The following is from an Adobe Tech Note from september 1999 - NOTE - the tech note might have been updates since then. I have seen this happening also when downloading PDFs off the web. There is a small util on the installation CD that can - at least on a Mac - correct the fileinfo so it is possible to open it. The mac util is called 'PDF ' and is a drag-and-drop util onto which u ddrag the PDF u cannot open. It then becomes readable. If I remember correctly it was on the versio 3 fiull Acrobat isntallation CD but it worls perfectly also on newer PDF-files.

U can also look at the top issues for Acrobat here:
http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/topissuesac.htm

This is the tech note (http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/9c16.htm):

Error "...File does not begin with '%PDF-'" When Opening PDF File Sent Via E-Mail

Issue

When you try to open a PDF file sent or received via an e-mail application or America Online (AOL), Adobe Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Exchange returns the error, "There was an error opening this document. File does not begin with '%PDF-'." The PDF file has a .mim extension rather than a .pdf extension.

Solutions

Do either of the following:

Solution 1

If you received the PDF via e-mail, ask the sender to check with the Internet Service Provider (ISP) for recommendations on the best way to send PDF files. For example, the ISP may suggest a specific encoding format.

Solution 2

If you've received the file via AOL, do one of the following:

DISCLAIMER: Adobe Systems does not support AOL's software or files sent or received using AOL. If this does not solve your problem, refer to your AOL software documentation or contact AOL.

- Ask the sender to resend the PDF file with MIME encoding. AOL's software will automatically decode the MIME file and place the decoded .pdf in the same folder containing the encoded version.

- Decode the PDF file using WinCode for Windows:

1. Download WinCode, which is available free from AOL's File Archive or from ZDNet's Web site here.

2. Start WinCode.

3. Choose File > Decode.

4. Select the PDF file with the .mim extension. WinCode will decode the file, give it a .pdf extension, and place it in the same folder in which the encoded version was stored.

- Decode the file using Decoder for Mac OS:

1. Download Decoder, which is available free from AOL's File Archive or from
http://www.concentric.net/~Columbin/.

2. Double-click the self-extracting Decoder file to decompress it.

3. Drag and drop the PDF file with the .mim extension onto the Decoder application file. Decoder will decode the file, give it a .pdf extensions, and place it in the same folder in which the encoded version was stored.

4. If the file does not appear with the red Acrobat PDF icon, choose File > Open in Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Exchange, select Show All File Types, then select the file and click Open. Or, before trying to open the file in Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Exchange, drag and drop the .pdf file onto the PDF File Type Utility, which is located on the Acrobat Reader CD in the Utilities:Mac:PDF folder. You can also download the utility from Adobe's Web site here.

Additional Information

E-mail applications may strip the header information from PDF files, or they may automatically encode them before sending them. When PDF files are missing header information or are encoded, Acrobat Reader and Acrobat Exchange won't be able to open them.

AOL's software automatically encodes attachments in Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) format if they're not already encoded that way. AOL's software may then be unable to decode the file from MIME format to binary (i.e., normal computer) format. If a PDF file is encoded in MIME format and is not decoded back into binary format, Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Exchange will return an error when you try to open it.

To avoid this problem when you're sending a PDF file via AOL, encode the PDF file in MIME format before you send it. Don't encode the file in BinHex format -- AOL can't decode BinHex files. For instructions, refer to your e-mail application's documentation.Error "...File does not begin with '%PDF-'" When Opening PDF File Sent Via E-Mail

Can't Open File Sent as E-mail Attachment

Issue

You cannot open a file (e.g., PDF file) you received as an e-mail attachment.

Detail

One or more of the following errors occurs when you open the file:

- "There was an error opening this document. File does not begin with '%PDF-'."

- "Click the program you want to use to open the file '[filename]'."

- "The document '[filename]' could not be opened, because the application program that created it could not be found. Could not find a translation extension with appropriate translators."

- "Error in zip use PKZipFix."

- "Cannot open file; it does not appear to be a valid archive."

- "System Error -36."

Solutions

Do one or more of the following:

DISCLAIMER: These procedures are not supported by Adobe Systems Incorporated and are only provided as guidelines. If you need assistance with your e-mail application, please consult your e-mail application's documentation or manufacturer.DISCLAIMER: These procedures are not supported by Adobe Systems Incorporated and are only provided as guidelines. If you need assistance with your e-mail application, please consult your e-mail application's documentation or manufacturer.

Solution 1

Make sure you're opening the file in an application that supports its format (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader for PDF files, StuffIt Expander for .sit files, Pkunzip for .zip files). If you don't know which application to use, askthe file's sender.

Solution 2

Remove and then reinstall the application you're using to open the file.

Solution 3

Ask the sender to send the file again using an encoding format your e-mail application can accept (e.g., BinHex, UUEncode, MIME). To determine which encoding formats your e-mail application accepts, consult your e-mail application's documentation or manufacturer.

Solution 4

Ask the sender to resend the file using an upgraded version of the e-mail application. Or upgrade your own e-mail application, and ask the sender to resend the file.

Solution 5

Ask the sender to use another method to transfer the file, such as saving the file on a network server or mailing it on a floppy disk.

Solution 6

If the body of the e-mail message contains an error message indicating that the file was damaged during transit, contact your e-mail administrator or consult your e-mail application's documentation.

Solution 7

If your e-mail application or server limits the allowable file size for attachments, ask your e-mail administrator to raise the file size limitation to accommodate the file, or ask the sender to send a smaller file.

Additional Information

To open a file you received as an e-mail attachment, you must open it in an application that can recognize that file type. If that application is damaged, it may be unable to open the file. You also may be unable to open a file you received via e-mail if the sender's e-mail application or your e-mail application is damaged, can't accept the file type (e.g., if it's an older version), or can't accept the file's size.

--
nini :-)
tel: +46 8 442 12 00, fax: +46 8 442 12 99
mobile: +46 8 (0)708 904 702
mailto: nini.tjader@heliogruppen.se
http://www.heliogruppen.se


On tisdag 27 februari 2001 23.10, Bine, Katharyn <KBine@icfconsulting.com> wrote:
>Hi there!
>
>I have created a CD with an autorun file. My client inserted this CD into
>his CD-ROM drive and it displayed the error, "file does not have %pdf
>extension." Any ideas what this error message means? The closest error I
>could find was "File does not begin with %PDF."
>
>Many thanks!
>
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