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Can't preview some PDF files

  • 6 replies
  • 11 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by marmistrz

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Most of PDF documents can be easily previewed in Firefox without downloading. There are some, though, for example confirmations of bank transfers which aren't previewed and an ordinary download dialog appears.

This happens on Firefox running on two different computers (one using Linux Mint 17.1, the other - Windows XP)

How can I fix it?

Most of PDF documents can be easily previewed in Firefox without downloading. There are some, though, for example confirmations of bank transfers which aren't previewed and an ordinary download dialog appears. This happens on Firefox running on two different computers (one using Linux Mint 17.1, the other - Windows XP) How can I fix it?

Chosen solution

Then using a helper application is what you need to do. I have no trouble reading PDFs with a helper.

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All Replies (6)

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Just how do you preview a .pdf document without loading it? I see no option to do that from a link. Even if you choose to open it, it must be copied to your system before it can be opened.

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finitarry said

Just how do you preview a .pdf document without loading it? I see no option to do that from a link. Even if you choose to open it, it must be copied to your system before it can be opened.

Maybe you misunderstood me and maybe I wasn't clear

If I open a regular PDF such as this [1], it isn't an explicit download. The content is of course loaded but no download dialog shows up. Neither does the file appear in the downloaded files. It's quickly previewed in browser.

If, on the other hand, I try to load a PDF generated by the website of a bank, the document isn't previewed in browser.

[1] http://www.kgof.edu.pl/archiwum/63/of63-1-1.pdf

Modified by marmistrz

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Are you using a plugin, or Firefox directly? I use a helper application for .pdf files, and since I chose to have it always ask, I get a dialog box that asks me if I want to open or save. From what I have heard, Firefox PDF does not work with all types of PDFs. Not sure about plugins, since I have never used them for that.

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finitarry said

Are you using a plugin, or Firefox directly? I use a helper application for .pdf files, and since I chose to have it always ask, I get a dialog box that asks me if I want to open or save. From what I have heard, Firefox PDF does not work with all types of PDFs. Not sure about plugins, since I have never used them for that.


I have no PDF plugins, I'm using the internal Firefox preview. Interestingly, Chrome refuses to load the PDF as well.

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Chosen Solution

Then using a helper application is what you need to do. I have no trouble reading PDFs with a helper.

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finitarry said

Then using a helper application is what you need to do. I have no trouble reading PDFs with a helper.

Why does Firefox not cope with some PDFs? I'm simply wondering.