Method:Classic General Q&A

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 16:53:51 GMT

I am wondering if adobe reader is somehow getting in the way of all this. Its been a few days and so far everthing is working great.

John M

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

jnoneiliv1 — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:22:30 GMT

That's good news. Yeah, I've given up on that Chrome viewer before, and just used Firefox for awhile. Sometimes eventually these things will fix themselves as updates come out. There are settings down deep in Chrome for the adobe viewer, but I get tired of spending hours digging deep into a problem that will move as soon as new releases come out.

The Method team is really good about being responsive to updates to the OS and browser environments, but there are so many updates from MSoft, Google, Adobe etc. that it's got to be tough to keep up so I try to adopt some strategies that allow time for the environment to update and settle back down. I like your solution. It may not be necessary always, but it's a nice fallback solution and some users might like the choice of download of view.

Jamie

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 20:38:57 GMT

I got it to work.

I disabled the chome viewer and its downloading the pdf to my download list. Double click and i see it. Works for me.

I tested the save and email button and my cusomer can read it every time.

I could make two buttons. One for downloading and the other to view. Works for me.

John M

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:49:21 GMT

Hey Jamie,

I tired what you said about removing it and it did not work. I will start using E. Been a while since I used E and its pretty quick now. This reminds me of when I troubleshoot irrigation wires. Every once in a while, the wires are installed correctly, and everything tests out good but sometimes it just does not work.

Thanks!

John M

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

jnoneiliv1 — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:21:11 GMT

But, I think you said you could save the file, it was just missing some information? Which could point to the Method report generator? I really haven't done a good job of digesting all the behaviour you reported and I"m shooting from the hip trying to recollect problems I've had before.

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

jnoneiliv1 — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:18:23 GMT

John,

I have never seen a "race" condition error in an action sequence. I think they always complete each action before proceeding to the next. I was always expecting to find one, but never did.

I had this problem saving pdf files from Chrome to the desktop before. It's like a could save the file one time, then I would need to completely close chrome or reboot the PC to save a second file. I think this is why the problem is intermittant or is hard to reproduce. I think there was some kind of cache or file locking mechanism happening between Chrome and the PC. I don't think it was related to Method or the pdf file type. I think I just go through the Chrome updates and the problem went away.

I vaguely remember with some other issues I've worked on in Windows 8.1 that it can be hard to completely remove Chrome and get it completely reinstalled without inheriting some potential security functionalities that stop Chrome from working correctly. I think File Saving to the desktop sounds like something that could get hung up in Windows security. I'm guessing moving data out of the browser session onto the hard drive is a something Windows would care about.

My best guess is look at security issues with your Windows version and Chrome. Updates should fix this, but you might need to scrub Chrome off and re-load from scratch.

Jamie

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:51:15 GMT

Hey James,

The number one thing that gets me is it works great on my laptop but my desk top all the custom screens will not save a pdf file on a custom report unless I save it to my computer twice. If i use a custom screen but use method issued report then i do not have any issues.

Just courious can a process or action happen so fast that it can skip instructions?

John M

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

jnoneiliv1 — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 17:21:48 GMT

John,

This may be totally bogus, but for all my report generation sequences in Method the first Action that I have in the sequence is a Save. I also save again at the end since I update Invoices with the print date when the print Invoice button is pressed. The report generation all happens on the Method server, I believe, but I just want to make sure that all the browser information is fresh updated to the server.

I looked at your problem since at first I thought you might be talking about another pdf problem where a pdf attachment to a record won't open. Which is also fixed by reselecting the record in question. For example if you have a screen open that has a pdf attachment on another tab and you switch to that tab, often you get a 404 resource not found. But if you reselect the record and reload it on that tab, the attachment will load.

It's not easy to keep browswer contents truly synch'd with the server reliably and not sacrifice performance. I don't really know how to effect these kinds of cache refreshes programatically in Action Sequences and for the most part the Method code is really good about this, but sometimes I throw in something I think will force a reload of form or screen data just in case.

I do the same stuff when trying to automate grids. Sometimes I throw in a full Save action just for good measure since some of the grid row or grid saves are not complete.

Again, all the above may be totally bogus as I haven't regression tested some of this stuff, just hacked up some fixes some time ago.

Cheers,

James

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:53:41 GMT

I do not have a issue with E or firefox.

It is my understanding that on your end using

1. a custom S&I invoice screen,

2. using simple invoice,

3. using chome

4. and saving that pdf to your computer the results is the file is not damaged? If that is the case there is something wrong with my computer.

John

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

Method_Justin — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 16:16:30 GMT

Hi John,

I have been unable to replicate the issue as per your instructions, using Chrome for Windows Version 39.0.2171.95 m.

Would you please try replicating the issue with a different browser and reporting back here on the results?

Let me know.

- Justin

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 07:33:28 GMT

Justin,

Ok try this.

1. Press the print preview button, watch the screen pop up with the invoice.

2. Press the save disk icon to save to your computer

3. Choose the desktop location then click on save.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3

You should have two icons showing. Press the first one that should be damamged and it wont show. Press the second icon and it should show up.

Seems like it wants to print on the fist try but its lasking data? Really not sure. This explains why some of my customers are not getting a complete invoice. I get calls from time to time saying they see the outline of a invoice but no data just static datea on the invoice. Static data meaning A logo, the word discription, Month of service, Due date. Stuff like that. No customer addres or prices.

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

Method_Justin — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 15:48:22 GMT

John,

The issue with PDFs in Chrome isn't replicable 100% of the time, it's somewhat random. If you're worried about your report being corrupt, try opening it in Firefox or Internet Explorer. If you have issues in one of those browsers, then Chrome isn't to blame.

Let me know how it goes.

- Justin

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:51:07 GMT

Justin

New evetns just happend.

Laptop computer>Chrome VS 39.0.2171.95 m>Method>Custom Screen Invoice> Print Preview Button> Save to desktop>Icon shows up>double click on icon=PDF shows up

Laptop computer>Chrome VS 39.0.2171.95 m>Method>Stock Screen Invoice> Print Preview Button> Save to desktop>Icon shows up>double click on icon=PDF shows up

Desk top computer>Chrome VS 39.0.2171.95 m>Method>Custom Screen Invoice> Print Preview Button> Save to desktop>Icon shows up>double click on icon=PDF does not shows up. File damaged.

Desk top computer>Chrome VS 39.0.2171.95 m>Method>Stock Screen Invoice> Print Preview Button> Save to desktop>Icon shows up>double click on icon=PDF shows up

Taking the PDF file the lap top and move that to the desktop, i can still see that file opend.

This does not make any seanc from a chrome perspective. If i can take your standard method stock invoice screen and it works, but it does not work with the custome screen could the report be causing this?

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

Method_Justin — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 14:18:47 GMT

John,

Would you mind sharing which version of Chrome you're using? You can find this information by clicking the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner of Chrome and then clicking About Google Chrome.

Thanks!

- Justin

Re: Cant open new PDF files.

John M — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 05:16:14 GMT

Mine is working now that i took out the adblocker extention.

It also works on E

John M