# Why Warn Folk When Linking To A PDF File?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-warn-folk-when-linking-to-a-pdf-file/525865>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 21, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-warn-folk-when-linking-to-a-pdf-file/525865 "2010-01-21T17:57:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-warn-folk-when-linking-to-a-pdf-file/525865/21 "2010-01-30T12:24:06Z")

</div>

I don’t have problems with Acrobat anymore (whether it’s because the program has improved or whatever, I don’t know), but when you think about it, it should be courtesy to warn people about any link that isn’t to a stock standard website. If I put a link to a Word file, I’d include a note to say it’s a Word file. It just happens that PDFs are the most common non HTML link you’re likely to get on the SDMB.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-warn-folk-when-linking-to-a-pdf-file/525865/22 "2010-01-30T13:21:17Z")

</div>

> [@HorseloverFat](#):
>
> In the meantime, I find using foxit is a good compromise. Its faster than acrobat and seems more stable.

Except it doesn’t seem to check for available memory allocation before using it. In a computer low on RAM, it writes over anything in its path. Not good.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-warn-folk-when-linking-to-a-pdf-file/525865/23 "2010-01-30T16:55:24Z")

</div>

[quote=“1920s Style “Death Ray”, post:21, topic:525865”]

I don’t have problems with Acrobat anymore (whether it’s because the program has improved or whatever, I don’t know), but when you think about it, it should be courtesy to warn people about any link that isn’t to a stock standard website. If I put a link to a Word file, I’d include a note to say it’s a Word file. It just happens that PDFs are the most common non HTML link you’re likely to get on the SDMB.  
[/QUOTE]

I agree - it’s just common courtesy to warn people when a link will open anything other than a normal page in their browser - such as a pdf, or a page that plays audio or video automatically on opening, or is NSFW, etc.

Of course not everyone sees the point of that, but then, maybe common courtesy needs a new name.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-warn-folk-when-linking-to-a-pdf-file/525865/24 "2010-01-30T18:11:50Z")

</div>

Because it’s required for compliance for the Americans with Disabilities Acts. People using a screen reader need to know what format a page is in if it’s not html. Some screen readers can’t read PDFs correctly.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-warn-folk-when-linking-to-a-pdf-file/525865.md?page=1)