default location for saving PDFs

I'm trying to find out how to change the default location for saving downloaded PDF files. Whenever I download a PDF, the suggested default location to save is: MacHD/private/var/folders/k7/.../WebKitPDFs-xxxxxx (There is a long folder name where the /.../ is and the x's at the end change with each attempted save). The problem with the foregoing path is that it is a private system path and not accessible without using Terminal. I would just like the default path to be my documents folder. Does anyone know how to accomplish this?


Thanks,

RickMur

Posted on Jul 1, 2015 4:19 PM

Reply
9 replies

Jul 2, 2015 1:44 PM in response to Linc Davis

I tried your suggestions but they didn't work. I think the problem stems from the way Safari is programmed to save PDF files. When I open a PDF file with Safari, then use the pop-up button at the bottom of the screen to open the PDF in Acrobat, that's when the default save location is set for that hidden (and lengthy) path that I referred to above. If I click on the download button at the bottom of the Safari PDF file screen, Safari saves a copy of the PDF in my downloads folder and when I open it from there in Acrobat and choose Save As, the default path is my downloads folder. That is preferable to the hidden folder, so I will save PDFs in that way. It requires one extra step, but prevents an accidental save to a hidden folder.


Thank you for all your help. I do appreciate it.


RickMur

Jul 2, 2015 8:21 AM in response to RickMur

Back up all data before making any changes. Please take each of the following steps until the problem is resolved.

Step 1

If Adobe Reader or Acrobat is installed, and the problem is just that you can't print or save PDF's displayed in Safari, you may be able to do so by moving the cursor to the the bottom edge of the page, somewhere near the middle. A black toolbar should appear under the cursor. Click the printer or disk icon.

Step 2

There should be a setting in its preferences of the Adobe application such as Display PDF in Browser. I don't use those applications myself, so I can't be more precise. Deselect that setting, if it's selected.

Step 3

If you get a message such as ""Adobe Reader blocked for this website," then from the Safari menu bar, select

Safari ▹ Preferences... ▹ Security

and check the box marked

Allow Plug-ins

Then click

Manage Website Settings...

and make any required changes to the security settings for the Adobe PDF plugin.

Step 4

Triple-click anywhere in the line of text below on this page to select it, the copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:

/Library/Internet Plug-ins

In the Finder, select

Go Go to Folder

from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-G. Paste into the text box that opens by pressing command-V, then press return.

From the folder that opens, move to the Trash any items that have "Adobe" or “PDF” in the name. You may be prompted for your login password. Then quit and relaunch Safari.

Step 5

The "Silverlight" web plugin distributed by Microsoft can interfere with PDF display in Safari, so you may need to remove it, if it's present. The same goes for a plugin called "iGetter," and perhaps others—I don't have a complete list. Don't remove Silverlight if you use the "Netflix" video-streaming service.

Step 6

Do as in Step 4 with this line:

~/Library/Internet Plug-ins

If you don’t like the results of this procedure, restore the items from the backup you made before you started. Relaunch Safari.

Jul 2, 2015 2:14 PM in response to Old Toad

Yes, my default location in Safari Preferences is my Downloads folder. But when I click on a PDF file on a Website and the file opens in another Safari window, then click on the icon at the bottom of that screen to open the PDF in Acrobat, the default save location is that horribly long and hidden path that I described in my first post. If I download the PDF file with the download button at the bottom of the Safari PDF window, then open the PDF file in Acrobat from my Downloads folder, the default path is Downloads.

The problem I was trying to solve is how to change the default save folder for a PDF that is displayed in Safari. That way I can eliminate the extra step of downloading the file first.


Thanks,

RickMur

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default location for saving PDFs

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