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A
Adrien288539252dp8
Participant
March 13, 2023
Question

How to define Adobe Acrobat as default software to open pdf file in Excel file links

  • March 13, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 2144 views

Hello !
I use Microsoft Excel to gather links directed to pdf files on my firm's network.

Then, I can click on a cell to open a pdf file.

Nevertheless, when I click on a link of my Excel file, I cannot choose which pdf reader will open the file, even if I specified (in Windows parameters) which software should open these pdf files.

Thanks in advance for your help !

Adrien

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 13, 2023

Hi,

 

Which method did you try to make Adobe Acrobat the default PDF handler on Microsoft Windows?

 

Sometimes, instead of setting up a default program by app, Microsoft recommends to set the default app by associating it by protocol or by file type (via Control Panel => Settings).

A
Adrien288539252dp8Author
Participant
March 13, 2023

Thank you for your quick reply !
Indeed, I set up the default program by app.
In the settings, I see plenty of protocol and file types. I changed a few of the ".pdf" extensions I found for Adobe (.pdf, .pdx, etc...), without a change.
Maybe I should try with the protocol, but I don't know which one corresponds to "pdf file opening by Excel".

ls_rbls
Community Expert
ls_rblsCommunity Expert
Community Expert
March 13, 2023

If you go to "Choose default apps by protocol"

 

There are two entries of interest:

  • ACROBAT (URL: Acrobat Protocol)
  • MS-EXCEL (URL: Excel Protocol)

 

If this entry to the right is blank, for example, click on the "+" sign "Choose a default"  and click "Excel" from the "Choose app" context menu.

 

If  next to the Acrobat entry is empty , do the same steps for Acrobat, but select Adobe Acrobat (not Excel).

 

This will ensure that both programs are handling their own protocols rather than the OS choosing a default program to handle certain undocumented  actions.

 

See if that helps.

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