Cannot open PDFs in new window

[cmsgeek]

I recently came across an issue where I get an error from IE when either navigating to a .pdf document or opening a new window with the .pdf document using the getURL() method (this also occurs with other types of non-html documents). The function works fine when browsing in Firefox or other browsers. To further confuse things it seems the problem occurs only with a particular server that runs IIS.

initially when trying to open the document I get a prompt asking if I want to download or save because the file looks "suspicious" and then when I click on open or save I get an error stating that IE was unable to open the file.

The IS department that manages the server claims that no error logs are generated when this happens.

I have attempted to use javascript workarounds and the only method that has worked is redirecting to the document using document.location. I get the same error if using the window.open.

[rocknbil]

Did you use the methods specified in this thread [webmasterworld.com]?

The second parameter is the target.

getURL('url','_blank');

[cmsgeek]

Thank you for your quick reply.

I did. I setup a simple flash that opens the very same .pdf document using the same getURL('foo.pdf','_blank') method on another server and it works fine no matter the browser.

[cmsgeek]

OK! found a solution. It appears that if the server is set to expire pages these problems will occur (IIS only?). We were able to overcome by setting the server to expire pages after 1 day.

Hope this helps anyone else who runs into this same problem.

[whoisgregg]

Welcome to WebmasterWorld cmsgeek!

Thanks also for following up with the solution you discovered. :)

[Sari]

Hi cmsgeek--I am running into a similar issue. I am a newbie when it comes to server settings. Can you outline how you set the server to expire the pages? Thanks!

[cmsgeek]

You will need to get to the properties of your site in the IIS snap-in. Once the properties box appears select the "HTTP Headers" tab. On that page you should be able to enable content expiration by checking the box next to it and then select "Expire after" where you can set the duration.

Note that in my particular case "Expire immediately" was the setting my server was set to when I was experiencing the problem. I didn't try deselecting content expiration altogether which may also work.

[Sari]

Thank you! I'll give that a try :)

[rocknbil]

Doesn't the meta tag work if you want to expire pages?

<META HTTP-EQUIV="Expires" CONTENT="Sat, 01 Dec 1993 23:59:59 GMT">

The restrictive factor being it has to be the correct date format, as long as it's in the past it should expire.

[whoisgregg]

You can't use a meta tag in a PDF document. For that, you have to go into your server config.

[rocknbil]

<Forehead is now crimson from smacking> DUH :-)

[whoisgregg]

Don't feel too bad. At least a PDF is a text format -- better than suggesting to paste the meta tag into a gif. :)