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John Twohig's avatar
John Twohig
Iron Contributor
Apr 28, 2020

Open pdf in Browser not SharePoint pdf Viewer

When I click on a pdf file either in search results or the document library web part the file opens in the web browser. When I put a link to the same file in an image web part the file opens in the S...
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Alireza Rahimifarid's avatar
Alireza Rahimifarid
Steel Contributor
Apr 29, 2020

John Twohig 

Hello,

For security reasons, SharePoint prefers to open PDF files, especially with a hyperlink through SharePoint PDF viewer. Syncing the Document Library and open the PDF file from the computer may resolve this.

I know it's bothering many users but SharePoint trying to keep the environment safe.

 

Hope this resolve the issue 🙂

 

  • LizzieB24's avatar
    LizzieB24
    Copper Contributor
    Sep 03, 2024
    If I own a document library, I know all the PDFs on there are safe and,as the owner, I should be able to choose to set the default for all users to be Open in Browser. Plus, as John mentions, open in browser or in Adobe app are still options so its not much of a security control.
  • John Twohig's avatar
    John Twohig
    Iron Contributor
    Apr 29, 2020

    Alireza Rahimifarid 

     

    No. That can't be true. Otherwise, they would not allow the Open in Browser option at all and it wouldn't be the normal behavior when clicking on a pdf from search results or from the Document Library Web Part.

    • Darren Graham's avatar
      Darren Graham
      Copper Contributor
      Jul 30, 2020

      Yes I have also found this very annoying...we have a system which is fronted by a Visio diagram on the home page...the links from the visio shapes open the pdf documents in full web browser mode.

       

      Where as the quick links web part underneath only open the pdfs in the sharepoint web viewer and we don't want our users to see version history for a start (thats for the Quality control team only) but actually more importantly the sharepoint pdf viewer displays the full A4 page in the window, and its difficult to read whereas Id prefer the full browser view as it fits the page by width and you can actually read the content.

       

      You would that that there being a different URL for standard open and the web browser open the link should work for each type of experience. It's baffling.

       

       

       

      John Twohig 

      • LizzieB24's avatar
        LizzieB24
        Copper Contributor
        Oct 30, 2023
        I agree - the issue of the previewer showing the full page is annoying, plus links to parts of the document do not work. Users have to actively select to open in browser or download the document to open in Adobe, but users do not know how. you can spend time making a great interactive training or information resource in PDF but users just see a basic document. With writing that's too small to see, We need to able to disable the previewer for users.

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