why does Safari show code when I open a pdf?

Hello there, Richmondo.

The following Knowledge Base article, although archived, is still practical for Mavericks:

Mac OS X: Double-Clicking a File Opens the Wrong Application

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2291

To open a document once

1. Click the document's icon in the Finder to select it.
2. Choose File > Open With.
3. Choose the desired application. You may choose Other to select an application not on the list.

To configure documents of this type to open with a certain application

1. Click the document's icon in the Finder to select it.
2. Choose File > Get Info.
3. Click the disclosure triangle next to "Open with:".
4. Choose the desired application from the "Open with" pop-up menu. You may choose Other to select an application not on the list.
5. Click Change All.

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

Cheers,

Pedro.

A problem with your Adobe Reader Plug-in. Try disabling it / deleting it or reinstalling.

http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/troubleshoot-safari-plug-acrobat-x.html

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?platform=macintosh&product=10

A work around is right (control) click your PDF link, and choose to download it.

You have two in browser PDF viewing options, providing you haven't removed the Apple Quartz Composer webplugin from /Library/Internet Plug-Ins:

1. Install Adobe Acrobat Reader 11.0.04 and let it upgrade its PDF plugins in the above folder. The Adobe PDF plug-ins will supercede the default Apple PDF plug-in.
2. Perform the above, and then move the following two files from the above folder (adminstrator password), allowing Apple's PDF plug-in to function:
   1. AdobePDFViewer.plugin
   2. AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

Quit Safari, Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities) & copy/paste the following line, then press enter.

defaults delete -app Safari WebKitOmitPDFSupport

Don't install Adobe Reader's plug-ins unless you need them for the relatively few pdf's that won't display in Safari or Preview.

WebKitOmitPDFSupport used to make Safari download pdf files rather than try to display them - the latest version doesn't handle that & displays them anyway, but as raw data.

This fixed my issue. Thanks!

None of your suggestions solved the problem. It turns out the problem was caused by a Safari Extension. issue resolved.

Do tell us what the extension was - it may help someone else with a similar problem.

This also worked for me:

andyBall_uk wrote:

Quit Safari, Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities) & copy/paste the following line, then press enter.

defaults delete -app Safari WebKitOmitPDFSupport

Adobe Reader is a pain, and unnecessary. Do yourself and remove from your Applications folder.

This also solved my same issue. I couldn't find the answer elsewhere. It is plain crazy.

andyBall_uk wrote:

Quit Safari, Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities) & copy/paste the following line, then press enter.

defaults delete -app Safari WebKitOmitPDFSupport

Don't install Adobe Reader's plug-ins unless you need them for the relatively few pdf's that won't display in Safari or Preview.

WebKitOmitPDFSupport used to make Safari download pdf files rather than try to display them - the latest version doesn't handle that & displays them anyway, but as raw data.