How do I prevent automatic downloading of .pdf files?

Go into Safari preferences.You will now see a check box labeled "Open 'safe' files after downloading", located near the middle of the Preferences window. If this box is checked, click on the check mark and verify that it is no longer active.

I am also having the same problem Paula. When I visit a website for taking school tests online the test is in PDF format and the answer form is built into the web page. Last semester Safari correctly displayed the PDF in the middle of the screen and allowed me to navigate the test while inputting answers. Suddenly it wants to download the test (without asking me) and then not display it near the answer submission form. VERY frustrating! I feel your pain!!!

pjmetz: You say "tried changing from Adobe Reader to Preview and then Safari to get the automatic downloading to stop, but neither choice produced the desired effect." What effect did these changes produce? I am sure they didn't leave things as they were, did they? If they did, and Adobe Reader is strong-arming its way to causing all PDF files to download, try removing Reader and give it a test with no Reader-assist. Oh, I'm not trying to get you to give up on Reader. You can copy Reader to an ext. HDD for safe-keeping, and then trash it from the internal HDD, and empty the trash. Then test Safari. If Safari works correctly without Reader, get your answer from Adobe.com

maxintaft: PDF files cannot be editied easily even on your HDD, mush less in a browser window. Whatever it is you are typing in (or have been typing in previously), it is not a PDF file, so your issue needs a new question, or contact the school site webmaster for help.

The problem is that the pdf is downloaded to read. Safari should, according to your wish, only show it before it is downloaded, so that you can decide whether to download it when you read it. Uncheck the "Open safe files after downloading" (like nwcs said) because this forces the download for the "safe" files.

Go to folder /Library/Internet Plugins/ ,

make a subfolder "disabled" ,

move the AdobePDFViewer to this new folder ,

Quit and restart Safari.

(The in Safari built-in viewer is very good, you do not need the Adobe PDF Viewer).

Lex

I am not trying to edit the pdf, it was displayed in one frame in safari and another frame on the edge of the web page was set up for entering responses.

This sounds more like what I need to do! Sadly that folder doesn't exist on my computer 😟

Paula,

I think I may have found our answer! If you are running Safari 5.1 the PDF is automatically downloaded because the Adobe plugin that allows PDFs to be displayed in Safari is not supported in this version!

I found this on another thread: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/908/cpsid_90885.html

I'm going to download another browser until this gets corrected.

Hope this helps,

Max

pjmetz, like I said, throw out the adobeplugin, Safari doesn't make you a problem anymore.

I can tell you that it works and I thank you for this.

I don't have the adobe plug-in and it still defaults to downloading a pdf file.

Max, READ my post:

I said "make this folder"... But do as I say:

Goto Folder /Library/Internet Plugins (if you do not see it, go there via the <Finder/Go/Go to Folder> menu),

Trash the Adobe Plugin,

Go to Safari/Preferences and uncheck "open "safe" files after downloading",

Quit and restart Safari.

To LexSchellings: You say "Uncheck the 'Open safe files after downloading... because this forces the download for the "safe" files." Do you mean that the "Open" option causes a download for PDFs? I would have thought the check was to cause the opening ONLY after you CHOOSE to download. From what you say, this check causes not just an opening of items downloaded, but for a PDF, it also causes the downloading to happen even if you didn't choose to download. If that is true (please confirm), it is a numbskull idea. Apple needs to separate these two ideas: no automatic download, only automatic open AFTER download (if checked).

I'm no malware programmer, but I can imagine that one could design an app to present a profile like a PDF to Safari, and thus cause Safari to both automatically download and then automatically open the app -- a nasty combination.

Yes Moof666, that's what I said.

This forum is not Apple, but users: if you want Apple to read it goto feedback Apple.