Foxit Reader
Foxit Reader for Linux makes it easy to view, print, and annotate PDF documents.
Foxit Reader is a small, high-speed, feature-rich, free PDF reader that allows you to view, sign, form fill, and annotate PDF documents. It integrates with popular ECMs and online cloud storage.
How to Install Foxit Reader:
1. Goto https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-reader/ and click on Free Foxit Reader Download. A small
pop-up dialog box will
appear to allow you to select your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux (32-bit), or Linux (64-bit).
Click the Free Download button to start the download.
1. Goto https://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf-reader/ and click on Free Foxit Reader Download. A small
pop-up dialog box will
appear to allow you to select your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux (32-bit), or Linux (64-bit).
Click the Free Download button to start the download.
2. Look in your Downloads folder and locate the FoxitReader.enu.setup.2.4.4.0911.x64.run.tar.gz file.
Right-click the file and select the Extract Here command. This will extract the
FoxitReader.enu.setup.2.4.4.0911(r057d814).x64.run file from the compressed file.
Right-click the file and select the Extract Here command. This will extract the
FoxitReader.enu.setup.2.4.4.0911(r057d814).x64.run file from the compressed file.
3. You should now see a file called FoxitReader.enu.setup.2.4.4.0911(r057d814).x64.run in your
Downloads folder.
Right-Click in a blank area and select Open in Terminal to open up your Terminal into the active
Downloads folder.
You can also open your Terminal and enter cd Downloads to make the Downloads folder the active
folder.
Downloads folder.
Right-Click in a blank area and select Open in Terminal to open up your Terminal into the active
Downloads folder.
You can also open your Terminal and enter cd Downloads to make the Downloads folder the active
folder.
4. When the Terminal opens, enter the following command to make the file executable:
chmod 755 'FoxitReader.enu.setup.2.4.4.0911(r057d814).x64.run'
chmod 755 'FoxitReader.enu.setup.2.4.4.0911(r057d814).x64.run'
5. Next, enter the following command to start the installation process:
sudo ./FoxitReader.enu.setup.*.run
Enter your password and press Enter or Return key.
sudo ./FoxitReader.enu.setup.*.run
Enter your password and press Enter or Return key.
6. You will eventually see a Foxit Reader Setup dialog box. I recommend that you change the installation
folder from /home/ to /opt/ so that everyone that logs into your computer will have access to the program.
You can manually change the folder or click the Browser... button and locate and click on the opt folder.
Click the Next button to continue the installation.
folder from /home/ to /opt/ so that everyone that logs into your computer will have access to the program.
You can manually change the folder or click the Browser... button and locate and click on the opt folder.
Click the Next button to continue the installation.
7. Click the radio button next to I accept the license and click the Next button.
8. You may have to enter your password to continue the installation process. Press the OK button to continue.
9. You will see a status bar grow as the program installs.
10. When the program finishes the installation process, it will inform you the location of the program so that
you will know where to locate the uninstall command in case you want to remove it from your system.
you will know where to locate the uninstall command in case you want to remove it from your system.
You should now find Foxit Reader in your Office menu.
The first time you run the program you will be prompted to make it your default PDF viewer. Click OK will make it your default PDF viewer and clicking Cancel will not make it the default program. You can uncheck the box to prevent this message from popping up in the future.
Here's what the program looks like the first time you open it. I will say that Foxit Reader has trouble with a dark theme, so I temporary changed my theme to a light one.
Here's a quick view through the nine menus: File, Edit, View, Tools, Comments, Protect, Connect, Foxit Drive, and Help.
Below is an example of a 5th Grade Science Vocabulary & Definitions I created for my 5th grade students. You can see a thumbnail in the sidebar on the left. You can right-click on the thumbnail and increase or decrease it in size. You have four options to select from in the sidebar:
- Bookmarks - Add, remove, and manage bookmarks
- Thumbnails - View page thumbnails
- Attachments - Manage files attached to documents
- Comments - View document comments
You can highlight text in your PDF file by clicking on the Highlight button in the upper right corner of the program.
Then select the text you want to highlight.
You can search for a word or phrase within a PDF file by entering it in the search box in the upper right corner and press the Enter key. You can advance through the document by clicking on the right arrow and you can go back by clicking the back arrow.
Commands in the Comments Menu
Highlight Text - To mark important passages of text Squiggly Underline - To draw a squiggly line under Underline Text - To draw a line under to indicate emphasis Strikeout Text - To draw a line to cross out text Replace Text - To draw a line to cross out text and provide a substitute for it Insert Text - A proofreading symbol (^) used to indicate where something is to be inserted in a line. AreaHighlight - To highlight a specified area, such as a certain text range, an image and blank space. Typewriter - A command that allows you to add text to a PDF Textbox - Creates a rectangular area on the screen where you can enter text Callout - Add a text comment in a text box that contains an arrow Note - Creates a comment bubble that allows you to add a note Rectangle - Creates a rectangle shape in your PDF file Arrow - Creates an arrow in your PDF file. Line - Allow you to draw a line in your PDF file Oval - Allow you to draw an oval in your PDF file Polyline - Is used to create any shape that consists of only straight lines Polygon - Creates a plane figure with at least three straight sides and angles Cloud - Creates a cloud shape area in your PDF file Pencil - Allow you to markup or freehand write in the PDF file Eraser - Allow you to erase the freehand writing from the pencil Show All Comments - To show comments in the PDF document Hide All Comments - To hide comments in the PDF document Open All Popup - To open all the comment popup notes in the PDF document. Close All Popup - To close all the comment popup notes in the PDF document. |
Below is an example of using the commands in the Comments Menu.
How to Uninstall Foxit Reader:
1. Go to the directory or folder where your Foxit Reader installed.
(Example, mine installed in /opt/foxitsoftware/foxitreader)
2. Locate a file called Uninstaller and double-click it to start the removal process.
1. Go to the directory or folder where your Foxit Reader installed.
(Example, mine installed in /opt/foxitsoftware/foxitreader)
2. Locate a file called Uninstaller and double-click it to start the removal process.
2. Click the Uninstall button when the Maintain Foxit Reader dialog box appears. This will remove the
program files and folders from your Linux system.
program files and folders from your Linux system.
Foxit Reader has some nice features, which makes it a decent PDF viewer for Linux users. However, it does have several cons that may prevent you from installing it. Foxit Reader doesn't work well with dark themes and it is no longer being developed for Linux users, so version 2.4.4.0911 is the last one. Over time this could possibly create potential vulnerabilities and exploits for the program. I also noticed that Foxit Reader remains in memory after the program has been exited or closed. As you can see in my image below, Foxit Reader still resides in memory after it is closed and it uses 142 MB of memory. This uses up too much resources, especially for older systems. I can use Stacer to remove it from memory by clicking on the program and clicking on the End Process button.
On October 20th, 2020, Lisa_lee (Super Moderator) from the Foxit Software Forums said, "we have also submitted the situation you mentioned to our product management team and suggest our Dev team develop a brand-new version of Foxit Reader for Linux to be a substitute version of current one."
So there's hope that one day we will see a newer version of Foxit Reader for Linux. The developers need to know that there's enough Linux users interested in a newer version.
In the meantime, you can install Xournal that will allow you to annotate pages within your PDF File. Atril PDF Viewer and Okular PDF Viewer are great PDF viewers for Linux users.
In the meantime, you can install Xournal that will allow you to annotate pages within your PDF File. Atril PDF Viewer and Okular PDF Viewer are great PDF viewers for Linux users.