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How to request pdf to open with adobe plugin from web code

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
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  • Paskiausią atsakymą parašė the-edmeister

derek500
derek500
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Hello, I have a pdf hosted on my site that I can't change. It won't display in FF's built in PDF preview, it just hangs with a spinning circle being displayed. If I force FF to use the Adobe Reader (or Adobe DC or whatever they call it now) plugin from Settings/Applications it will preview without a problem. A lot of people visit our site from FF and say that this PDF can't be viewed. Is there any way from the HTML code to request that the pdf be previewed with the Adobe plugin if available? I just get "non-computer people" who complain "I can't see this PDF" and I can respond with the FF support link to change their default PDF plugin, or I can tell them to use a different browser... but if I could just put somewhere to use the Adobe plugin if installed, this whole mess goes away.

I'm not an HTML expert, nor a PDF expert, but I have access to the web back end. Is it possible in HTML to request a specific plugin be used if available?

Otherwise, is it possible to use HTML to request that the built in FF PDF preview NOT be used?

The PDF was prepared poorly. Obviously the ideal situation is to use a PDF that will display in FF Preview, but that's not possible. This isn't the first time this problem has come up, and this isn't the only PDF I've seen with this problem.

Hello, I have a pdf hosted on my site that I can't change. It won't display in FF's built in PDF preview, it just hangs with a spinning circle being displayed. If I force FF to use the Adobe Reader (or Adobe DC or whatever they call it now) plugin from Settings/Applications it will preview without a problem. A lot of people visit our site from FF and say that this PDF can't be viewed. Is there any way from the HTML code to request that the pdf be previewed with the Adobe plugin if available? I just get "non-computer people" who complain "I can't see this PDF" and I can respond with the FF support link to change their default PDF plugin, or I can tell them to use a different browser... but if I could just put somewhere to use the Adobe plugin if installed, this whole mess goes away. I'm not an HTML expert, nor a PDF expert, but I have access to the web back end. Is it possible in HTML to request a specific plugin be used if available? Otherwise, is it possible to use HTML to request that the built in FF PDF preview NOT be used? The PDF was prepared poorly. Obviously the ideal situation is to use a PDF that will display in FF Preview, but that's not possible. This isn't the first time this problem has come up, and this isn't the only PDF I've seen with this problem.

Chosen solution

No, a webpage has no control over which PDF viewer is used. That is strictly a user choice.

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All Replies (3)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
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Chosen Solution

No, a webpage has no control over which PDF viewer is used. That is strictly a user choice.

derek500
derek500 Klausimą uždavęs asmuo
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the-edmeister said

No, a webpage has no control over which PDF viewer is used. That is strictly a user choice.

Thanks. I suppose that's fine if the user knew they had a choice. Most users think that having Adobe Reader installed on their system means it will be used to view pdfs. I only found out it changed after discovering a number of PDFs that won't work.

FF needs to let the user know they have another option when pdf preview struggles with a display.

I'll mark it as solved, but it's definitely not a solved problem. Thanks for the reply.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
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In the past I do recall getting a message at the top of the built-in PDF reader page that mentions something along the lines of "this PDF may not be displaying properly", with the option to use an alternative PDF reader program and presenting the choice of an alternative like Adobe if it is installed.

But I haven't seen that message in awhile, and don't know if that is a result of my having a new PC with a newer operating system now without Adobe Reader installed. Or if that message just isn't in Firefox with the last few versions.