Frequently Asked Questions - Technical

How can I download files and information from the website?
Most of our files and information are available in PDF format. Many computers are set up to handle PDF files automatically. If you need assistance, read the questions below.

How do I use PDF files on my computer?
To read PDF files, your computer needs to have the appropriate software installed. The usual software for handling PDF files is Adobe Reader (sometimes also known as Acrobat Reader) which is distributed free of charge by Adobe. If you do not have Adobe Reader software, click on the logo on the right to download a copy from the Adobe web site.

Why does it take a long time to view a PDF map?
Many of our maps contain a lot of detail, and so are very large files. With large files, there may be a considerable delay while the file is downloaded to your computer before anything appears. Sometimes the file does not display at all - see the next question for help with this.

Why does a PDF map appear in a new window?
Large PDF files often do not appear successfully within a Web browser. Therefore, we have set up our website so that PDF files are opened in a new window, which is much more reliable. Alternatively, you can download a file and then open it:

right click on the PDF icon for the map you wish to view
select Save Target As ... (Internet Explorer) or Save Link As (Firefox or Netscape) or Download Link to Disk (Macintosh users) from the drop-down menu
choose a convenient location to save the file locally
click save and wait for the file to fully download
navigate to the saved file, and open it.

I am using Adobe Reader version 8. I have tried to download maps using the method above without success. Can you help?
Users of Adobe Reader 8 who are experiencing difficulty in viewing maps may wish to try the following:

Open Adobe Reader
Select the Edit menu
Select Preferences
Under Categories on the left hand side, select Internet
Uncheck the 3 boxes
- "Display PDF in Browser"
- "Allow fast Webview"
- "Allow speculative downloading in the background"
Select the relevant connection speed for your machine
Click OK - you will then be asked to reboot your machine