Can't open PDFs in Firefox sent from Mobileread

BetterRed · 10-10-2014, 07:35 PM

Apparently Firefox will only use the integrated PDF Viewer if the server sends the file as 'application/pdf'.
See cor-el's 3rd post in ==>> Why can't i open PDF files...?

At the bottom of this post [GUI Plugin] QuarantineAndScrub there's a pdf attachment, I can't open it in the built in Firefox reader

But I can open this one at the calibre site (in the last line of intro) ==>> calibre User Manual

Conclusion - Mobileread is not sending the PDF link as 'application/PDF'

Can the server can be adjusted so that links to PDF's can be read in with Firefox's viewer?

BR

Billi · 10-11-2014, 03:38 PM

Is this really the better behaviour? I personally prefer it very much to get the "Open with" dialogue (and can decide to download or open the file) instead of an automatic opening of a pdf file inside the active tab, but of course every one has other preferences.

PeterT · 10-11-2014, 04:45 PM

I just installed Header-Spy in Firefox and looked at the headers.

As far as I can tell it IS sending the expected type.

Code:

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Server: nginx
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 20:35:56 GMT
Content-Type: application/pdf
Content-Length: 566728
Last-Modified: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 16:44:54 GMT
Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=31536000, private
Expires: Sun, 11 Oct 2015 20:35:56 GMT
Accept-Ranges: bytes, bytes
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename*=ISO-8859-1''quarantine_instructions.pdf
Etag: "54395e86-8a5c8"

When I install the inlinedisposition 2 for FireFox I get the result you expected; the opening of the PDF in the builtin FireFox viewer. As far as I can tell this is overriding the

Code:

Content-Disposition: attachment; filename*=ISO-8859-1''quarantine_instructions.pdf

header.

BetterRed · 10-11-2014, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Is this really the better behaviour? I personally prefer it very much to get the "Open with" dialogue (and can decide to download or open the file) instead of an automatic opening of a pdf file inside the active tab, but of course every one has other preferences.

@Billi I used to get a choice (via Flashgot) to display in-line or open direct via PDF XChange etc, or Save or use my DL Manager - I lost the inline option some time back - Moz and Giorgio deny responsibility

Yesterday I stumbled on that reference to application/pdf at Moz and I thought, aah it must be that - but as PeterT has discovered it's not.

BTW yes, I think having the option to view inline is very preferable. Example I look at some daily market reports as in-line PDF's rather than noisy HTML equivalents. No wait for download to complete and the app to start - it effectively streams into the inline reader. If I want to save it I can do that from the inline reader, or can clip a bit of it into OneNote or Evernote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

When I install the inlinedisposition 2 for FireFox I get the result you expected; the opening of the PDF in the builtin FireFox viewer. As far as I can tell this is overriding the

Code:

Content-Disposition: attachment; filename*=ISO-8859-1''quarantine_instructions.pdf

header.

@PeterT - thanks that inline... 2 gadget helped but it intercepts all PDF's - I do wonder how a normal person would ever find it though :lol:

I'll create a vanilla FF and see what happens from there, I tried Safe Mode, whilst it disables the add-ins, I don't think it resets the config values back to defaults.

BR

HarryT · 10-12-2014, 07:28 AM

BR, I'm a little confused now. What change are you asking to be made on MR's server?

PeterT · 10-12-2014, 08:03 AM

Harry, I think we now know that the files are being sent with the correct mime type, and if anything the issue is more the content-disposition header and how it is being interpreted by Firefox.

theducks · 10-12-2014, 07:31 PM

I hated the way PDFs rendered IN Firefox.
I deactivated the Adobe reader PI so it uses the standalone version to open PDFs

BetterRed · 10-13-2014, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterT

Harry, I think we now know that the files are being sent with the correct mime type, and if anything the issue is more the content-disposition header and how it is being interpreted by Firefox.

Harry - Peter determined that the problem was NOT mime type

I think Moz changed something - it used to be I had a choices, now if the reader is enabled the only choice is display with Firefox, enable/disable the reader means futzing with extensions or about:config - PITA

I've been using Chrome to read market reports, but I dislike switching between 2 browsers, and I prefer the firefox PDF reader. When that calibre PI pdf wouldn't display in FF I thought - ah-ah here maybe a chance to solve this problem.

As far as MR is concerned there's nothing to do.

BR

HarryT · 10-13-2014, 05:12 AM

Cheers - thanks for clarifying that.

DoctorOhh · 10-14-2014, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

As far as MR is concerned there's nothing to do.

I use firefox and I am ignorant of the cause but this is the only site I've run across that if I say open in a new tab the PDF insists on d/ling even after a new tab opens. Since I have never had a need on this site to open a PDF for viewing except in testing out your post I guess there is nothing to do.

All other sites I frequent open the PDF in the new tab fine.

eschwartz · 10-14-2014, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Harry - Peter determined that the problem was NOT mime type

I think Moz changed something - it used to be I had a choices, now if the reader is enabled the only choice is display with Firefox, enable/disable the reader means futzing with extensions or about:config - PITA

I've been using Chrome to read market reports, but I dislike switching between 2 browsers, and I prefer the firefox PDF reader. When that calibre PI pdf wouldn't display in FF I thought - ah-ah here maybe a chance to solve this problem.

As far as MR is concerned there's nothing to do.

BR

I don't remember FF ever asking you to open it.

You can change it from Preferences ==> Applications, from Preview in Firefox to Save or Always Ask or whatever. No need for about:config

Personally, I think it makes sense to display the file however the user has it set by default. If you don't want it to display in pdf.js, then you can change that option. But to open certain ones at random, based on the whim of the server, is counterintuitive.

Thanks PeterT for the plugin.

10-10-2014, 07:35 PM	#1
BetterRed null operator (he/him) Posts: 21,645 Karma: 29710510 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney Australia Device: none	Can't open PDFs in Firefox sent from Mobileread Apparently Firefox will only use the integrated PDF Viewer if the server sends the file as 'application/pdf'. See cor-el's 3rd post in ==>> Why can't i open PDF files...? At the bottom of this post [GUI Plugin] QuarantineAndScrub there's a pdf attachment, I can't open it in the built in Firefox reader But I can open this one at the calibre site (in the last line of intro) ==>> calibre User Manual Conclusion - Mobileread is not sending the PDF link as 'application/PDF' Can the server can be adjusted so that links to PDF's can be read in with Firefox's viewer? BR

10-11-2014, 04:45 PM	#3
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,328 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	I just installed Header-Spy in Firefox and looked at the headers. As far as I can tell it IS sending the expected type. Code: HTTP/1.1 200 OK Server: nginx Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 20:35:56 GMT Content-Type: application/pdf Content-Length: 566728 Last-Modified: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 16:44:54 GMT Connection: keep-alive Cache-Control: max-age=31536000, private Expires: Sun, 11 Oct 2015 20:35:56 GMT Accept-Ranges: bytes, bytes Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=ISO-8859-1''quarantine_instructions.pdf Etag: "54395e86-8a5c8" When I install the inlinedisposition 2 for FireFox I get the result you expected; the opening of the PDF in the builtin FireFox viewer. As far as I can tell this is overriding the Code: Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=ISO-8859-1''quarantine_instructions.pdf header. Last edited by PeterT; 10-11-2014 at 04:49 PM.

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10-11-2014, 03:38 PM	#2
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Is this really the better behaviour? I personally prefer it very much to get the "Open with" dialogue (and can decide to download or open the file) instead of an automatic opening of a pdf file inside the active tab, but of course every one has other preferences.

10-12-2014, 07:28 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	BR, I'm a little confused now. What change are you asking to be made on MR's server?

10-12-2014, 08:03 AM	#6
PeterT Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,328 Karma: 78876004 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto Device: Libra H2O, Libra Colour	Harry, I think we now know that the files are being sent with the correct mime type, and if anything the issue is more the content-disposition header and how it is being interpreted by Firefox.

10-12-2014, 07:31 PM	#7
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,917 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	I hated the way PDFs rendered IN Firefox. I deactivated the Adobe reader PI so it uses the standalone version to open PDFs

10-13-2014, 05:12 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Cheers - thanks for clarifying that.

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