How Do I Detect the Adobe Acrobat Version Installed in Firefox via JavaScript

Question

I know this can be done in IE by creating an ActiveX object, but how do I do it in FF. The navigator.plugins['Adobe Acrobat'] object lets me know if it's installed or not, but it doesn't contain the version number. Any ideas?

Allen Pike · Answer 1 · 2008-10-10T07:05:22.333

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navigator.plugins[n].name where n is the index of the Acrobat plugin is supposed have the version number in it. Unfortunately, starting with Adobe Reader 8, they changed the name to "Adobe PDF Plug-In for Firefox and Netscape", with no version information. So, if this is the name you've detected at least Reader 8, but can't tell versions 8 from 9.

Also, make sure you take into account that Macs don't need Acrobat Reader to render PDF files. (I booted my Windows partition just to test this.)

edited Oct 10 '08 at 07:05

answered Oct 09 '08 at 07:53

Allen Pike

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Great answer. Is this available on IE as well or is a different method needed? – Casey Watson Oct 09 '08 at 16:23
Good advice about the Macs, but this solution has the same problem as the SWFObject one, the description for Adobe Acrobat doesn't include a version number. – Snocrash Oct 09 '08 at 18:39
Regarding the IE comment, this description method can be used for other plugins on IE, but a more reliable way is to create an ActiveXObject as described here: http://www.builtfromsource.com/tag/safari/ – Snocrash Oct 09 '08 at 18:45
Sorry Snocrash - I didn't realize that Adobe stopped putting version numbers in there with v8. I updated the answer with more info. – Allen Pike Oct 10 '08 at 07:06
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No system needs Acrobat Reader to render PDF files. I'm much happier with Foxit on Windows. – Quentin Apr 20 '10 at 16:20

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 20 '10 at 16:18

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http://www.pinlady.net/PluginDetect/AdobeReaderDetect.htm

answered Apr 20 '10 at 16:18

Eric Gerds

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 09 '08 at 07:59

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It should be possible to do this like swfobject detects flash version:

SWFObject source code

answered Oct 09 '08 at 07:59

Kristian J.

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I would have said it if you hadn't - SWFObject is making the lives of thousands of web developers easier, one include at a time. – matt lohkamp Oct 09 '08 at 09:40
Good advice, I hadn't thought to look there, but unfortunately it only works because the navigator.plugins['Shockwave Flash'].description actually contains the version number. Adobe Acrobat doesn't do this, the only thing in their description is "Adobe PDF Plug-In for Firefox and Netscape". – Snocrash Oct 09 '08 at 18:36

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 24 '14 at 06:36

var browser_info = {
    name: null,
    acrobat : null,
    acrobat_ver : null
  };


if(navigator.plugins != null)
  {      
   var acrobat = navigator.plugins['Adobe Acrobat'];
   if(acrobat == null)
   {           
    browser_info.acrobat = null;
    return browser_info;
   }
   browser_info.acrobat = "installed";
   browser_info.acrobat_ver = parseInt(acrobat.version[0]);                   
  }


where navigator is the property of Window

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Jul 15 '10 at 11:25

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var p = document.getElementById('Pdf1');
//p.GetVersions()
if(p.GetVersions().indexOf("7.0") != -1)
    alert("Acrobat 7 Found")

edited Jul 15 '10 at 11:25

Bill the Lizard

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answered Nov 10 '08 at 04:57

What is the element with ID 'Pdf1' supposed to be? Please explain. – Sasha Chedygov May 11 '09 at 03:26

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered May 30 '11 at 06:59

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This script detects the reader in all browsers - even detects Chrome's PDF Reader...

Acrobat Detection Javascript code

answered May 30 '11 at 06:59

Ben

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How Do I Detect the Adobe Acrobat Version Installed in Firefox via JavaScript

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