PDF-XChange Pro and Google search results

[pr3m]

Hi,

We're having an issue with PDF-XChange Pro 4.0.0185 (as well as some older versions). Whenever I search something in Google with IE8 and some results happen to be PDF files, I can't open any of them directly without getting "To help protect your security, Internet Explorer blocked this site from downloading files to your computer." When I click "Download file...", I am then redirected to Google start page losing my search results. I will then need to perform the search again and only after that I can open the file. A workaround is to open every link in new tab, but I'm looking for a solution not a workaround.
This is really annoying behaviour and because PDF-XChange is part of our new Win7 standard enterprise workstation, we need to fix this. Just to compare, I didn't manage to reproduce that kind of behaviour with Adobe Reader - all PDF files can be opened from search results without any security prompts.
Using another browser is not an option. If Adobe Reader can work fine when it should be possible to make PDF-Xchange work same way? Is there some kind of browser settings or something in PDF-XChange that could be tweaked to fix this. Have other customers experienced this?


Christjan

[Corwin - Tracker Sup]

Hi Christjan,

Can you check your IE security settings? To do this you need to go to:
Tools-> Internet Options dialog, show "Security" tab, click on "Custom level button", scroll down to "Downloads" and set "Automatic Prompting for file downloads" to "Disable".

HTH.

[pr3m]

Thank you, that suggestion really works! When I disable "Automatic prompting for file downloads" for internet zone, Google no longer shows that message bar.
However, as this change would be applied to all enterprise workstations through GPO, I still need to consider all possible options. I wouldn't like to change browser settings because of one application. How does Adobe Reader manage to get pass this browser setting?

May be you have any other ideas as well? Can this be controlled inside PDF-XChange. If not, then I suggest this should be solved in future version so that there would be no need to modify browser settings.

[Corwin - Tracker Sup]

Hi,

I have tried to reproduce such behaviour on different test configurations, but with no luck. PDF-XChange Viewer opens pdf without any prompt for file download (even if this option is enabled in browser). Maybe you have some other security settings then I'm not aware of?

[pr3m]

We've applied a security group policy template according to Microsoft recommendations, so yes, the security settings may differ from standard ones.
Can you point out specific security settings that may cause this behaviour (beside "Automatic prompting for file downloads")?
Might it be possible to make PDF X-Change more independent without relying on default browser settings so much?

Our browser settings haven't anyhow affected Adobe Reader's work.

[Vasyl - PDF-XChange]

Just for confirmation.
Do you want to open pdf-documents directly in your browser? If yes - please check one option.
For this:
1. run our standalone PDF-XChange Viewer application.
2. go to Menu/Edit/Preferences/Files Association
3. the 'Display in Browsers' check box should be turned on. If not - please turn on this option and press 'Make Default..' button.
4*. if this check box is already turned on please re-enable this option by:
- uncheck check box
- press the 'Make Default..' button
- turn on option again and press 'OK' or 'Make Default...' button
NOTE: we talking about our non-portable PDF-XChange Viewer only.

[pr3m]

I had a look at the file association preferences and noticed that "Display PDF in Browser" is unchecked. However, it's dimmed out (not active), and I can't put a checkmark there. I'm logged in with local administrative rights. The button "Make default PDF viewer" didn't actually do anything noticeable and it didn't change the behaviour.

I tried changing "DisplayInBrowser" registry value to 1 in "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Tracker Software\PDFViewer\FileAssociations". The "Display PDF in Browser" option was then showed as checked (still disabled, though). This action didn't actually change the behaviour of opening PDF file links in Google.

Just a note about how I produce this issue. I google: "filetype:pdf", and click on any of the links in results.

Btw, in new IE9 Beta the PDF files are opened fine (a prompt is shown whether I want to open or save).

[Vasyl - PDF-XChange]

However, it's dimmed out (not active), and I can't put a checkmark there.

It looks like - you have incorrect installation of our PDF-XChange Viewer application (probably you switched off this option 'Browser plugins' in installation dialogue).
Please try to install PDF-XChange Viewer again (in the same folder) from:
https://www.pdf-xchange.com/product ... nge-viewer
Full uninstall is not required before the new installation.

[pr3m]

Yes, our architects have decided to remove IE plugin in our environment, to make PDF X-Change installation "lighter".
However, I made a test with full install. By default it acted same. When I enabled "Display PDF in Browser" and made it default, it opened PDF files fine, but inside the browser. Yes, it would also solve this issue.

Are there any more ideas? I'm trying to find the best one with minimum impact to our current architecture and browser security settings.

[pr3m]

Actually I just discovered that the statement "it works in Acrobat reader" is wrong. If I don't use browser plug-in, it behaves exactly the same in both PDF viewers.

I think I can consider this case closed and we'll make a choice between IE plugin and security setting. Thank you very much for your support!~


Br,
Christjan

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Christian,

OK we will consider it solved on our side as well.
The choice is up to you now, and all the kudos are for Vasyl for helping in here

Regards,
Stefan