why do files need to download before opening and i don't want them to?

Hey Riverphillips,

Looking at the information above, it seems that you are using the service online via web browser? https://cloud.acrobat.com/exportpdf

If this is the case and you are accessing the service using chrome web browser. Then how a document is going to be opened is dependent on web browser's setting.

Its a default behavior of "Chrome" that it downloads the file first and then open it. Similarly for Firefox, it take the permission to save the file or not and then you open it form the saved location.

There is nothing to do with the Adobe Export pdf service.  If you want to avoid this to be happen, then you need to change your web browser. Or you can use Adobe Reader DC (free app) desktop application to open the pdf files.

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Install for all versions

Hope it answers the query.

Regards,

Akanchha