140423 - Some PDF Files open in Acrobat window and not in Mozilla (content-type application/x-pdf)

Status: VERIFIED INVALID

(Core Graveyard :: Plug-ins, defect)

Description

[Kevin Chen]

Over the past few months, I've noticed that sometimes Mozilla will not display
Adobe Acrobat PDF files in the browser, but instead display the helper app box:

"You have chosen to download file of type: "Adobe Acrobat Document"
[application/x-pdf] from

http://whatever/

What should Mozilla do with this file?

Open with AcroExch"

Clicking OK opens the window in an Acrobat Reader window successfully.  I've
noticed this quite a few times over the past few months, but never bothered to
report it as I thought it was just an occasional quirk.  I now noticed that it
consistently happens with certain servers.

The most recent file I've had this occur to is
http://www.ieee.org/mem_serv/studapp.pdf .  It appears that the content-type is
causing the problem.

I'm using 2002042608.  For comparison, I tested it on Netscape 4.79, and it
simply asked me to pick an app or save the file (AcroExch was not picked
automatically, as it was with Mozilla).  Internet Explorer simply gives an error
that it was unable to get the file.

Of course, I would expect the PDF file to start in the browser, and not in the
external application.

I'm using Acrobat Reader 5.05.  I'm not sure whether this is a bug with the
program, or Mozilla, though all 3 browsers seem to have some sort of difficulty
with the file.

Comment 1

[shrirang khanzode]

 I am not sure if  this is our problem. At least in mozilla, the file loads..but 
not in 4.x and IE. maybe, it's a file/content type issue. Can a server dominate 
how a pdf is served? either inside the browser or as a standalone?

Comment 2

[Kevin Chen]

Well, the problem seems to be the Content-type the server is sending out. 
Instead of application/pdf, it's sending application/x-pdf.

As I said before, though, this isn't the only URL I've had this occur on, so
it's not an isolated case.  It is a bit odd, though, that it does automatically
detect it should be opened by Acrobat Reader when it doesn't display in the browser.

Comment 3

[rubydoo123]

I tested this on Opera as well. The server administrator would need to configure
the server for application/pdf for the pdf files to open within the browser.
They might want the pdf file to open outside the browser. In any event, we are
doing the correct thing.

Comment 4

[shrirang khanzode]

v