Firefox built-in pdf viewer missing download function
For reasons unclear to me, I lost the download function in the Firefox built-in pdf viewer. In place of it is the function to open an existing pdf file (and that works as advertised). See the uploaded image. What happened?! I need the download function back.
The reason I need to solve this problem is that I cannot get Firefox to NOT use the built-in viewer. I have tried changing the associated actions to pdf files to Always Ask, to Adobe Acrobat reader. Nothing gets applied. Help!
Vahaolana nofidina
Hi SunnyFoxGal, since that's a paid access, I can't verify it for myself, but I suspect they are hosting a customized viewer. The upload button reminds me of the demo here:
https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/web/viewer.html
When a site implements its own version of the viewer, it can control the buttons that appear on the bar, and they don't need to send Firefox the actual PDF, which would explain why the download settings on the Options page have no effect.
But you wouldn't expect to see that everywhere. Do you see it on other sites, too?
Hamaky an'ity valiny ity @ sehatra 👍 1All Replies (6)
Vahaolana Nofidina
Hi SunnyFoxGal, since that's a paid access, I can't verify it for myself, but I suspect they are hosting a customized viewer. The upload button reminds me of the demo here:
https://mozilla.github.io/pdf.js/web/viewer.html
When a site implements its own version of the viewer, it can control the buttons that appear on the bar, and they don't need to send Firefox the actual PDF, which would explain why the download settings on the Options page have no effect.
But you wouldn't expect to see that everywhere. Do you see it on other sites, too?
Thank you @jscher2000 for looking into it. That may indeed be the case -- the website implements its own version of pdf viewer -- because in further testing I ran into the same viewer in both Firefox and Chrome. I didn't know that's possible, until today.
I also tried pdf download links on other sites and I was able to open them using Adobe Acrobat reader, so that setting did stick in my Firefox. So in the end the "problem" is all mine (or the journal site in this case)... :-(
What happens if you use "Save Page As" ?
It's odd that there's a gap where the Download button should be. Perhaps a style rule is hiding it. Could you create an ugly mess by using this feature:
- activate the menu bar by tapping the Alt key
- View > Page Style > No Style
Among the various buttons near the top of the page, is the Download button shown? (See attached example using the Mozilla demo page.)
To undo the change if needed -- it only affects that tab:
- View > Page Style > Basic Page Style
@cor-el If I use "Save Page As" in the viewer, the browser would save it as htm. I now discover that I could use "Save Link As..." on the link that leads to this preview and save the pdf that way. But, I don't know if that's because now the icon for download has miraculously returned! Thank goodness I have the screenshot to show that it really wasn't there earlier.
Yes, it is shown now, as the Download button has returned on the toolbar as well. I have no idea why it disappeared earlier.
jscher2000 said
It's odd that there's a gap where the Download button should be. Perhaps a style rule is hiding it. Could you create an ugly mess by using this feature:Among the various buttons near the top of the page, is the Download button shown? (See attached example using the Mozilla demo page.)
- activate the menu bar by tapping the Alt key
- View > Page Style > No Style