Filed under: Freeware, Internet, Internet Tools
Firefox-Mac-PDF allows in-line PDFs for Firefox
If you switched to Firefox from another browser like Safari that supports in-line PDF viewing (that's the ablity to look at a PDF in the browser instead of downloading it), then you might have been disheartened to learn that Firefox does not support this feature natively. However, you will find Firefox-Mac-PDF to be a useful plug-in. Firefox-Mac-PDF allows for the same in-line PDF viewing that can be found in Safari. This plug-in requires Firefox 3 and Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) or higher. You can download the plug-in for free from their Google Code page.
To install the plug-in, just open the Add-ons panel by going to Tools > Add-ons. Once there, drag the downloaded ".xpi" file to the Add-ons. You will be asked if you wish to install the plug-in. Once you restart Firefox you'll be able to view all PDFs right within Firefox.
[via Lifehacker]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John said 9:26PM on 6-18-2008
When I was still using Windows I had to go out of my way just to make my browser open PDF files in their right application.
Opening non-web content in a browser is utterly insane simply because all the menu's and controls don't work.
Reply
Ian said 10:22PM on 6-18-2008
I think that's a little narrow minded. If web developers used PDF appropriately, it would be a non-issue but when developers use HTML and PDF output interchangeably, it becomes annoying just to download a PDF and open it up in Preview.
I mean, it's not like it's hard to right-click and download a file is it now?
But I guess, all you need to do is *not install it* if you're not going to want it!
basscadet said 5:41AM on 6-19-2008
same here, I was using an add on called PDF Download (I think) that was saving PDFs instead of opening them inline...
Mr Lizard said 6:25PM on 6-19-2008
Depends.
PDF's are a break in the flow of the web. I can be clicking my way though pages, link after link, then suddenly i hit a PDF link.
Now a seperate app opens, just to read a page that's in PDF format.
This puts the page back in the right place - in the browser window, where I'm browsing the web.
Dave said 9:28PM on 6-18-2008
This works pretty well. So far anyway. We'll see how it holds up in the long-run. Mind you, it's in early development right now so there's good potential.
Reply
Fernando said 9:33PM on 6-18-2008
Finally I can see FCC files easily, as before I had to download, and rename the files from .cgi to .pdf, then to open them.
Reply
Dave Barnes said 10:36PM on 6-18-2008
Yes!!!!
Reply
Vijay said 11:19PM on 6-18-2008
Thanks. Small quibble. It should be "Once there, drag the.." rather than "Once their, drag the.."
Reply
customh said 11:56PM on 6-18-2008
That is only the way it is when you don't know correct grammar. "There" is right in that context.
J said 5:29AM on 6-19-2008
Ha, Fail.
Ethan said 11:36PM on 6-18-2008
Does anyone know if there is a way to use the MBP/Air's Multi Touch trackpad in firefox? With Safari, you just swipe three fingers across from left to right to go forward, or right to left to go back a page. It is really nice, but firefox doesn't support it, which is really annoying.
Reply
Mr Lizard said 6:29PM on 6-19-2008
Yes!
Go grab MultiClutch (have a google about it)
It works by assigning multi-touch gestures to keyboard shortcuts
Quick exammple: To page back in Firefox, the keyboard shortcut is Command [
So, in MultiClutch, you just set 'Swipe left' to Command [
Done!
NA said 6:53PM on 6-19-2008
Finally! Thanks. Works great. That was the biggest reason for me to stick with Safari, although I do like the built in dictionary ([highlighted word] + control + command + D) in Safari, but how often am I really going to use that? Plus I can just go to Spotlight for a definition.
Ian! said 12:02AM on 6-19-2008
http://schubert-it.com/
They have PDF and Word Plugins that work with every OSX browser I've tried them with, with the exception of IE.
In all honesty, I haven't used them with 10.5, but when I used to work at the Mac labs at Michigan State University we had them installed on all our machines.
Reply
Sam W said 12:31AM on 6-19-2008
I use to use that but they are PPC only... I was thrilled when i found out about this plugin.
Ian! said 12:35AM on 6-19-2008
Ah ha. Seems like there's always a catch.
Dan said 2:22AM on 6-19-2008
@Ian - That plugin only works if you are running Firefox in OS X on a PowerPC or under Rosetta. Otherwise-- prior to this very-much-needed solution-- there was no way to view PDFs inline via Firefox on OS X/Intel. Thanks very much to colesbury and/or whoever it is who made this happen! Your work is very much appreciated....
morgenstern said 12:05AM on 6-19-2008
pdfs in browser windows are horrible - and so is firefox - safari too now that i think of it.
Reply
TVGenius said 12:39AM on 6-19-2008
Finally I can quit polluting my desktop and Docs folder with every PDF I want to look at!! Yay!
Reply
papzadsl said 3:25AM on 6-19-2008
And you, guys, are still talking about firefox 3 release?!
This one is the real thing! I wondered for an entire year searching for something equivalent to the PDF in-line opening in Windows... and now, this great gift :D :D
r0x!
Reply