[Solved] Troubleshooting: recipients can't open documents

[caryatis]

Having trouble with recipients who can't read my documents. Seems computers aren't recognizing the file type. So if I send someone a PDF saved through OpenOffice, the file doesn't automatically open in the PDF reader--the person has to pick a program to open it (even if they already have a PDF reader installed). And similarly if I send a .doc file, it doesn't automatically open in Microsoft Word even if the recipient has Word.

Would appreciate any help.

(Edited to reflect new understanding of the problem)

[RusselB]

Generally any system can open a PDF file.
If you have recipients that are unable to open any of the formats you specified, then we need to know more about what they are using.
Do they have Adobe Reader installed? If not, suggest that they install it.
Some web browsers, Chrome, for one, can open PDF files in a web page format.
How are you sending the files to the recipients? Is it as an e-mail attachment or are you using a file sharing service (eg: dropbox)?
If you send a copy of the file to yourself using the same method, are you able to open the sent file?

[caryatis]

So I tested this on someone else's computer (PC) and the problem is that computers aren't recognizing the file type. So even if you have a PDF reader installed, the file doesn't automatically open in the PDF reader--the person has to pick a program to open it.

I'm sending as an email attachment, and I have a similar issue when I try to open it.

Thanks for the reply!

[Villeroy]

Email readers and browsers may have their own file type associations for attachments and downloaded files. Send them any other PDF not generated by OpenOffice and they will have the same problem.
The No 1 problem with Windows is that it hides away known file name extensions such as .pdf. Are you sure that your attachments have .pdf as file name extensions? AOO does this automatically when the "automatic extension" option is set in its save dialog.
The first thing I do on any Windows system is unchecking this horrible option to hide file name extensions. Even then Windows hides away certain extensions such as .lnk for links.

[caryatis]

You solved my problem, thanks! I checked the "automatic extension" option and now my recipient's Windows system is recognizing the pdf and docs.