- Reading Order: Specifies the reading order of documents. The reading order preferences also appear in the Accessibility Setup Assistant.
- Infer Reading Order From Document (Recommended): Interprets the reading order of untagged documents by using an advanced method of structure inference layout analysis.
- Left-To-Right, Top-To-Bottom Reading Order: Delivers the text according to its placement on the page, reading from left to right and then top to bottom. This method is faster than Infer Reading Order From Document. This method analyzes text only; form fields are ignored and tables aren’t recognized as such.
- Use Reading Order In Raw Print Stream: Delivers text in the order in which it was recorded in the print stream. This method is faster than Infer Reading Order From Document. This method analyzes text only; form fields are ignored and tables aren’t recognized as such.
- Override The Reading Order In Tagged Documents: Uses the reading order specified in the Reading preferences instead of what the tag structure of the document specifies. Use this preference only when you encounter problems in poorly tagged PDFs. This preference corresponds to the Override The Reading Order In Tagged Documents option in the Accessibility Setup Assistant.
- Page vs Document: This preference determines how much of a document is delivered to a screen reader at a time. If a PDF isn’t tagged, Reader analyzes the document and attempt to infer its structure and reading order. This process can take a long time for a long document. Set Reader to deliver only the currently visible page so that it analyzes only a small piece of the document at a time. This consideration varies depending on the size and complexity of the document and on the features of the screen reader. When Reader delivers information to a screen reader, screen magnifier, or other assistive software, it loads information into a memory buffer that is directly available to the assistive software. The amount of information that is delivered to the memory buffer can affect how long Reader takes to perform tasks, such as opening the document, advancing to the next page, changing views, and carrying out commands.
- Only Read The Currently Visible Pages: This option is best when you use a screen magnifier. It improves performance by eliminating the need for the software to process parts of the document that aren’t visible. When Reader sends only the currently visible pages of a PDF to the memory buffer, the assistive technology has access to those pages only. It cannot go to another page until the next page is visible and Reader has sent the page information to the memory buffer. Therefore, if this option is selected, you must use the navigation features of Reader, to navigate from page to page in the document. Set the Default Page Layout option in preferences to Single Page if you choose to have Reader send only the currently visible pages to the assistive technology. Because Reader sends page information about all visible pages, the assistive technology receives information about pages that is only partially visible (such as the bottom of one page or the top of the next) and those pages that are visible. If you use a page display setting other than Single Page, such as Continuous, and then you display the next page, the technology will not correctly track which portion of a previous page it has already read aloud. For instructions on setting the default page layout to Single Page, seePreferences for viewing PDFs. This option corresponds to the Only Read The Currently Visible Pages option in the Accessibility Setup Assistant.
- Read The Entire Document: This option can be best if you use a screen reader that has its own navigation and search tools and that is more familiar to you than the tools in Acrobat.
- For Large Documents, Only Read The Currently Visible Pages: This option is selected by default and is best if you use a screen reader with long or complex PDFs. It allows Acrobat to deliver an entire small document but revert to page-by-page delivery for large documents. This preference corresponds to For Large Documents, Only Read The Currently Visible Pages option in the Accessibility Setup Assistant.
- Confirm Before Tagging Documents: When selected, lets the user confirm the options that are used before Acrobat prepares an untagged document for reading. Tagging can be a time-consuming procedure, especially for larger documents. This preference corresponds to Confirm Before Tagging Documents option in the Accessibility Setup Assistant.
- Read Out Loud Options: Set preferences into control volume, speed, and pitch of the voice used for Read Out Loud. You can choose to use the default voice or any of the voices that your operating system provides. You can also use the up and down arrows to read blocks of text. These preferences do not have corresponding options in the Accessibility Setup Assistant.
Adobe Reader Lite – Light version of Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader perhaps is the most famous PDF reader for viewing PDF files. But, you will noticed that adobe reader take a longer time to load and loading a bunches of adobe plugins which are not required to some PDF reader user.
More than Just a Free PDF Reader
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software is the free global standard for reliably viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents. And now, it's connected to the Adobe Document Cloud − making it easier than ever to work across computers and mobile devices.
- Adobe’s free PDF reader isn’t the most lightweight download, but this software does a lot of things well. If you already use other Adobe products, you can connect Acrobat Reader DC to Adobe.
The Adobe PDF Reader DC is a clean, user-friendly PDF reader that has been downloaded more than one billion times worldwide. In addition to opening PDF files, with the Adobe PDF Reader DC you can:
- Digitally sign documents
- Leave comments
- Highlight or cross out words
- Add a personalized stamp
- Share the PDF
- Add a timestamp or digital certificate
- Direct login and access PDF files located in:
- Adobe Document Cloud
- Google Drive
- Box
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- SharePoint
How to Download Adobe PDF Reader DC
- Click on the DOWNLOAD button to visit the official Adobe download page.
- If you don’t want any McAfee products, make sure to uncheck two Optional Offers and then click DOWNLOAD ACROBAT READER.
- The file will download to your computer. Double click on it and run the installer. When it’s done installing, just click FINISH and you’re all set.
How to Uninstall Adobe PDF Reader DC
If you only needed the Adobe Reader for a single-use or if you decide to upgrade and purchase a premium package, you can completely remove this from your computer in 2 easy steps.
- Type ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMS in the windows search bar.
- Find Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and click UNINSTALL.
The Windows installer program will take care of the rest and remove the software from your computer.
Adobe PDF: Free vs. Pro? Depends on Your Needs
Before I can answer whether the free Adobe PDF Reader DC is good enough or if you should upgrade to Adobe Acrobat Pro, you have to understand your needs.
If you have basic needs, like opening a PDF, signing the document, adding a stamp, or leaving comments on the document, then the free option is perfect for you.
However, if you need more advanced tools such as:
- Convert a document to a PDF
- Password protect or encrypt the file
- Compress the file
- Compare two PDF files
- Reorganize the document
Then you will need to upgrade to the Acrobat Pro Reader.
All of the underlined features are only available with Adobe Acrobat Pro
Free Alternatives to Adobe PDF Reader Pro
- Foxit Free PDF Reader: A serious contender for Adobe’s crown, Foxit has some pretty good features in its free PDF Reader. This includes compatibility with DocuSign, Editing, and adding digital IDs and timestamps.
- Nitro PDF Reader: You can create, sign, and share PDFs with Nitro. With drag-and-drop functionality, it’s one of the easier programs to master.
FAQ
Lightweight Pdf Reader
Is Adobe Reader really free?
There is no cost to use the basic features that come with Adobe Reader. However, as you use it, you’ll notice that a lot of features are only available with a premium package.
Is Adobe PDF Reader safe?
Adobe Reader Light Version
As long as you download the file from the official Adobe site, there are no known viruses or malware attached to it. Unfortunately, if you don’t pay attention while installing the program, you will end up installing two McAfee products.
Free Adobe Reader Download
Can you convert a PDF to Word with Adobe Reader?
If you want to convert a PDF to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or any other format, you will need to purchase Adobe Acrobat Pro.
What does the DC stand for in Adobe PDF Reader DC?
Adobe upgraded all their products to integrate with its Document Cloud, hence the DC. You can upload a file to the cloud and access it with Reader from anywhere.
Is there a mobile version of Adobe Reader?
Yes. You can find an Adobe PDF Reader app for both Android and iOS devices in Google Play and iTunes.
Visit Adobe PDF Reader DC Website