Do I need browser plugins?

[McSporran]

I've just to rid of Adobe Reader and want to use PDF-XChange Viewer (portable) as my default pdf viewer. I'm using both Internet Explorer and Firefox and since uninstalling Adobe Reader neither manages to read pdf documents any more. I presume I need some plugins for this, but I haven't got any in my PDF-XChange Viewer. Are they available and where do I obtain them?

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

Just installing PDF-XChange also installs the browser plugins. To enable them for your browser, set the option in preferences, file associations, show PDF in browser.

Unless you're short of hard disk space, there is no good reason to uninstall Adobe Reader.

[McSporran]

Just installing PDF-XChange also installs the browser plugins.Unless you're short of hard disk space, there is no good reason to uninstall Adobe Reader.

It did not instal plugins for me. Remember that in my OP I said I was using the portable version of the product. I don't think the portable version has them. Are these plugins available separately?

Unless you're short of hard disk space, there is no good reason to uninstall Adobe Reader.

I have started to dislike Adobe Reader after finding PDF-XChange Viewer. It's not just the disk space it consumes but also resources (it puts something into my startup) which slows my PC down. The the final straw with Adobe Reader is that it kept trying to force me to update it and I can't spare the time.

[Bhikkhu Pesala]

See this thread

Being portable and yet installing plugins is a contradiction of terms. If you want plugins, then install the regular version. Be definition, a portable version should not install anything on the host computer.

[McSporran]

See this thread

Being portable and yet installing plugins is a contradiction of terms. If you want plugins, then install the regular version. Be definition, a portable version should not install anything on the host computer.

Hmm, I was hoping you wouldn't say that. I keep my XChange viewer on a USB stick hence it needs to be portable. It is my general policy for PC applications that if they have portable/non-portable versions I always install the portable to save having to keep two installations up to date. Portability is much more flexible in the age of the USB stick. Non-portable apps usually become totally bloated and resource hogs as time goes on. They dump garbage into the registry and often have an undesirable payload (eg install and startup unwanted applications, could be spyware). In extreme cases they also cause complicated system crashes and incompatibilities.

My preferred scenario for XChange viewer is that if the host PC is not my own then, if I use their web browser, they will have the appropriate local pdf reader web plugin for whatever reader is default. If I'm on my own PC I was hoping I could install the plugin(s) separately so I always use the portable product home or away. Is it not possible to dowload the plugins separately and integrate them into both my permanent as will as my portable web browsers?

Incidentally I have not seen anywhere telling me what the difference between the full and portable version of XChange viewer is. Evidently from what you say the web plugin(s) is one difference, but is there any other functional difference? I have always wondered why this huge difference in download size between the two versions. I would have found it useful to see the differences listed somewhere.

[Lzcat - Tracker Supp]

It is impossible to install the plugins separately - they require the installed version of the Viewer.
The Difference in size is because the installer includes:

1. 32-bit application and required resources (all the content of the portable version).
2. 64-bit version of the Viewer (for use on x64 systems).
3. Internet browser plugins.
4. Documentation file (removed from portable version to make thedownload smaller, avail for separate download).