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]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-18-2008 @ 9:26PM
John said...
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
6-18-2008 @ 10:22PM
Ian said...
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!
6-19-2008 @ 5:41AM
basscadet said...
same here, I was using an add on called PDF Download (I think) that was saving PDFs instead of opening them inline...
6-19-2008 @ 6:25PM
Mr Lizard said...
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.
6-18-2008 @ 9:28PM
Dave said...
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
6-18-2008 @ 9:33PM
Fernando said...
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
6-18-2008 @ 10:36PM
Dave Barnes said...
Yes!!!!
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 11:19PM
Vijay said...
Thanks. Small quibble. It should be "Once there, drag the.." rather than "Once their, drag the.."
Reply
6-18-2008 @ 11:56PM
customh said...
That is only the way it is when you don't know correct grammar. "There" is right in that context.
6-19-2008 @ 5:29AM
J said...
Ha, Fail.
6-18-2008 @ 11:36PM
Ethan said...
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
6-19-2008 @ 6:29PM
Mr Lizard said...
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!
6-19-2008 @ 6:53PM
NA said...
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.
6-19-2008 @ 12:02AM
Ian! said...
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
6-19-2008 @ 12:31AM
Sam W said...
I use to use that but they are PPC only... I was thrilled when i found out about this plugin.
6-19-2008 @ 12:35AM
Ian! said...
Ah ha. Seems like there's always a catch.
6-19-2008 @ 2:22AM
Dan said...
@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....
6-19-2008 @ 12:05AM
morgenstern said...
pdfs in browser windows are horrible - and so is firefox - safari too now that i think of it.
Reply
6-19-2008 @ 12:39AM
TVGenius said...
Finally I can quit polluting my desktop and Docs folder with every PDF I want to look at!! Yay!
Reply
6-19-2008 @ 3:25AM
papzadsl said...
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