PDF reader recommendation?

Question

Level 1

38 points

PDF reader recommendation?

I find Adobe's policy of nagging me to permit a background process to check for updates unacceptable. I've looked for free alternatives. So far, I've found that Books meets my simple needs. However it aggressively puts things in its library, which I do not desire. I look at very many pdfs and have no use for another way to store them. Moreover, it seems they have removed their Hide functionality, and attempting to remove a pdf from the library results in removing it from my file system as well - a totally inappropriate step. Of course I can make a copy before opening in Books, but feel I shouldn't have to.

Can anyone recommend a simple, free pdf reader, with a bit of markup functionality for collaboration?

iMac 21.5″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 19, 2024 12:47 PM

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Answer 1

picas

Level 7

20,871 points

Feb 19, 2024 1:45 PM in response to jkr98116

You've never had the option of hiding your own pdfs – Apple Books yes, not pdfs. If you open a pdf with Books, yes it goes in your library, otherwise what's the point. Just use Preview, it opens in Preview with the Books app anyway.

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Answer 2

jkr98116 Author

Level 1

38 points

Feb 20, 2024 4:20 PM in response to picas

The point is to view, and to a limited degree mark up, a pdf. Like with Adobe Reader, but without the nagging. Books sometimes does this satisfactorily (e.g. you can strike and replace text once selected, while editing). Preview does not offer this feature - it is not the same in this respect.

Unfortunately, Books is not able to open many pdf documents. Attempting to open some with Books fails, but nonetheless puts the file in the Books library. Opening it from there opens Adobe Reader.

I don't need to store it in a library - I already have it organized in my file system.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

I would still like to find a simple pdf viewer (with some markup capability). I am surprised I have not been able to find any Open Source solution yet. Any recommendation would be welcome.

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Answer 3

picas

Level 7

20,871 points

Feb 20, 2024 5:27 PM in response to jkr98116

You need to change the set up so that pdfs don't open in the Books app. Control click on a pdf > Get info > Open with [application of your choice] > Change all.

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Answer 4

jkr98116 Author

Level 1

38 points

Feb 20, 2024 5:53 PM in response to picas

I know how to do that, thanks. My problem is that I am yet to be satisfied with any alternative to Adobe Reader.

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