Making Adobe Acrobat Reader Open A PDF File Faster

June 23, 2006 @ 11:17 pm · Filed under Software

Previously, it would take atleast 10 - 20 seconds to open up an average sized PDF file (1537 KB in size) using Adobe Acrobat reader.

Now, I can do that in less than 2 seconds!

The reason for Adobe Acrobat reader to take a long time to open any PDF file is because it loads several plugins (21 on Acrobat 6.0 Reader) each and every time someone tries to open a file.

Option #1: Press the shift key when opening the PDF file. This will stop the loading of some of plugins.

Option #2:

  1. Browse to a folder called ‘plug_ins‘ under Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat X.0\Reader (replace ‘X‘ with your Acrobat Reader’s version, 5, 6 or 7).
  2. Initially, you will see several files with file type ‘Adobe Acrobat Plugin file‘. (If you were using Acrobat Reader 6.0, you would see 21 such files).
  3. Assuming you are using Acrobat Reader 6.0, create a new folder (lets say ‘optional‘) and then copy all but 3 of those ‘Adobe Acrobat Plugin‘ files to this new folder. The only 3 that are required are: ‘EWH32‘, ‘printme‘ & ‘Search‘, so just make sure that they remain under ‘plug_ins‘ folder.
  4. Thats it. Open any PDF document.

You don’t necessarily have to call that folder ‘optional‘. I called it ‘xyz‘ and it worked and was much faster then before I tried this option (Option #2).

3 Comments

  1. Albert Said,

    June 24, 2006 @ 12:33 am

    Thanks! Great stuff, I tried the shift immediately and it worked fine! I hate this endless loading of unneccesary stuff, which not only Adobe is doing. Hope to find more “speed tips” on your page!

    Albert

  2. Louis Said,

    June 26, 2006 @ 12:42 pm

    Wow ! Thanks, brother :)

    Let me have some contribution for Acrobat 7.0.

    1. “plug_ins” folder is under “C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Acrobat”

    2. Only two *.api we need are “EWH32″ and “print”.

    3. Move out the others *.api to the back up folder. (backup folder doesn’t have naming restriction, but it must be placed OUTSIDE “plug_ins” folder)

    4. Light speed age! :D

  3. David Said,

    June 26, 2006 @ 2:24 pm

    Thanks! Have not tried (a bit of an idiot here). So, for a dummy like me, which option should i go for?

    opt 1, i have to use brain to remember, and use it every time.. opt 2, one time pain, but too many steps and i’m not sure my brain can process that many steps..

    which would you recommend? or is there a simpler way still? :)

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