If you're using
a MacIntosh computer to access the Internet, you might get an error
message when downloading a document. Here's some background info and
a quick solution that usually solves the problem.
PDF
DOCUMENT FILES
Downloadable
documents (Scripts, Teachers Guides, Licenses)
are provided in the universally standard Adobe PDF file format which
works on PCs or Macs. Adobe Reader is the software application which
reads the PDF format, and is available free from Adobe Systems, Inc.
(see below).
NORMAL
DOWNLOADS
When you order a
download you get an online RECEIPT web page which has a LINK ("Download",
in blue) below the item name. Your ORDER CONFIRMATION email
also has the same LINK. When you click on the LINK to download the
PDF file, the file should open in Adobe Reader and you should see the
first page of the document.
Downloads
work okay on most Macs, but sometimes (especially when using Safari)
the PDF file might not open and you'll get an error message like...
WHAT'S
HAPPENING?
If
the PDF file doesn't open it's usually because ".exe" was
added to the end of the file name when it downloaded from the
Internet and the Mac thinks it's a PC executable file (file extension
".exe") instead of a PDF file (file extension
".pdf"). Here's an example using A Christmas Carol
school play package download:
School
play package PDF file name: CTP-A-CHRISTMAS-CAROL.pdf
File name after
Mac download: CTP-A-CHRISTMAS-CAROL.pdf.exe
The Mac tries
to process the file as a PC executable file and doesn't know what to
do. Even when it asks to open the file and you click "Yes",
nothing happens. It's still the exact same PDF file, but now it has
an extra ".exe" at the end of the file name.
THE
SOLUTION
The solution is
to simply remove the ".exe" from the file name. Then it
will open in Adobe Reader because the Mac sees the ".pdf"
as the file extension and recognizes it as a standard PDF file.
Here's what to do:
1.
Download the file to your hard drive (or desktop).
2.
Modify the file name and remove the ".exe".
3.
Click to open the file in Adobe Reader.
That should
take care if the problem. If you still cannot open the PDF
file, please let us know -- send us an EMAIL.
Winner
of a
National
Endowment for the Arts Playwriting Award.
