PDF viewer plug-in for Firefox on OpenVMS

[Bo Midberg]

Anyone that knows how to view PDF files in the Firefox web browser for OpenVMS? Some kind of plug-in is needed but cannot find any appropiate information on the subject.

[Steven Schweda]

You have Firefox for VMS?

I'm unaware of a plug-in, but it's relatively
easy to use XPDF to view a PDF file, and the
typical VMS Web browser can be persuaded to
run XPDF when it sees a PDF file. On [C]SWB,
look at Edit | Preferences | Navigator |
Helper Applications. See anything about
"application/pdf"? A Web search may find the
details faster than I can, but they should be
out there somewhere. As is XPDF (for VMS).

[Rick Retterer]

http://h71000.www7.hp.com/openvms/products/ips/cswb/cswb_plugins.html

Look at this web page, it has a link to xpdf for you from there.

http://www.foolabs.com/xpdf/download.html

Cheers,
Rick

[fhsjvl]

Here you find the necessary steps to enable the viewing of Adobe PDF files in CSWB and Firefox on OpenVMS.

I am convinced more easy and less ugly ways of doing the job exist.

I also know that most of you will say: "why bother with that complex procedure? I watch PDF files on my PC". But those who want to view PDF in a browser on VMS can use this procedure FWIW.

If there is something stupid or utterly wrong or forgotten in all this, please let me know.

1. Install CSWB (Seamonkey) or Firefox
2. Download and build Mozplugger
3. Put MOZPLUGGER.SO/EXE at the right place
4. Download and build Xpdf
5. Put XPDF.EXE at the right place
6. Adapt MOZPLUGGERRC.
7. Adapt PLUGINREG.DAT
8. Start or restart browser

These steps are elaborated in the attachment.

[fhsjvl]

It should be noted that the same procedure can be used with MuPDF instead of Xpdf.

MuPDF is made available on OpenVMS by Mark Berryman. For the sources and executables of MuPDF: http://www.openvms.org/stories.php?story=12/06/28/0334309

Tests show that MuPDF is considerably faster than Xpdf on OpenVMS.