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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.
Michael R.54
New member | Level 2
What about if my students are accessing it from a public link remotely? How can they get it to force open on chrome? Any ideas? I am a teacher and I am sharing a PDF file that I make for their assignments. The file always has worked fine and opened. Now the hyperlinks on my PDF are not working with Dropbox's new priortity view.
For example, here my file:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w5p5be1tezxcyxm/avtf1%20assignment%20calendar%202017%2018.pdf?dl=0
My students access it by typing in a tinyurl....
tinyurl.com/321action
How can I get it to force open on Google without Dropbox view when they are accessing it remotly through a public link? ? Can you ask you dropbox tech guy that helped you for me please??? I cannot seem to get anybody to help me when I send in a support ticket.
Thank you and I will be forever grateful!!
Michael
jaidgossamer
8 years agoHelpful | Level 7
I am seconding this . . . previously, I was able to preview pdf files in Chrome's native pdf viewer by clicking Shift + Ctrl + File. Now, the functionality has been removed. What happened?
The pdf viewer provided by Dropbox is NOT a welcome replacement, it is not as fast and efficient as the Chrome native viewer, and it is difficult to share with others. Please fix or find a way to allow users to switch back and forth between dropbox viewer and the native viewer!
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