Digimonkey Tips: Help! Adobe Reader is Trying to Open My Secure Adobe Files

Adobe Reader is a fantastic program. It allows people to view a PDF file on their computer so that it looks exactly the same as it would when viewed by someone across town or halfway around the world. That’s pretty cool! However, Adobe Reader is a 100% absolute failure at opening Secure Adobe and Secure Adobe Epub files, or anything other than Adobe Acrobat files for that matter. For Secure Adobe files, you need Adobe Digital Editions.

Digi receives cries for help on a regular basis when Adobe Reader attempts to open Secure Adobe files a customer has purchased, essentially blocking out Adobe Digital Editions. This leads to error messages and frustration, two things Digi likes to help people clear away. So, she’s put together a little instruction page that will show you how to stop Reader from being so “grabby” and tell your computer that for Secure files, you want Digital Editions!

The Error

You’ll know if Adobe Reader has jumped up and snagged the Secure file if, during the download process, Adobe Reader suddenly opens on its own and you see an error message that says something like “Adobe Reader cold not open ‘urllink.acsm’ because it is either not a supported file type or because the file has been damaged”, and the only option you have is to click “OK”.

 

The Solution

First, you’ll want to close Adobe Reader, because it needs to go sit in the corner and think about what it’s done. Second, you’ll need to go back to your All Romance/OmniLit Library, left click on the Secure Adobe or Secure Adobe Epub link, and choose “Save” instead of “Open” when prompted.  This will allow you to save the ACSM file to your computer.  Most PC computers automatically send all saved downloads to the “Downloads” folder in My Documents, and MAC sends it to the Downloads folder in the Finder.

Go to My Documents on your PC or Finder on your MAC and locate the actual file in the Downloads folder.  The name of the file is usually urllink.acsm or download.acsm. Now you’re ready to change the settings on your computer for this file type.

 

PC Instructions

Right click on the file name so that you see a menu of options, one of which is “Open With”.  If Adobe Digital Editions is listed as one of the options, you’re in luck!  Click on it and the file will open in Digital Editions.  You’re done!

 

If, however, Adobe Digital Editions is not listed, click on the “Choose Program” option.   This will open the “Open With” window that allows you to select from several options. If Adobe Digital Editions is listed under “Other Programs”, click on it and also check the box underneath that says “Always use the selected program to open this kind of file”, which will stop Adobe Reader from overriding Digital Editions to open ACSM files in the future. Click “OK” and the file will open in Digital Editions.

 

If Adobe Digital Editions is not listed under “Other Programs” either, then you’ll have to go hunt for it.  Click on the “Browse” button, which will open a new window.  Click on the “My Computer” icon in the left hand menu, and then click on the C: Drive icon.

 

Next you need to find a folder that says “Program Files”.  On some computers, especially Vista and Windows 7, you may see two folders, one that just says ‘Program Files’ and another that says ‘Program Files (x64)’ or something similar.  You may have to check out both to locate the next folder that you need.

 

Open the Program Files folder and locate an Adobe folder.

 

Open the Adobe folder and locate the Adobe Digital Editions folder.

 

Open the Adobe Digital Editions folder and locate the Digital Editions executable file, the one that ends in .exe.

 

Select it and click “OK”.

This will take you back to the “Open With” window and you will now see Adobe Digital Editions listed as the program chosen.  Check the box underneath that says “Always use the selected program to open this kind of file”, which will stop Adobe Reader from overriding Digital Editions to open ACSM files in the future. Click “OK” and the file will open in Digital Editions.

 

MAC Instructions

Control click on the file name so that you see a menu of options, one of which is “Open With”.  If Adobe Digital Editions is listed as one of the options, you’re in luck!  Click on it and the file will open in Digital Editions.  You’re done!

 

If, however, Adobe Digital Editions is not listed, click on the “Other” option.   This will open the “Choose Application” window that allows you to select from all the apps on your MAC.

 

Select Adobe Digital Editions and also check the box at the bottom that says “Always open with”, which will stop Adobe Reader from overriding Digital Editions to open ACSM files in the future. Click “Open” and the file will open in Digital Editions.

Filed Under: DigiMonkey eBook Tips

Tagged: adobe digital editions, adobe reader, DRM, eBook tips, ebooks