428771 - Fail in downloading PDF files. Plugins for Adobe files seem not working

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[Gippo Pippo]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; it; rv:1.8.1.13) Gecko/20080402 Firefox/2.0.0.13 Flock/1.1.1
Build Identifier: Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.13

Very frequently it is impossible to download PDF files directly from links while surfing the net. However, it is still possible to save the required files with option menu "Save with name" (right click in mouse). 

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Connect to any PDF file/document to download.
2. Try to click with left buttom mouse
3. Download does not proceed: Blank page appears.
4. Click with right buttom and "Save" file in Desktop.
5. Download actually happens.
Actual Results:  
The problem is explained in "Steps to reproduce"

Expected Results:  
If I proceed with n. 4 I can succeed to get the desired PDF file.

Comment 1

[Stefan Sitter [:ssitter]]

Neither Sunbird nor Lightning allow surfing the web. I assume you meant Firefox.

Comment 2

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

Did you try to reinstall Acrobat Reader ?

Comment 3

[Dawn]

I believe the bug I am experiencing is the similar.  When I click on a pdf file in gmail, firefox will only allow me to save the file - it won't launch the plug in or download and open the file.  When I "open in an IE tab" it works just fine.

I did at one point go into the firefox program files and delete a file that fixed it - and I am sorry but I can't remember what that file was.

I have gone into options and tried to reset the program that firefox uses to open pdf files - and it will work for a while and then go back to the problem.  I even installed foxit reader and that worked for a while.

I only have this problem in gmail - but since I don't have this problem in IE in gmail - I am not sure it is a gmail problem or a firefox problem.

Comment 4

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

>I only have this problem in gmail - but since I don't have this problem in IE
in gmail - I am not sure it is a gmail problem or a firefox problem.

IE is known to be broken. What's looking like doing the correct thing is in many of such cases the wrong thing according to the specifications.

>I believe the bug I am experiencing is the similar.  When I click on a pdf file
>in gmail, firefox will only allow me to save the file - it won't launch the
>plug in or download and open the file.

For a browser the file extension doesn't/must not matter.
You need the headers that the server sends for this file.
You can get this with 2 different cases:
The server sends a wrong content type for example application/octet-stream instead of application/pdf or if the server sends the file with a content-disposition: attachment header.
That you get no prompt to open with with an application (without a way to save this decision) which would be the correct option cizkd be a dupe of bug 369431

Comment 5

[Vince Adler]

Hello,

I'm having problems with viewing and downloading .pdfs in Firefox. I'm a mac OS  10.5.7 and running FireFox 3.0.11. Every time I try to view a .pdf in the browser window or as a separate download - nothing happens. The status bar reads 'done' after I click the link for the .pdf file. Here is an example of a site - http://www.linotype.com/191574/itclubalingraphcomplete-valuepack.html. In the upper right hand corner there is a link for a .pdf sample. If I click the link, nothing happens. But if I use Safari, the link works. 

Is this issue a Firefox issue or something on my end? 

Thank you, VA.

Comment 6

[Matthias Versen [:Matti]]

Vince Adler: Are you on OS X or win32 ?
You should ask the support in suchg cases as this is most cases a bug in Firefox and bugzilla is only for real bugs.

The Support knowledge base contains this article : http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Opening+PDF+files+within+Firefox

Comment 7

[Vince Adler]

Hi,

I included in my earlier comment that I am on OS 10.5.7. 

Thanks for the info.

VA.

Comment 8

[Evert Mouw]

I have similar problems. 

http://www.evertmouw.nl/index.php?c=computer&p=Adobe%20PDF%20plugin%20problem

Summary: Firefox with the Adobe PDF plugin enabled does not offer to download a PDF but always opens the PDF, even when the server sends a content-disposition: attachment HTTP header. Firefox then blanks the current webpage, so you have to hit the back button to return to the original page. This does not happen to Firefox when the plugin is disabled. Internet Explorer and Google Chrome are not affected.

Please have a look at my website for a full report, including screenshots.

http://www.evertmouw.nl/index.php?c=computer&p=Adobe%20PDF%20plugin%20problem

Comment 9

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

This bug was reported on Firefox 2.x or older, which is no longer supported and will not be receiving any more updates. I strongly suggest that you update to Firefox 3.6.3 or later, update your plugins (flash, adobe, etc.), and retest in a new profile. If you still see the issue with the updated Firefox, please post here. Otherwise, please close as RESOLVED > WORKSFORME
http://www.mozilla.com
http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles
http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+mode

Comment 10

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

No reply, INCOMPLETE. Please retest with Firefox 3.6.x or later and a new profile (http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles). If you continue to see this issue with the newest firefox and a new profile, then please comment on this bug.

Comment 11

[Evert Mouw]

Using the latest software: FF 3.6.3 fully updated, Windows 7 fully updated, I could no longer reproduce the bug I described earlier. Whether or not the Adobe PDF plugin was enabled did not affect the behaviour. For the specific case I reported, this is thus resolved.