gPDF – Open PDF Links Directly In Google Docs Viewer
gPDF is a handy tool to view PDF files online. It scans webpages for PDF links and sets them to open with Google Docs Viewer. You don’t need any desktop based PDF viewer (like : Adobe Reader) to open a PDF link. gPDF changes the destination URL for PDF link and sets it to open with GDocs Viewer!
Benefits of Google Docs Viewer:
- Safe. You don’t need to use potentially vulnerable tools to open PDF files.
- Fast! No more wait to download PDF files. GDocs Viewer processes pdf files with super speed. It feels like visiting another webpage.
- Best for slow connections.
How To Use gPDF To Open PDF Links Online?
- Install gPDF to your browser.
- Visit any webpage with a PDF link.
- Click the PDF link – and the magic begins!
Install gPDF
Firefox users can install the gPDF add-on from here.
Chrome users can install gPDF extension from the new Chrome extension gallery.
To Install gPDF as a greasemonkey script (userscript) follow this link. (Direct link to .user.js file)
Opera users can use gPDF as a greasemonkey script. Opera supports GM scripts! See details here.
How To Download PDF files for offline use
A lot of users want to save pdf files to their computers for offline use. You can download files using download link @ Google Docs. (see the screenshot below)
Google Search Trick To Search Only PDF Files
You can use search operator filetype: to search files of specific extensions. To search .pdf files use filetype:pdf with your keyword.
Suggested Links
Disclaimer
gPDF is released under GPL without any guarantee.
Changelog
- 26 January 2010 – v 2.1 For Chrome / v 1.2 for Firefox, Greasemonkey : Fixed minor bugs.
- 9 December 2009 – v1.3: Fixed problems while downloading. Thanks Eugene.
- 23 October 2009 – v 1.1 : Fixed problems (double prefix) with links already pointing to Google Docs Viewer. Thanks Łukasz Polowczyk for reporting the issue.
Luigi Said,
This is a very handy plugin… thanks for having created it!!
However, in my humble opinion, it would have been perfect if you could choose, every time you click on a link, if you want to open it with Google Viewer or not. A solution could be to make something similar to the “Open IT Online” plugin ( https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6350 , see the first image).
Otherwise, another very straightforward solution could be to add a right-click menu entry like “Open with Google Viewer” when you click on a pdf link.
Thanks again… bye!
Scots Said,
I would use it for chrome.
10th543 (10th543) Said,
グリモン版もあった “gPDF Add-on For Firefox, Chrome And Opera – Opens PDF Links Online Directly In Google Docs View…”
Satish Said,
Good work for google chrome.
you can run greasemonkey scripts in safari as well, and this userscript will work there too.
5 Google Chrome Extension For Google Services Said,
[...] This extension allows the user to open pdf documents directly in Google Docs. There are two advantages of this method. First, no pdf reader needs to be installed on the computer system to read pdf documents and second, it will reduce the chance that the document exploits security vulnerabilities in the installed desktop pdf reader. [link] [...]
Las mejores extensiones para Google Chrome | Geek.pe hardware,tecnologia y demas Said,
[...] que el desarrollador agrege una opción para personalizar el color de la fuente gPDF [click para instalar] Otra característica de Chrome SO es que el navegador interceptar [...]
5 estensioni Chrome per sfruttare al massimo i servizi Google - Geekissimo Said,
[...] gPDF – Questo plugin permette di aprire un file PDF direttamente in Google Docs. Molto utile per tutti coloro che utilizzano la piattaforma per documenti di Google. [...]
Top 10 Best Google Chrome Extensions Said,
[...] 10. gPDF [...]
gautambhatt (Gautam Bhatt) Said,
just got gPdf extension working with chrome, wondering if its better than foxit (which is awesome). Get gpdf from here
Kocaeli Online Webmaster Bloğu » Google Chrome Eklentileri Said,
[...] eklentisi internetteki pdf dosyalarını google docs’ta otomatik açmanızı sağlar indir 0 kişi bu yazıyı [...]
I cinque Addon più famosi di Chrome | HGEInformatica Said,
[...] GPDF- Questa estensione permette all’utente di aprire i documenti PDF direttamente in Google Docs. Utilizzando questo addon non avrete bisogno di software per la lettura di Pdf. [...]
Marsmensch (Florian Maier) Said,
gPDF – Open PDF Links Directly In Google Docs Viewer
ericfruits (Eric Fruits, Ph.D.) Said,
Cool tool: Use Google Docs to read pdfs in your browser without downloading the pdf.
adj1984 (Adam Jones) Said,
Want to view PDF files faster? Try this handy little plugin.
tonytargonski (Tony Targonski) Said,
@snrrrub this might make you hate yourself a little bit less.
mage2k (Erik Jones) Said,
thank you thank you thank you.
overtfascist (Tyler Ritchie) Said,
Open PDF links directly in google docs viewer.
appsiuse (Apps iUse.com) Said,
Read PDF’s on FireFox using gPDF. It opens your PDF files in Google Docs.
artjulian (Arthur Stobbelaar) Said,
RT @appsiuse: Read PDF’s on FireFox using gPDF. It opens your PDF files in Google Docs
nathanbyrne (Nathan Byrne) Said,
RT @adj1984: Want to view PDF files faster? Try this handy little plugin
nickewing (Nicholas E. Ewing) Said,
This is something I have been wanting for a long time now.
aaront (Aaron T.) Said,
Wow, gPDF is definitely awesome
Eugene K. Said,
“Unfortunately, it does not work in Google Chrome . In Chrome, use “Print” button to save file locally. (Thanks Eugene!)”
Actually, I was a little imprecise — I doesn’t work for me using the Chromium daily build on Ubuntu, but I haven’t tested it on another OS or with Chrome.
Still, a very welcome plugin. Thanks!
gPDF – freeware opens PDF links directly in the Google docs browser window - The Red Ferret Journal Said,
[...] This makes PDF doc access a lot faster than normal, which is a good thing. If you’re fed up with hanging around waiting for PDF files to load when you’re surfing, this is your tool [...]
NickTT Said,
very useful. great job. I hope developers like you will rock Google Chrome. Thanks.
Andrew Said,
Great tool for me. liked chrome extension. <3
Best Google Chrome Extensions | Chrome Extension Gallery Said,
[...] Open PDF in Google Docs Viewer Extension – Allows you to open PDF links in Google Docs Viewer. [...]
RazorIT (Richard Kersey) Said,
RT @ericfruits: Cool tool: Use Google Docs to read pdfs in your browser without downloading the pdf
PDF Links direkt im Google Docs Viewer öffnen - Webdomination Said,
[...] man dieses Problem umgehen, dann bietet gPDF eine einfache aber sehr intuitive Lösung. Die für Chrome und Firefox erhältliche [...]
Solutions - Reading PDFs Without Downloading ~ Revelations From An Unwashed Brain Said,
[...] gPDF is available as a Firefox addon, as Chrome extension, and as a Greasemonkey script for both Firefox and Opera. [...]
Alfonso R. Reyes Said,
Great plugin.
Worked perfect in Chromium under Ubuntu Jaunty (9.04).
Thank you very much!
longzero (Long Nguyễn) Said,
I hate opening a PDF in a browser. The solution is gPDF which lets you open many documents Google Docs Viewer. [link to post] — said on twitter