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Forum Discussion
jaidgossamer
8 years agoHelpful | Level 7
Pdf viewer in web browser
Hi: I used to be able to view pdf files in Chrome's native pdf viewer. Suddenly, I am no longer able to view files through Chrome's viewer, but only through what looks to be some new dropbox proprie...
- 8 years ago
Hi all:
I finally found a solution that might not be ideal for everyone, but actually solves the problems listed above . . . I've been having issues using the Dropbox viewer to view my pdfs, have not been able to view any larger pdfs, and one other poster mentioned that he was having some difficulty sharing his pdfs with others.
I've been asking for a fix that would allow us to completely bypass the Dropbox viewer so that we can view our pdfs in Chrome's native viewer. Some of the techs were lovely and brilliant enough to come up with the fix that involves "printing" the pdf (and then canceling out of the print dialog box), which allows you to then see the pdf in Chrome viewer. Unfortunately, though, this did not solve the issue of not being able to open larger pdfs - if the pdf couldn't be open in Dropbox viewer, then trying to "print" the pdf does not work, and you also will not be able to view the pdf in Chrome.
The one solution that I have been using that satisfies all the above issues is to abandon Dropbox and use Google Drive to store and share my pdfs. I've been able to open and view ALL pdfs in Google Drive (even 6,000 page legal tomes!!!) without any issue, and GD also allows us to connect all sorts of third party apps so that we can view our pdfs in the third-party viewer of our choosing. I've also had a much easier time sharing these pdfs with my colleagues on GD . . . Dropbox sharing was easy so long as the receiving party also had a Dropbox account.
This has really been a god-send as I work with people all over the country, and these people often access these work documents via Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms . . . Google Drive has allowed us the straight-forward ability to download items directly onto the desktop/Google Drive app without having to hunt for the proper methodology for doing so.
So, while I absolutely love Dropbox, I really don't want to have to add several extra key strokes to get things done, or spend time figuring out how to do the simplest things, or have massive changes made to a system that not only wasn't broken in the first place, but also wasn't wanted, warranted, or needed, while ultimately taking away functionality. I work 12 to 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, and I can't afford to have my workflow disrupted so severely every other month when some random new change is rolled out.
So, those looking for maximum functionality when using, storing, and sharing pdfs should consider doing so via Google Drive.
- 8 years ago
I am customer for years, could you guys please just give us the ability to open pdf with the native chrome viewer? Dropbox PDF viewer is much worst and limited, while you guys don't have a PDF viewer as good as chrome, for example, dont obligate your paying customers to use this. It is like we are paying Dropbox to make the service worst everyday, dont "fix" what wasn't broken to begin with.
Jane
Dropbox Staff
Hey jaidgossamer,
Thank you for getting in touch with us on our Community support channel!
Please note that, because of the Dropbox and Adobe integration, disabling file preview on the Dropbox website is not available, though, if you would like to view the files in their original quality, you can always download them to your device.
Hope this helps you clarify!
Kind regards,
JaneA
Delirion
8 years agoNew member | Level 2
Hi JaneA
until 15 of March we were able to force to open pdfs straight in the browser by adding raw=1 to our shared links.
We have been using this feature heavily and now have to got back and fix all the links as DB broke them without any heads up or explanation what so ever.
Your response is in so far not helping as it only states what we already experience with no further background on what happend.
Its a reoccuring feeling dropbox makes changes on their end but missses to provide any information at all.
As a long time Pro and Dropbox Busines, or Team (or whatever its going to be called in the next few weeks) User I'm wondering which feature might go away in the future without any warning.
Looking forward to a more in depth explanation why the adobe integration into dropbox makes the handling of pdfs worse then before.
- Jane8 years agoDropbox Staff
Hey Delirion,
Thank you for letting me know here!
Please note that if you are a Dropbox Plus/ Dropbox for Business team, beginning September 1, 2017, you will no longer be able to render HTML content.
I appreciate your frustration, please let me go through a couple troubleshooting steps with you. Can you please attempt rendering those pdf files on an incognito window and let me know whether this helps here, so that I follow-up on this case?
Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
Kind regards,
JaneA
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