Sumatra 3.1 PDF reader update brings 64-bit builds
When it comes to reading PDF documents on machines running a flavor of Windows, users have plenty of options to choose from.
They can go down the traditional route and install a heavyweight application like Adobe Reader for example. While that ensures maximum compatibility and access to additional features that pure reading programs don't offer, it is heavy on the resource side of things and prone to security issues.
Most web browsers ship with PDF support and while that is great for quickly reading a PDF that is available on the Internet, it is usually better to use third-party programs instead as they offer better functionality and are more flexible when it comes to it.
Sumatra PDF has risen to fame as a lightweight resource-friendly PDF reader supporting that is highly effective when it comes to reading PDF documents and other document types it supports.
Sumatra PDF is not an editing tool, and if you are looking for that functionality, you better check out programs like Foxit Reader or Nitro PDF Reader if you don't want to use Adobe Reader.
Today's update, the first in over a year, introduces 64-bit builds of the PDF reader. These builds don't change the functionality of Sumatra but may be useful for PDF documents that are extremely large and resource consuming.
That's however not the only change introduced in Sumatra PDF 3.1. If you are printing regularly using the program, you may notice an uptick in printer memory usage while doing so. The main reason for this is that Sumatra will always print as image now (this was only a choice in previous versions). According to the author, it improves the reliability of the printout at the cost of extra memory.
The third, and last big change, is a new session restore option on start that will reload all opened documents of a multi-document sesson on startup. Sumatra users who don't want this to happen can disable it by editing the RestoreSession parameter in the Advanced options. All you need to do is set the preference to false in the settings.
There have been "many crash and other bug fixes" on top of that including one that fixes scrolling when touchpads are being used.
The most recent version of Sumatra PDF is provided as a 32-bit or 64-bit installer or portable program, the latter allowing you to run Sumatra from any location without installation.
Now You: Which PDF reader are you using?
unless an installer advises that the user should remove (btw, never delete) a previous version, normally you can simply over install and you will be good to go.
Thank you
To install latest version, delete old version first, or what?
Sumatra (portable version) for PDF’s that I want to save and for those that I don’t feel like waiting for Firefox to load. For those it depends on how many page there are, the amount of images, etc, otherwise, Firefox isn’t too bad for quick viewing.
Update (seconds ago):
I just set Firefox to use Sumatra PDF.
I didn’t think about it until I read some comments here and had an, oh ya, duh moment.
I don’t need to update to the new version of Sumatra, but I still got something out of this article, even though it was from other readers.
I love this place. Drinks are on me!!
I use Sumatra for a quick view of documents. When it comes to filling out forms or printing i use NitroPDF, especially when i need to print two pages (A4 reduced to A5) on one sheet. What (imho) is missing in this article is PDFsam (Split and merge) to combine severals PDFs into one document.
Kind regards
p3t3r
PDF-XChange Editor – paid – to get those extra editing features.
Until recently I use the paid version of PDF Xchange reader as it has many useful editing tools incl adding and deleting pages. Have to say though that Adobe renders PDFs more clearly and recently we had a problem when printing a PDF . Adobe rendered the colours correctly but PDF Xchange had some issues with certain colours.
Haven’t tried Sumatra – might give it a go
Sumatra is an open source PDF (and many other formats) viewer. There isn’t much in the way of open source PDF editors but recent versions of LibreOffice have been getting better at doing minor edits. InkScape also has some nice features, though it only opens one page at a time. Both tools have been highlighted here on Ghacks:
https://www.ghacks.net/2010/12/21/working-with-bezier-curves-and-nodes-in-inkscape/
https://www.ghacks.net/2015/08/05/libreoffice-5-0-is-available/
Homepages:
http://www.libreoffice.org
https://inkscape.org/en/
Since you mentioned LibreOffice, bear the following in mind: https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/LibreOffice_OOXML
I went to Major Geeks a couple weeks ago to get Foxit for a browser w/ no PDF built-in. & saw Sumatra. It was such a smaller download than Foxit, I went with it. Seems to work well & quickly.
+1 for PDF Xchange Viewer Free
Does anybody know a tool to compare pdf files? I found DiffPDF some time ago, but the developers discontinued the free version and it’s to expensive to buy for the few times I need it.
If you look around you can still find the open source freeware version like at:
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/diffpdf_portable
Thank you
Been using Sumatra 3.0(64-bit) for over a year that Javier Gutierrez had compiled (creator of file optimizer).
One small exe that doesn’t need to be installed. How can you go wrong? :)
Used it in my Windows-XP days,
(long gone). Ubuntu now.
Loved Sumatra!.
Light & quick…miss it…
Anything similar to Sumatra PDF reader
for Ubuntu Linux?
– Ubuntu Linux 12.04 (32-bit)
– Pale Moon 25.6.0 and FF 40
– Samsung Tablet Galaxy Tab3 / Android 4.2.2
Having used all those mentioned at one time or another, my current pdf viewer is PDF XChange Viewer Free also. Some may want to check out PDF Shaper — http://www.glorylogic.com/ as it has editing tools that user may find of value.
I use PDF-XChange Viewer free, for me is great.
I use “C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\AcroRd32.exe” with only free function because it meets all my requirements. It may be bloated, but for reading and printing it’s tops in function for me.
Same as Pete and Belga PDF-XChange Editor Free
My PDF reader and tool of choice has been Nitro Reader for many years since I found out what resource hog Adobe Reader was. Been I have been using Sumatra lately just for reading I like it, now being available in 64bit I will use it even more for my PDF reading. It’s nice to have a great tool that doesn’t try to gobble up all your resources just to even open.
Updated to the 64 bit build. Installed OK, but the plug-in in Firefox did not change. It still is a 2.5 version, and when I try to update the plugin, it says I have the current version. So Are they two separate issues?
Sumatra discontinued their browser plug-in long ago. They don’t uninstall it if you have it.
Same as Pete.
PDF-XChange Editor free.
SumatraPDF + Windowblinds? Object Desktop?
Hit your WindowBlinds 8 config and….
Note: needed to add an exception rule “ignore this application and do not skin” for “SumatraPDF.exe” in object desktop (for those of us stardock /windowblinds users the top right “min, max, close” buttons on the title bar is torn off and missing even though they function invisibly if you align/match them with a window underneath)
I know, you can laugh at me, but I hate the stock windows–always have.
After jumping these hoops – then yeah, a winner winner chicken dinner.
(almost dead myself–you too can have heart attack-keep eating wheat the way you do) with mostly all dead friends now, I can’t live without a pdf reader cause I use/reference electronics tech data(another unrespected dead wasted art)-all the while adobe has become unteniable over the past decade in my opinion, I must admit I already had a foxit reader plugin 2.2.5.107 lit but on standby mode. But of course I am just a paranoid delusional grumpy ol man.
OF course in this day an age any changes to your mozy browser should be preceded by a check with your lawyer, and a CLONED BACKUP of array of SATA DISK or DISKS–just in case you need to “roll back” AND of course if your going to be cutting with a chain saw grinder or a tree chipper for green cars, be sure to wear eye protection, and if your planning on testing the polarity reversability of your large filter capacitors or lipo batteries up close, be sure to wear HEARING protection too. Maybe breathing protection when drilling out those old PCB transformer juices, you know all the other standard stuff a FAN for the lead solder smoke, grounding straps for the electric chair, flight bag to pee for long term log file grepping, long wooden club for the baby seals etc. etc..
I feel you
quit bogarting it and pass it this way…
I think its some new kind of trollbot.
I have been using Nitro for quite a few years now. I like the fact that it has some basic editing tools and not just a reader.
I use Foxit :)
Thanks Martin for letting us know.
I am not using the edit and print function (only the read PDF documents function) on my PDF reader of choice being Nitro PDF reader 3.5.6.5, do you think thatch its better now to switch to Sumatra 3.1?
I have also a bit of topic question for you:
For years I am using Nitro PDF reader 3.5.6.5 (2013-08-01) do you know there is any change that there will a upgrade or is the project totally abandon?
Sumatra is my choice for CHM files