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Firefox no longer opens PDF files in PowerPDF, even though selected in Options/Applications

Andrew17894
Andrew17894
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Firefox has recently stopped launching PDF files from the web in Nuance PowerPDF, and instead displays the Save dialog every time I click on a link to a PDF file. PowerPDF is selected as the PDF application in Options. I've reinstalled Firefox with no success, even though I was up to date (v 66.0.5) before reinstalling. I've tried changing the Application setting to Always Ask or Save File and then changing it back, but it doesn't help.

On a possibly related note, I see some other posts that refer to a Preview in Firefox application option, but I have no such option.

Any thoughts?

Firefox has recently stopped launching PDF files from the web in Nuance PowerPDF, and instead displays the Save dialog every time I click on a link to a PDF file. PowerPDF is selected as the PDF application in Options. I've reinstalled Firefox with no success, even though I was up to date (v 66.0.5) before reinstalling. I've tried changing the Application setting to Always Ask or Save File and then changing it back, but it doesn't help. On a possibly related note, I see some other posts that refer to a Preview in Firefox application option, but I have no such option. Any thoughts?

All Replies (3)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Hi Andrew17894, Preview in Firefox is usually the first option. It can be hidden using a Policy file, but that would be extremely unusual on a system that isn't managed by an IT department:

Does the problem occur with all PDFs or only PDFs from particular servers? I ask because some servers may send a general Content-Type header for a PDF to bypass the regular handling to prevent viewing in a tab. In that case, Firefox will give you a best guess dialog but you cannot associate the generic type with a particular action since it also is used for EXE files.

I created an extension that works around this problem by intercepting requests and assigning the correct Content-Type to PDFs and a variety of other common files. You could give it a try if you like:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/content-type-fixer/

When you install it, the extension is snoozing. Click its Zzzz button to start monitoring requests. You can turn it off when you're not using a problem site; there is a tiny bit of overhead involved in checking each new page or download request.

Andrew17894
Andrew17894 Question owner
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There is no Preview in Firefox option. This seems to happen when I attempt to view PDFs from any web source. For that reason, I will hold off on installing your workaround extension - it worked fine a few days ago, but now it doesn't. Seems like something "broke."

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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Sometimes the settings file that stores download handling preferences becomes corrupted. You can rename the file and have Firefox rebuild it. Here's how:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, on the Profile Folder row, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in File Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Exit
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename handlers.json to something like handlersOLD.json. If you see a file named mimeTypes.rdf, rename that one to mimeTypesOLD.rdf.

Start Firefox back up again and typically your PDF handler would be defaulted back to "Preview in Firefox". Any improvement?