Why can't I open .pdfs in my browser?

Try downloading Foxit. It’s free, it works, and it adds itself to Firefox.

what @pdworkin said
or just download it and then use preview to view it.

You need an external program for .pdf files. Like @pdworkin, I suggest Foxit, but there are plenty of others

Okay, I downloaded foxit. But when I tried to open it, my computer opened it with VLC, which obviously doesn’t work. What application should I use to open and apply/save it?

Are you sure you got the correct version for your OS? You have a Mac, correct? Did you accidentally download the Windows file?

Aha! I did. I just clicked on the link you gave me, and didn’t verify it was the right OS.

Hm. I checked for Foxit that’s mac compatible, but the only one I found is not compatible with the most recent firefox.

@Sarcasm what are some of the other programs that might work better for me?

You can override the version check and install that one on your newer Firefox. It will work.

If you use firefox this will do the trick.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7518

It is what I use.

And if you are on a Mac you should be able to save the PDF and open it in Preview.

@pdworkin I wasn’t given the option to override it. I had no choice but to pick OK.

@johnpowell I just downloaded what you suggested, but still can’t open pdf. What am I doing wrong?!

Oops. My bad. I hadn’t restarted firefox. Sorry! It works :)

Oh, good. It’s very useful.

This is what I use: http://code.google.com/p/firefox-mac-pdf/

Edit: It seems jp and I use the same thing.

or you could just use safari, or download it and use preview….way easier than hunting FF extensions.

Safari is a huge resource hog.

@pdworkin that guy you yelled at about overfishing is a resource hog.
lol
what about downloading the pdf and using preview? when I click on a pdf in FF, it asks me to open with preview or to save it, both work fine. Maybe you need to make sure FF is associating the .pdf file extension with preview.

@patg7590 Safari won’t open them, either. I like firefox, except for this. But now I got that add on and it’s working fine, so I’m happy.

I don’t get the option to open it in preview. How do I do that? I’ve looked in preferences, to no avail.

Right click on the link. If you have a one button mouse/trackpad you command click and pick “save link as” in the contextual menu.