Foxit Reader

For a few years now I have been using Foxit Reader as my PDF reader. Up to now it has been excellent.

However since the latest update (version 6.0.2.0413) it has become rogue software: it installs additional software that I do not want at all without presenting any option to choose not to, e.g. useless toolbars in Word and Excel. It appears at first glance that these can be deleted, but they return on next starting the application.

Any ideas for a small and simple PDF reader with minimal added functionality?

I use PDF-Xchange Viewer http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-...

Same here.

I was using Foxit, now removed due to same issue as OP.
Changed it to PDF-Xchange Viewer

Nothing wrong with adobe reader. Just saying I don't understand the need for an alternative. It does the job and it does it brilliantly.

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

Nothing wrong with adobe reader. Just saying I don't understand the need for an alternative. It does the job and it does it brilliantly.

I've not used Adobe Reader for years so perhaps it has improved but the two main reasons I looked for something else is that it 1) takes forever to load, and 2) does not support multiple documents open in the same instance (tabbed).

Like the others I recommend PDF-Xchange Viewer.

It did present the options with regard to the additional bits, I nearly missed it myself, and you can minimise the ribbon bar so that all you see is the menu headers, although I agree with you it doesn't look the same, in fact Ribbon Menus are one of my pet hates, and I wonder why companies go with them.

Thanks for the suggestions. I shall try PDF-Xchange Viewer, but also may try reinstalling Foxit Reader - maybe preferences can be selected during a new installation. The automatic update offered no options at all - OK for a minor patch, but not appropriate for a major new version.

JPL

Edited by deleted (Thu 25-Apr-13 09:53:49)

I only have one program that I let auto update, all others, I always download the installer and run that, as that way I always have the latest versions on my NAS if I ever need to do a complete reinstall

To change it back to ordinary toolbars, Menu: View | UI Options | Change Toolbar mode

In reply to a post by JPL:

For a few years now I have been using Foxit Reader as my PDF reader. Up to now it has been excellent.

However since the latest update (version 6.0.2.0413) it has become rogue software: it installs additional software that I do not want at all without presenting any option to choose not to, e.g. useless toolbars in Word and Excel. It appears at first glance that these can be deleted, but they return on next starting the application.

Any ideas for a small and simple PDF reader with minimal added functionality?

strange, it did not install anything for me, but then I don't use Office, which is maybe why it don't.

I still like foxit, been using it like you for years,.

In reply to a post by ukhardy07:

Nothing wrong with adobe reader. Just saying I don't understand the need for an alternative. It does the job and it does it brilliantly.

The last time I used it, adobe reader was slow, takes ages to open, use a huge amount of memory, just for opening a PDF file.

i know that they added stuff like animation and video, but why on earth would I want that in a PDF file?

Foxit is fast and also support tabs.

This installing of things you don't want annoys me and the last adobe update added a McAfee security checker to my machine. The golden rule when any of these updates come in now seems to be to take the custom install as you then "might" get the option to turn all the other things off.

I installed Foxit Reader yesterday and it did present me with the options to exclude all the extras.

I never just click Instal but look for Custom Instal instead.

Edited by deleted (Thu 25-Apr-13 11:19:35)

I tried PDF-Xchange, but did not like it so much, although I couldn't put my finger on quite why, and have reverted to Foxit.

I uninstalled Foxit, rebooted, and deleted every Foxit related entry I could find in the registry before finally starting the installation. The downloaded installation kit for v6 does indeed allow the PDF creation and browser add-on modules not to be selected in a custom installation. (Surely nobody ever performs a default installation?) The update process really ought to provide the same custom options as the initial installation, at least when there are significant differences, e.g. additional functions way outside the scope of the original, between the versions.

P.S. 1. It is possible to remove the Word and Excel add-ons, but you have to delete the menu as well as the toolbar itself (View > Toolbars > Customise). First time around I did not spot the Foxit menu.

P.S. 2. Foxit PDF creation does not work as well as PDF Creator, which I have been using for many years now - it produces rather larger files and there were some minor layout quirks.

JPL

Edited by deleted (Fri 26-Apr-13 12:26:20)

Could try Sumatra PDF is a free PDF
http://blog.kowalczyk.info/software/sumatrapdf/free-...

Sumatra.

Bloated mess with a poor security track record.