulder any of the blame if a visitor to your site has a malware attack through Acrobat?

What of the knowledgeable (or not so knowledgeable) user who has a very strong opinion that Adobe is evil or that Foxit should be wiped from the face of the earth?

It's a minefield.

Rather like the situation where a web site recommends a particular browser. Immediately marks the site as suspect in the minds of some visitors. (Or worse marks the developer as incompetent and unable to code for a range of browsers.)

One policy is just to keep away from promoting web access software.

[ajtruckle]

Hi

I am being given opinions here rather than a standard. The reason I asked was because I tried another validation program before I bought this one. That program flagged up my page for having PDF links and no links to a reader. This is ahy I thought it must be good practise to use a reader link. Now I don't like adobe reader because it is a large footprint and I prefer Foxit but it is not for me to be judge and it makes me just as bad as anyone else to shoehorn a customer to use a specific program. It is their choice. Thus I offer the two links.

I thank everyone for their comments on this but it is becoming for of a banter about Adobe and not what I was discussing.

Andrew

[Lou]

Andrew,
To read the comments one would think you should offer you content in MicroSoft Word format.

For me your question did raise an interesting question and I am still looking for a good Adobe reference for the "download" button. No luck yet in and around other task.

[ajtruckle]

I use these:

get_foxitreader.gif (1.94 KiB) Viewed 4022 times

get_acrobat.gif (1.91 KiB) Viewed 4022 times

Andrew