Foxit Reader 2.2 for Windows
Overview
Foxit Reader is a free PDF document viewer and printer, with incredible small size (only 2.1 M download size), breezing-fast launch speed and rich feature set. Foxit Reader supports Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista. Its core function is compatible with PDF Standard 1.7.
In the past, you’ve had to download a huge PDF reader from another software company, go through a lengthy installation process and wait for an annoying splash window to disappear just to open a PDF document. Moreover, if you want to annotate a PDF document, you have to pay US$299 to buy certain software.
Now with Foxit Reader, you don’t have to endure such pain any more. The following is a list of compelling advantages of Foxit Reader:
- Incredibly small: The download size of Foxit Reader is only 2.1 M which is a fraction of Acrobat Reader 20 M size.
- Breezing-fast: When you run Foxit Reader, it launches instantly without any delay. You are not forced to view an annoying splash window displaying company logo, author names, etc.
- Annotation tool: Have you ever wished to annotate (or comment on) a PDF document when you are reading it? Foxit Reader allows you to draw graphics, highlight text, type text and make notes on a PDF document and then print out or save the annotated document.
- Text converter: You may convert the whole PDF document into a simple text file.
- High security and privacy: Foxit Reader highly respects the security and privacy of users and will never connect to the Internet without users’ permission. While other PDF readers often silently connect to the Internet in the background. Foxit PDF Reader does not contain any spyware.
What’s new in Version 2.2?
The following is a list of exciting improvements introduced in Foxit Reader 2.2.
New features:
- Capture words via mouse: If you are using dictionary software, you may want to use your mouse to capture words inside a PDF file and have it translated. You can turn on this feature by checking “Screen word-capturing” option under “Edit”>”Preference”>”General”.
- Search PDF in another way: Now you can search a string either in a single PDF file or in multiple PDF files under a specified folder. When the search finishes, all occurrences will be listed in a tree view, allowing you to quickly preview the contexts and jump to specific locations.
- Minimize Foxit Reader to the system tray: You now can save space on your task bar by minimizing Foxit Reader to the system tray. This feature can be turned on by checking the “Minimize to system tray” option under “Edit”>”Preference”>”General”.
- Work with friendly bookmarks: Now when you navigate through the PDF document, the highlighted bookmark item will automatically be kept in sync with the current page being displayed. And you can click on a handle to hide or show the bookmark panel.
- Remove all evaluation marks at once: For trial users, Foxit Reader will stamp evaluation marks on edited pages. After they purchase and install licenses, they can choose “Help”>”Remove Evaluation Marks” to remove all the evaluation marks on this file at once.
- View PDF page size: Now the actual size of each PDF page is displayed on the status bar.
- Select text easily: Now, when you click and drag your mouse to select some text, you can keep moving your mouse and Foxit Reader will scroll automatically. This will allow you to select text out of current view. Version 2.2 also fixes some bugs of the text selection tool in the previous version.
- Enjoy other improved features: You will enjoy many other improved features, including:
- Well-organized toolbars
- Better command line support
- Enhanced support for eastern Asian languages
- Many bug fixes
- Many bug fixes
Interface
Foxit Reader is a multi-window and self-explanative software, the main work area is divided into view areas including Document pane and Bookmark pane, and functional areas including Menu bar, Toolbar pane and Status bar. The Bookmark pane and the Toolbar pane can be easily hidden or shown by the shortcut keys “ALT+1″ and “F8″ respectively.
The Menu bar and the Toolbar is at the top of the view areas; The Menu bar gives you the full access to all features of the Foxit Reader, and the Toolbar provides access to the frequently- used commands and facilitates your work with the document.
The Bookmark pane helps you browse through current PDF document and/or jump to an extended page.
The Status bar is at the bottom of the view areas. You can use the navigation controls to quickly navigate through the document, and use the page layout icon change the view mode.
Version Comparison
| Features | Foxit Reader Version | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version 2.2 | Version 2.1 | Version 2.0 | |
| GENERAL | |||
| Slim-sized and starts up instantly | • | • | • |
| UI translated into more than 20 languages | • | • | • |
| Better permission control | • | • | |
| Less memory consumption | • | • | • |
| High-security | • | • | • |
| VIEWING | |||
| Bookmark | • | • | • |
| Zoom out/in | • | • | • |
| Zoom tools | • | • | |
| Loupe tool | • | • | |
| Toolbar setting (basic/full mode) | • | ||
| Capture words via mouse | • | ||
| Page rotating | • | • | • |
| Page layout setting | • | • | • |
| Full screen mode | • | • | • |
| Reserve view | • | • | • |
| Text viewer | • | • | • |
| Minimize to the system tray | • | ||
| View PDF page size | • | ||
| Reading history feature | • | • | |
| E-mail the PDF | • | • | |
| Built-in JavaScript Engine | • | • | |
| EDITING | |||
| Select text | • | • | • |
| Copy text | • | • | • |
| Snapshot | • | • | • |
| Find text | • | • | • |
| Advanced search | • | ||
| Adding annotations | • | • | • |
| Typewriter | • | • | • |
| Drawing markup | • | • | • |
| Measure tools | • | • | |
| Interactive Form Filler | • | • | • |
| Spell checker | • | • | |
| Convert to PDF | • | • | • |
| Modify PDF contents | • | • | • |
| Remove all evaluation marks at once | • | ||
| PRINTING | |||
| On-screen print review | • | • | • |
| Print documents only | • | • | • |
| Print documents and annotations | • | • | • |
| Print annotations only | • | • | |
| ADVANCED FEATURES | |||
| Link tool | • | • | |
| Form designer | • | • | |
| File attachment | • | • | |
| Image tool | • | • | |
| Import & Export comments data | • | • | • |
| Import & Export form data | • | • | • |
| JavaScript support | • | • | • |
Add-ons
To give you a fast and full overview of add-ons in Foxit Reader, here we list all add-ons and their function description.
NOTE: To manually install a critical add-on, please extract it to the same directory where you install Foxit Reader.
| Name | Function Description | Size | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| UI Language Package | The user interface of Foxit Reader now can be switched to over 30 languages dynamically such as French, German, Dutch, Italian, etc. You’re able to choose your own language for UI by using ” Language” feature in Foxit Reader. | 309KB | Download Free |
| JPEG2000/JBIG Decoder | This add-on module is for decoding images in JPEG2000 or JBIG2 formats. If you don’t install this module, images in those formats can not be displayed. | 193KB | Download Free |
| Eastern Asian Language Support | This module is used for displaying Eastern Asian Language in a PDF file. Eastern Asian Language can’t be displayed properly without it. | 1.25MB | Download Free |
| GDI+ Module | This module is a redistributable one from Microsoft providing better display quality for graphics. You can still view the PDF file without this module, however in lower graphic quality. Installing this module will not affect any other applications on your system. | 906KB | Download Free |
| JavaScript Support | This add-on is used to execute JavaScript in many interactive forms. If you don’t install this add-on, although you still can fill in such forms, you wouldn’t be able to perform some automated tasks like field value verification and recalculation. | 1.28MB | Download Free |
| Name | Function Description | Size | Remark | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Foxit Reader
|
Annotation Tool | This module includes typewriter tool, note tool, text marking tools, and graphic marking tools. Evaluation marks will be added to your annotated pages without Pro Pack. Once you purchase Foxit Reader Pro Pack, you’ll get rid of these evaluation marks. | How to InstallPrice |
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| Text Viewer & Text Converter | Text viewer: View the whole text contents from a PDF file in Foxit Reader, and right click on the feature to use the option” Copy” to copy those texts. Text converter: Convert a whole PDF document into a simple text file by using the button” Save as” in the”File” menu. You can use the feature after purchasing Pro Pack add-on. |
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| Form Filler | Basic PDF form operations i.e. filling out PDF forms and printing them out. Advanced PDF form operations, such as saving filled-out forms and import/export forms. |
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| Spell Checker | When you fill out an English form or use typewriter to insert any English text, this tool will try to find any spelling errors and highlight them with squiggly lines. If you right click on the misspelled words, you will see a list of suggested words. This feature is available only to users who purchase Pro Pack and requires downloading of an extra add-on, which is the lexical dictionary. Click here to download the dictionary… | |||
| Advanced Editing Tools | It includes measure tools, loupe tool, image tool, file attachment tool, link tools, and annotation selection tool below the “Tool” menu of Foxit Reader. It’s a part of Foxit Reader Pro Pack. You may evaluate those features before buying it; however evaluation marks will be added to the top-right corner of the modified pages. If you purchase a license of Pro Pack add-on, you will be able to get rid of evaluation marks. | |||
Foxit Form Designer |
Form Designer | It enables you to add push buttons, text fields, check boxes, list boxes or radio buttons to an interactive PDF form and specify their properties. You still can use those features under evaluation mode. But evaluation marks will be added to the top-right corner of the saved pages. If you purchase the license of Foxit Form Designer, you will be able to get rid of the evaluation mark. | How to InstallPrice |
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| All Features of Pro Pack | These features cover annotation tool, text viewer and text converter, form filler, and spell check. Please check those functions above. | |||
Foxit PDF Editor |
This add-on installs an evaluation version of Foxit PDF Editor, which is used to edit page contents of PDF files, including text information, graphics (shapes and lines), and images. If you have already installed Foxit PDF Editor, please don’t install this add-on, in this case you should start Foxit PDF Editor directly to change page content. | 1.89MB | Evaluation Price |
|
Foxit PDF Creator |
This add-on installs a virtual printer onto your system. You can use this printer to convert any printable documents to PDF files (just open the necessary application, then print to Foxit PDF Printer). If you don’t install this add-on, you won’t be able to use the “Convert PDF” feature in Foxit Reader. Without purchasing this add-on, evaluation marks will be added to your created pages. | 497KB | Evaluation Price |
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Foxit Toolbar for browser |
This add-on is a free toolbar for IE or Firefox that delivers up-to-date Foxit news and upgrades straight to your Internet browser, enabling the user to search the web anytime anywhere, giving easy access to various useful goodies and gadgets. | 1.23MB | Download Free |
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How to install Foxit Reader Pro Pack?
NOTE: To install Foxit Reader Pro Pack, you don’t need to download an independent package for Pro Pack because it has been built in both Foxit Reader for U3 and Foxit Reader for Windows. All you need to do is to install either the desktop version or the U3 version of Foxit Reader immediately and then start trying the features provided by Pro Pack for evaluation purpose.
How to install the dictionary for Foxit Spell Checker?
NOTE: After you download the dictionary and unzip it, please save the unzipped folder named lex to the same installation folder of Foxit Reader like C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader. This feature is available when you have a license of Pro Pack add-on.
How to install Foxit Form Designer?
NOTE: To install Foxit Form Designer, you don’t need to download an independent package because it has been built in Foxit Reader for Windows. If you have downloaded Foxit Reader, you will see the form designer features listed under the “Advanced Editing Tools” of the “Tools” menu.
