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PSPKK123July 2, 2014 •  85 Comments

Need some help?

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I’m sorry you’re having trouble downloading or printing my printables.

I want to help!

I absolutely want my files to be accessible to everyone, but I do not e-mail files.  Thank you for not asking me to make an exception.

Please try all of these options before emailing me, ESPECIALLY #2. I certainly want to help you, but 99% of the time, one of these solutions does the trick – and you’ll save us both time if you work through these options.   I can’t tell you how many times people have told me they’ve tried everything, but skipped #2. It almost always works, and it’s really easy.

If you’ve tried everything here with no success, please feel free to e-mail me at anna(at)themeasuredmom(dot)com.  I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Common problems:

  • The file doesn’t download.
  • You get a message that says “failed – no file.”
  • You try to print, and the file prints with funny squares and text instead of how it should really look.

One of these tips usually works!

#1 Switch browsers.

My blog does the best with Google Chrome.  You can download it for free.  Internet Explorer almost never works when downloading from my blog, and I’ve had problems with Firefox as well. I do not have experience with Safari.

#2 Save the file to your computer first.  

This is very easy to do.  Just RIGHT CLICK on the word HERE (or on the image that says “To get your free printable, click HERE.”).  Then choose “save link as…”  You can change the file name and save it to your computer wherever you’ll be able to find it.  (And you can always come back to get it again if you lose it!)  Then open from your computer to print.

screen-shot-2016-10-19-at-9-34-05-am

 

#3 Make sure you have the most current version of Adobe Reader installed.  

This is the only solution when my files aren’t printing correctly, and it’s very easy (and free!) to do.

adobe reader

Just click on the above image to get Adobe Reader for your computer. After you install it, you may need to save my files to your computer first (see previous tip), then OPEN WITH ADOBE READER to print.

#4 Make sure you are starting from the blog post, NOT from the link to a pdf.

If the URL you are starting with ends with the letters “pdf” you are in the wrong place.

START WITH THIS: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/free-games-for-learning-a-e-words/

NOT THIS: https://www.themeasuredmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FndFla-egames.pdf

You will need to scroll down to the place where you can download the file. If you don’t know where to find the post, you can search in my blog’s search bar or send me an e-mail.  Once you finally download the file, it should end with the letters “pdf.”

#5 Do you use a Mac?  Make sure that Adobe Reader is your default for opening files.

  •  If you print a reader or other booklet-type printable, be sure you’re printing front to back.

I will always tell you if you need to print a document front to back.  This option will look different depending on the type of computer you are using. If you can’t get it to print correctly using the options available on the default print screen, download to your own computer and print from there.  If you open with Adobe Reader to print, you should be able to find the correct print options.

Be sure to visit my free printables page to see all I have to offer!

Do you have any more downloading or printing tips? Please share in the comments!

Sharing is caring!

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Reader Interactions

85 Comments

  1. Cadi

    Hi! Thank you for your resources!! I am also unable to print some of your downloadable PDF’s, for example the ABC letter A book. The security settings are enabled to prohibit printing (under document restrictions summary, printing is not allowed). As others mentioned, those options (to edit I understand, but also to print) are only accessed by password. I work creating digital content at my job and this is a common issue. One has to manually access and disable certain security restrictions. Thank you again for your work and great resources 🙂

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna G

      Yes, I’m aware of the security restrictions. 🙂 I have been updating and re-uploading all my pdf files in the last few weeks. I forgot to enable printing when securing the My Letter A Book in Adobe Pro. It’s fixed now – let me know if you find more of them!

      Reply to this comment

    • Kate Dowling

      Hi Joan!

      This is Kate, Anna’s assistant.

      I’m sorry you’re having trouble! Opening in Adobe Reader solves this issue of printing black backgrounds. Please double check that you’re printing from within Adobe, and if you still have trouble, please ask someone who can take a look at your computer for you. I am unable to troubleshoot further from here. I’m very sorry that this answer is not as helpful as you’d like. I know tech problems are very frustrating! I wish you the best!

      Reply to this comment

  4. Felicity

    Hi. I need to change a few words since my child finds them difficult to read. The PDF is password protected though. Is it possible to help me please since he really likes the game but those words are making him feel so embarrassed and bad

    Reply to this comment

  6. Melissa

    I am trying to print the “roll an ending blend” game and cannot get it to print the black squares around the pictures. I have tried several other documents and the same thing is happening. Any thoughts? It downloads ok and it shows the black squares in the print window but then they do not print. I have checked my printer and it has plenty of black ink.

    Reply to this comment

    • Kate Dowling

      Hi Joyce!

      This is Kate, Anna’s assistant. We’d love to help you. Please let us know which file you’re having trouble with. Please be specific, since Anna has thousands of pages of resources on this site. 🙂 Thank you!

      Reply to this comment

  9. Chrissy Fox

    Hello! I am trying to print some valuable resources for my students with special needs, specifically time, money, and place value. I have gone through the tips- Google Chrome, updated Adobe, etc, and still have not had luck. When I click on the green box that says “CLICK HERE ON THE FREE PRINTABLE”, a pop up asking me to subscribe comes up. I enter my information (email and name) and then it says submitting and has the ellipsis (…) which goes and goes and goes and NOTHING ever happens. Any other suggestions for the print and play activities? THANK YOU!

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna G

      I’m sorry you’re having trouble, Chrissy! Does the computer you’re using have an ad blocker on it? That can keep the form from submitting. If it’s a school computer, that may be the issue.

      Reply to this comment

  10. Happy

    Let me just say that you are the bomb.com and some. I am a second grade teacher and I have students who cannot read. I have NO earthly idea how to teach a child to read and I have been trying all sorts of things. I love the fact that you are sharing these things because looking for resources that will get and keep the children engaged is a very daunting task. The things we get from our district are so boring to these students, it’s no wonder they aren’t engaging in conversation. Thank you so much for sharing your resources with the rest of us and helping make our lives easier and better. You just don’t know how much of a lifesaver you really are. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!

    Reply to this comment

  11. Sudha Naveen

    Hi,

    Loved the details you have shared.

    Can you please help me in the following,

    1. CVC words for a, i, o and u: Identifying the first sound
    2. CVC words for a, i, o and u: Identifying the middle sound
    3. CVC words for a, i, o and u: Identifying the last sound
    4. CVC words for a, i, o and u: Filling in all the three sounds
    5. Non basic vowel e: Filling the missing letters

    Looking forward for your early reply.

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna G

      HI Mary Ann! If you are printing something you plan to use a long time, such as a game or a printable book (that kids are not going to color), I would use light cardstock. Otherwise, regular paper works fine! If you are going to laminate, always use cardstock.

      Reply to this comment

  13. Trisha

    HI Anna,

    Just wanted to let you know that this is the second time I’ve tried printing something from your site and the directions are either partially or completely covered by a soild black box. I’ve tried all the suggestions in your “if your are having trouble printing” area but nothing changes corrects the problem. Thankfully i can easily explain the directions but I wanted to let you know. Thanks again for making my life a little easier with your awesome printables!

    Reply to this comment

  14. L

    good morning

    Ive been trying to print the ABC flip book from my mac my PC and my iPhone and all is asking for a password to print

    can you help me .. i can really use this are printable for my son

    thank you

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna G

      You don’t need passwords to open or print any of my printables – just to edit them. On a Mac this is usually happening because it’s set to open pdf’s with Apple Preview. It should be set to open pdf’s with Adobe Reader. I don’t know if this is the same problem on an iPhone.

      Reply to this comment

  16. Elavia Gan

    Hi, thanks for the material. I’ve saved the PDF in computer and used kind of setting to print but it doesn’t print as seem on the PDF. The print out always have 1.5 inches blank space before the words. I don’t know why..

    Reply to this comment

  17. Robin

    I love your website, however I am having trouble downloading the froot loop words worksheet and the 4 in a row games for oo words. I have tried using Chrome, saving to my computer, have the most current version of Adobe, and am coming from your site to download it. I have tried for the last couple of days and have had no luck. Do you have any suggestions? I would really love to use these in my classroom.

    Thanks!

    Reply to this comment

  19. lyn

    Hi,

    I love your resources and I am able to download them. However, I am unable to print them off my school printer. It tells me that they require a PDF password. Is there anyway I can print them off?

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna Geiger

      I don’t know why that would be, Lyn, as you only need a password to edit the files. I would ask the tech person at your school.

      Do make sure that you’re downloading the files to your computer, then opening from there to print. Maybe if you open with Adobe Reader it will let you do it. I’m really unsure what the issue is, though – sorry!

      Reply to this comment

  22. Omolara

    First of all, THANK YOU for these resources; I am a preschool & pre-K teacher and my students love these printables! I’ve also shared these with their parents & they’re a fan as well. =) What template do you use to create the cards? I would love to use it to create clip cards for my students (I also teach Yoruba to 7-10 year olds & I think they would find this helpful).

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna Geiger

      Hi, Omolara! I’m so glad you can use my resources. 🙂 I create my own templates for my printables (which I don’t share for copyright reasons). It’s very simple to do – just create boxes and tables within Microsoft Power Point or Publisher.

      Reply to this comment

  24. Marshall Bullock

    You have great things on your blog and I’d love to use them. However, no matter what I try, I get a message; Can’t open PDF file. I use pdf’s from other blogs all the time. I’ve tried all your suggestions, but to no avail. Please help!

    Reply to this comment

  26. Jessica Grove

    Hello! I am using Chrome and Adobe on my Android phone. I do keep getting a msg that I need to save to my device, but I have no idea how to do that on my phone (no “right click”). I’ve been using your stuff for years, and I recommend you to all mamas! It seems this has only been an issue for about the last year. Very strange. My laptop takes forever to do anything. Life is just quicker and easier (on most sites) from my phone. Any help is appreciated.

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna Geiger

      As someone who has a hard time remembering to keep my phone charged, I had to ask some other bloggers for help on this one. One said that if you click and hold your finger on the link on a phone it will give you the option to download. Another said that she always tells her readers that it’s best to access printables from a computer – but I know that’s not what you want to hear!

      Another friend said this: “There are many apps that she can use on the google play store. Apps to view PDF, zipped files, etc from any android device. iTunes offers for iPhone and iPad. They can download from the built in browser (I believe on android they are stored in “files” on their phone), but many just store to synced Dropbox or Cloud files. Adobe has a mobile reader for PDF files, too. If the browser download doesn’t work as well as she likes, I believe Opera mobile has a built in downloader also.”

      I hope one of these tips helps! Let me know if you’re still having trouble.

      Reply to this comment

          • Anna Geiger

            I’m sorry I can’t solve this for you. One thing I do differently from This Reading Mama is that I have my host prevent hotlinking. That means that people can’t just link to the pdf file to give it to others. I had SO many people doing that, which is against my terms of use and a form of theft because it robs my site of traffic (which is how I earn an income). Finally I had to disable hotlinking. I really don’t know if that’s causing your issue, but it’s possible.

            Reply to this comment

  27. Kelli Lopuch

    Hello Anna,

    I am having difficulties with the “Upper and Lower Case” letter pages….. I am looking right at them, but i don’t know how to download them so that i can print them??

    Can you please help me with this so i will know how to do it for future reference too please!!!

    Thank you!!!

    Reply to this comment

  33. Brooke

    Hi Anna,
    Your resources are great! I am having a little trouble downloading and saving. It is asking for a password to save the document (I will colour print at school tomorrow).
    Thanks, Brooke

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna Geiger

      Hi Brooke, That definitely shouldn’t happen. Are you sure you’re clicking on the right thing and not an ad? Always make sure you click on the word HERE when downloading. If you have problems when doing this, would you send me a link to the post and I’ll check it out? Thanks!

      Reply to this comment

  34. Suzette

    You and your website are fabulous!!! Thank you for all you have done to inspire and assist us in giving our littles their very best start/chance in their education! I will be a forever fan of yours.

    Reply to this comment

  35. Dawn

    Hiyas, thanks for all the wonderful freebies! I am trying so hard to print off some of the two sided spelling books for my girls, but the print option in GOogle Chrome does not have a flip option! Any ideas?
    Thank you!
    Dawn Laird

    Reply to this comment

    • Anna Geiger

      Hi Dawn!
      I know what you mean. I recommend downloading to your own computer, then opening from there to print using your own printer’s dialogue box. Does that make sense?

      Reply to this comment

      • Dawn

        Let me try! I’m also having trouble getting things to print in grayscale (like for the dotted lines) working on that as well! LOL

        I think it worked (I also downloaded new drivers etc this is a new laptop) 😉

        thanks so much! I will bug you some more if I can’t get the dots to work 😉

        Reply to this comment

        • Anna Geiger

          If you mean the dotted lines on my level 2 and 3 handwriting pages, they will NOT print if you open from the site and just print. It’s very weird, but I have the same problem. However, I’ve always gotten them to print if I download to my computer and open from there. A weird mystery I wish I could solve!

          Reply to this comment

  37. Erin Saliter

    Hi Anna, my husband was able to download it for me! Thank you so much for making these available. My daughter is having such problems, not sure why. My first two girls never had any issues with writing. 🙁 Anyway, thank you, thank you!
    Erin

    Reply to this comment

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