Problem with Adobe Reader update: Unable to find the HTML rendering library

[Adam Kunicki]

I ran the Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader showed information about the updates related to security ("security settings update"). The icon showed "Adobe Tracker Alert" on the taskbar. I clicked the icon. Adobe Reader showed the message "Unable to find the HTML rendering library. Please specify the folder location in Edit -> Preferences -> Internet.". What should I do?

Source package: AdbeRdr9.4-1_i386linux_enu.deb.
System: Linux Ubuntu 10.10.

[daqron (daqron)]

Same problem here. No apparent way to disable the tracker or the annoying yellow icon in the GNOME panel.

If you right-click on the icon, there are two options: "Open Tracker" and "Open Preferences". "Open Tracker" displays the error message 4 times. "Open Preferences" allows you (in theory) to fix the problem in Preferences > Internet. I double-checked that xulrunner folder set in the preferences is correct (/usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.2.15) and that it contains the file libxul.so. However, the error and tracker alert persisted. I have removed Acrobat Reader for now as this is extremely annoying and happens every time I open a PDF file.

[Philip Muškovac (yofel)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this issue and helping to make Ubuntu better. Examining the information you have given us, this does not appear to be a bug report so we are closing it and converting it to a question in the support tracker. We appreciate the difficulties you are facing, but it would make more sense to raise problems you are having in the support tracker at https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu if you are uncertain if they are bugs. For help on reporting bugs, see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs#When%20not%20to%20file%20a%20bug. There is also a vibrant support community available at http://askubuntu.com and you might consider asking your question there.

[Eric Anderson (kluwak)]

I'm re-opening this -- it sure seems like a bug to me.

[Tim Casey (tjcasey)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better. However, according to this report, you are not using the most recent version of this package for your Ubuntu release.

Please upgrade to the most recent version and let us know if you are still having this issue. Thanks in advance.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for Ubuntu because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[kapetr (kapetr)]

In Ubuntu 12.04 the problem persist.
Closing the Bug report will not solve it, I thing.

[kapetr (kapetr)]

The HTML rendering error appears now when opening e.g.: Document->Security setting

[shankao (shankao)]

Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and trying to help make Ubuntu better. However, it seems that you are not using a software package provided by the official Ubuntu repositories. Because of this the Ubuntu project can not support or fix your particular bug. Please report this bug to the provider of the software package. Thanks!

If you are interested in learning more about software repositories and Ubuntu the following pages should be informative:

1. http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/components - information about Ubuntu repositories
2. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories - information regarding managing repositories

[kapetr (kapetr)]

I do use acroread from official repo. Not from PPA or so.

acroread 9.4.7-1oneiric1 from precise/main (archive.canonical.com)

Why do you think so ?

[shankao (shankao)]

It looks like a bug. The question in the description comes to ask "how to solve it"

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[shankao (shankao)]

@kapetr: sorry, havent's seen that you are running precide. The package is not present in the next Ubuntu releases.

Assigning to the correct package

[Gianfranco Costamagna (costamagnagianfranco)]

Hi, a new acroread release (0.9.4) is available for update, could you give it a try and tell us if the problem persists?
If you still have this bug please set back the status to "new"
thanks

[kapetr (kapetr)]

YES - it persist:
U12.04 + acroread 9.5.4 01/09/2013

To reproduce:
-run acroread
- open menu: Document->security settings

... and the error pop-up box about unable to find HTML rendering library
... and the same popup on every click in security setting window.

And YES - the requested library is set in config and is there:
Edit->Preferences->Internet: /usr/lib/firefox/
And libxul.so is there.

[Adam Kunicki (adkunicki)]

Hi,

thank you for this information. Lately I don't use the system „Ubuntu”
(installed on my computer). So the problem does not concern me anymore.

I translated this message using the service „Google Translate”.

Yours.
Adam Kunicki

2013/3/1 kapetr <email address hidden>

> YES - it persist:
> U12.04 + acroread 9.5.4 01/09/2013
>
> To reproduce:
> -run acroread
> - open menu: Document->security settings
>
> ... and the error pop-up box about unable to find HTML rendering library
> ... and the same popup on every click in security setting window.
>
> And YES - the requested library is set in config and is there:
> Edit->Preferences->Internet: /usr/lib/firefox/
> And libxul.so is there.
>
>
> ** Changed in: acroread (Ubuntu)
> Status: Incomplete => Confirmed
>
> ** Changed in: acroread (Ubuntu)
> Status: Confirmed => New
>
> ** Changed in: acroread (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Confirmed
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/701505
>
> Title:
> Problem with Adobe Reader update: Unable to find the HTML rendering
> library
>
> Status in “acroread” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I ran the Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader showed information about the
> updates related to security ("security settings update"). The icon
> showed "Adobe Tracker Alert" on the taskbar. I clicked the icon. Adobe
> Reader showed the message "Unable to find the HTML rendering library.
> Please specify the folder location in Edit -> Preferences ->
> Internet.". What should I do?
>
> Source package: AdbeRdr9.4-1_i386linux_enu.deb.
> System: Linux Ubuntu 10.10.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/acroread/+bug/701505/+subscriptions
>

[Adam Kunicki (adkunicki)]

Hi,

thank you for this information. Lately I don't use the system „Ubuntu”
(installed on my computer). So the problem does not concern me anymore.

I translated this message using the service „Google Translate”.

Yours.
Adam Kunicki
2013/1/14 kapetr <email address hidden>

> I do use acroread from official repo. Not from PPA or so.
>
> acroread 9.4.7-1oneiric1 from precise/main (archive.canonical.com)
>
> Why do you think so ?
>
> ** Changed in: ubuntu
> Status: Invalid => New
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/701505
>
> Title:
> Problem with Adobe Reader update
>
> Status in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> I ran the Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader showed information about the
> updates related to security ("security settings update"). The icon
> showed "Adobe Tracker Alert" on the taskbar. I clicked the icon. Adobe
> Reader showed the message "Unable to find the HTML rendering library.
> Please specify the folder location in Edit -> Preferences ->
> Internet.". What should I do?
>
> Source package: AdbeRdr9.4-1_i386linux_enu.deb.
> System: Linux Ubuntu 10.10.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/701505/+subscriptions
>

[Klaus Fischer (klaus-fischer-g)]

Hi,

I really wonder why a bug and I would call it a bug (now matter what shankao tries people to talk into). What I am useing is kubuntu 13.04 and this stupid error message and the icon persist. All comments in this thread which are not about reporting this issue are basically useless. Sorry to say.

Linux is a great system but some software perfomrs poorly on it. Adobe acrobat reader is a remarably bad example for this. It is more annoying features than the icon which users complain about in this thread. Maybe it is a wise idea to just throw acroread in to trash.

Best,

Klaus Fischer

[Adam Kunicki (adkunicki)]

Maybe, I don't know. But thank you for the message.

I translated my message from Polish language using the service „Google
Translate”.

Greetings.
Adam Kunicki

2013/6/13 Klaus Fischer <email address hidden>

> Hi,
>
> I really wonder why a bug and I would call it a bug (now matter what
> shankao tries people to talk into). What I am useing is kubuntu 13.04
> and this stupid error message and the icon persist. All comments in this
> thread which are not about reporting this issue are basically useless.
> Sorry to say.
>
> Linux is a great system but some software perfomrs poorly on it. Adobe
> acrobat reader is a remarably bad example for this. It is more annoying
> features than the icon which users complain about in this thread. Maybe
> it is a wise idea to just throw acroread in to trash.
>
> Best,
>
> Klaus Fischer
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/701505
>
> Title:
> Problem with Adobe Reader update: Unable to find the HTML rendering
> library
>
> Status in “acroread” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I ran the Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader showed information about the
> updates related to security ("security settings update"). The icon
> showed "Adobe Tracker Alert" on the taskbar. I clicked the icon. Adobe
> Reader showed the message "Unable to find the HTML rendering library.
> Please specify the folder location in Edit -> Preferences ->
> Internet.". What should I do?
>
> Source package: AdbeRdr9.4-1_i386linux_enu.deb.
> System: Linux Ubuntu 10.10.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/acroread/+bug/701505/+subscriptions
>

[kapetr (kapetr)]

But - do you know any alternative which is electronic signature capable ?

[Adam Kunicki (adkunicki)]

I'm sorry. I do not understand.

Adam Kunicki

2013/6/16 kapetr <email address hidden>

> But - do you know any alternative which is electronic signature capable
> ?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/701505
>
> Title:
> Problem with Adobe Reader update: Unable to find the HTML rendering
> library
>
> Status in “acroread” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I ran the Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader showed information about the
> updates related to security ("security settings update"). The icon
> showed "Adobe Tracker Alert" on the taskbar. I clicked the icon. Adobe
> Reader showed the message "Unable to find the HTML rendering library.
> Please specify the folder location in Edit -> Preferences ->
> Internet.". What should I do?
>
> Source package: AdbeRdr9.4-1_i386linux_enu.deb.
> System: Linux Ubuntu 10.10.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/acroread/+bug/701505/+subscriptions
>

[kapetr (kapetr)]

Adobe Reader has a capability to verify signed PDF documents (try google: signing, certificates, ...).
I do not know any alternative for Linux.

[Adam Kunicki (adkunicki)]

Thank you.

Yours.
Adam Kunicki

2013/6/17 kapetr <email address hidden>

> Adobe Reader has a capability to verify signed PDF documents (try google:
> signing, certificates, ...).
> I do not know any alternative for Linux.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/701505
>
> Title:
> Problem with Adobe Reader update: Unable to find the HTML rendering
> library
>
> Status in “acroread” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I ran the Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader showed information about the
> updates related to security ("security settings update"). The icon
> showed "Adobe Tracker Alert" on the taskbar. I clicked the icon. Adobe
> Reader showed the message "Unable to find the HTML rendering library.
> Please specify the folder location in Edit -> Preferences ->
> Internet.". What should I do?
>
> Source package: AdbeRdr9.4-1_i386linux_enu.deb.
> System: Linux Ubuntu 10.10.
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/acroread/+bug/701505/+subscriptions
>

[Mihai Petcu (mikybrother)]

replace "/usr/lib/xulrunner-1.9.2.15" with "/usr/lib/firefox"
in this folder is located libxul.so file needed.
it worked for me!
making this changes I was abble to print US visa travel fee.
you should try it!

[kapetr (kapetr)]

Not for me.
I have /usr/lib/firefox/ there from begin. See my post #15 above - to reproduce the error.

Acroread 9.5.5 on Ubuntu 12.04 64b

[Maarten Jacobs (maarten256)]

I fixed this problem by installing the package "kompozer" and pointing to the /usr/lib/kompozer directory for the "HTML Rendering Library".

More importantly I killed the "/opt/Adobe/Reader9/Reader/intellinux/bin/SynchronizerApp-binary" process that was running - I believe this prevented the change in the setting from being applied initially. After I killed this process and restarted reader, the error went away.

[Michael Heuberger (michael.heuberger)]

I have the same problem and none of the above suggestions worked for me.

[Edmund Laugasson (ed-lau)]

This bug affects also me. I am using 64bit Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, all updates done frequently. Using Adobe Reader 9.5.5 (04/26/2013). At address http://get.adobe.com/reader/ it seems, that no newer version of Adobe Reader for GNU/Linux.

[honkir (honkir)]

For 64bit systems read this: http://blogs.adobe.com/acroread/2007/09/17/adobe_reader_811_faqs/
The 32bit versions of required libraries have to be installed to solve the problem. Actually, I did not try it. Does someone have an idea how to easily install those 32bit libs on 64bit ubuntu?

[kapetr (kapetr)]

HONKIR:

I did try to download 32-bit version of Firefox (same ver as I have in 64-bit) and have copy libxul.so in /tmp directory and have change setting of acroread to this directory + restart.

Still the same error message :-(

P.S.: I do not know anything about coexisting of 32 x 64 bit apps and libraries :-/
I did just blind try.

[Sergio Callegari (callegar)]

Some more notes:

1) This is the n-th case of a multiarch and packaging issue. If there are apps that require the firefox libs, then these should be split out in a separate lib package that should be made multiarch. Unfortunately, this is currently not the case. The libxul.so library is available inside the main firefox package for which 386 and amd64 versions cannot be installed in parallel.

2) It is not enough to get a 386 version of libxul. One needs also all its dependencies to let it be loaded by the system. Plus, all the dependecies should be on a path that is available to the system as a library path, no temp.

3) The bluegriffon package seems to provide all the required libs. You can try:
- download the i386 version of the package for ubuntu
- unpackage it
- create a ~/lib32 path
- create or edit a startup script for your shell, setting the LD_LIBRARY_PATH to include ~/lib32.
- source the script to assure that your current environment has the correct library path
- copy the libxul.so from bluegriffon to ~/lib32
- run ldd on ~/lib32/libxul.so
- copy all the libraries that are currently not found from the bluegriffon directory or install them via apt (making sure that you install the 32 bit version of the libraries)

Unfortunately, at this point, acroread does not anymore complain about the missing rendering libraries, but crashes, probably
because the rendering library is too new.

Now, seriously, acrobat reader is a joke on linux, the fact that they are still providing an obsolete binary for it is just doing more damage than good. They do not even do it properly. Why don't they just embed the needed libraries.

[arm-c (arickmcniel)]

 presently, I have received this error on 32 and 64 bit machines. It doesn't appear to be just the arch issue. Perhaps we can "statically link" the required files to the application?

RELATED and PERHAPS helpful for other readers:

I would love to have a means to address this... I frequently have to use Acrobat for digital form signing... as well as it is the ONLY program that handles the XFA format that is embedded in many PDF forms. There is NO program for Linux that I am aware of that provides this support. Even worse, as time goes on, Adobe has taken the XFA standard from the AcroReader 9 version (3.0) to at least 3.3, so no AcroReader doesn't reliably open every PDF document out there.

For reference, if you are needing to sign documents that are not XFA enabled, the non-free *** PDF Studio *** presently provides support for PKCS#11 smartcard certificate signatures. A little intense to setup initially (read their site for instructions), but once set up, it works well (BTW, you can use the coolkey pkcs11 library instead of the other pkcs11 library their instructions reference).

In dialog with Master PDF Editor, they indicated they will add support for XFA and digital signatures in a future release... but no time was provided for this enhancement...

Wine is not an option. Had partial success (read fail) by getting Wine Adobe 11 to see my smartcard, import certificates, but no further. Tried Adobe 11 until blue in face, and it would always crash when clicking on "sign".

The best solution (an distasteful) is to use dual boot OR run a virtual machine with Windows in it...