PDF Viewer not viewing, only downloading
I reinstalled FireFox, and the built in PDF reader is a piece of junk. Notably, it forces me to download EVERY PDF, regardless of using your junky PDF viewer or the Adobe Acrobat (I have the Full version of 9.5). Everything worked perfectly until you decided to include a PDF viewer in your program.
I have tried everything to make it work. So, since I cannot get any support from Mozilla for the product, I am switching to either Chrome or Safari. I have been using FF for years, but I guess you seem to think that you know what I want better than I do, so I am dumping FF and going elsewhere. You are NOT the only sandbox in the playground, folks. Now I am taking my toys and playing elsewhere.
If you ever decide to start paying attention to the people who use your products, perhaps I will return.
All Replies (17)
Hi tommc4,
sorry you are disattisfied with this Firefox change. I sympathise with you.
Luckily it is relatively easy to disable this and use Adobe as before please see
Firefox staff seem to think the new pdf viewer is well received. I understand one reason for the development of this was to improve security. Unfortunately the built in viewer is
- still under development
- and not yet feature complete or bug free
- possibly not intended for heavy PDF users.
IMHO it should not have been set for default use yet.
Try disabling it and then post back if you have any continuing problems.
Okulungisiwe ngu John99
hello, if you want to switch back to the plugin you've used before to view pdfs just go to firefox > options > applications & scroll down and define the default action for the portable document format (pdf).
Tried that. Did not work. Re-installed FF. Worked fine FOR THAT LOAD; after another launch, it fails to work properly.
Simply, Mozilla is trying to put TOO MUCH into the program. It was absolutely fantastic the way it was, but they are over-reaching, just like Microsoft is. pity, FF was a great program!
Tried that. Did not work. Re-installed FF. Worked fine FOR THAT LOAD; after another launch, it fails to work properly.
Simply, Mozilla is trying to put TOO MUCH into the program. It was absolutely fantastic the way it was, but they are over-reaching, just like Microsoft is. pity, FF was a great program!
You can change the action for Portable Document Format (PDF) from Preview in Firefox to use the Adobe Reader or set to Always Ask in "Firefox > Options > Applications".
You can set the pdfjs.disabled pref to true on the about:config page to disable the build-in PDF viewer.
See also:
I guess you folks don't know how to read! Let me try this again:
1. The internal viewer is horrid.
2. NO MATTER WHAT THE SETTINGS (use internal, use external, DOES NOT MATTER), when I click on a PDF, FF automatically opens a download window INSTEAD of running the selected veiwer (Acrobat).
3. Changing the settings HAS NO EFFECT ON THE WAY FF HANDLES THE PDF - IT ALWAYS TRIES TO DOWNLOAD IT, INSTEAD OF OPENING THE FILE WITH SELECTED VIEWER!
Tom
FYI, I just tried AGAIN with the suggested changes, and FF keeps ignoring them, asking to download the files instead of viewing them through Acrobat. I MADE THE SPECIFIED CHANGES FROM ABOVE! Tom
is this happening on every website or only on certain sites? is the same happening when you click the pdf link on https://wiki.mozilla.org/images/7/7b/Content_Flow_Rev_1.pdf for example?
another thing you can try is to reset the file that stores how different filetypes are handled: go to firefox > help > troubleshooting information and click on profile folder/show folder. a windows explorer window should open up - in there delete the file named mimeTypes.rdf & restart firefox afterwards. then again assign the correct helper application for the portable document format in firefox > options > applications.
It happens on EVERY PDF I CLICK ON. I have reinstalled FF and it works ONCE, then after unloading and running FF later, it goes back to trying to dl the PDF instead of opening it.
Why do software companies think they can build a better mousetrap? FF was incredible, and worked fine with Acrobat. Now, it is just mediocre, and more of a pain to work with than even explorer - and I absolutely hate explorer!
Your system details show that you have extensions enabled and one of them could be interfering with viewing PDF files in Firefox (maybe Exif Viewer 2.00?)
Try disabling those extensions and then restart Firefox, to see if one of them may be causing the problem.
Your system details also show that you have two Adobe PDF reader plugins installed:
Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape "9.5.4" Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape 10.1.6
You should disable the older 9.5.4" plugin, which you can do from the Add-ons Manager Plugins list (or remove it from your computer, if possible).
See Disable or remove Add-ons for more information.
Hi:
Unfortunately, my Tools-->Applications-->Plug-Ins options drop down box doesn't look like the one illustrated:
https://support.cdn.mozilla.net/media/uploads/images/2013-03-15-07-19-54-f8c6be.png
I just want to return to using the Foxit plug-in as a default to opening PDF files. Any suggestions?
I'm running FF 19.0.2, on XP Pro. Thanks
bc_ace,
You should see the Portable Document Format (PDF) content type further down in the Firefox Tools -> Options -> Applications list, where you can disable the built-in PDF viewer and use another viewer.
If you don't see Portable Document Format (PDF) listed as one of the content types when you enter PDF in the search field, it would be better if you asked a new question: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new
See Get community support for available resources.
Hi: AliceWyman ( ... alloneword ... )
You nailed it. Next time I read more closely. At least, that's what I'm telling myself.
Much appreciated.
Fred
I don't know why Firefox bothered with this garbage PDF Viewer, the old one worked perfectly fine. In browser printing is completely messed up now, making me have to download each file before printing. To those responsible at Firefox, please don't fix what's not broken!
jmak16,
Sorry you are having problems. I agree that the implementation method appears to have caused problems for a sizeable minority of users, and IMHO it could have been done better.
Presumably you have seen
If you follow that advice your Firefox will behave as before.
As for comments to those responsible consider using
because developers will not see your comments here in this forum
Okulungisiwe ngu John99
Thanks John99, your're advice really helped as the previous PDF viewer (Adobe Acrobat) is working beautifully for me. Thanks again!
P.S I did use the comment link you provided me, hopefully those developers can actually create something original and more importantly, "useful".
Glad to have helped.
The developers will be taking a long view. I imagine this will be more secure than a separate reader. Probably be ported onto mobiles and Firefox OS, and of course means we need not rely on third party proprietary software.
Problem is we have to deal with any of the setbacks as it rolls out into the real world.