Jeff.Jacob

Q: iOS 7.1 Exchange PDF viewing

We have a fleet of iPads and iPhones that are having issues with iOS 7.1 and PDF attachments.

 

If we send the PDF that is having issues to an email on our exchange server then the PDF file will open as a blank white or black screen. If then sent to any other app it will not open (We use PDF Expert)

 

If we change any of the following it works and open just fine.

 

  • Use a gmail address and the same mail app.
  • Use the same PDF but opened and saved in a different PDf compatibility setting.
  • Open the same PDF from webmail.
  • Use a device running iOS 7.0 and open the PDF

 

I've reproduced the issue with 3 iOS 7.1 devices.

iPad 2, iOS 7.1

Posted on Mar 13, 2014 1:08 PM

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Q: iOS 7.1 Exchange PDF viewing

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  • by freebird3411,

    freebird3411 freebird3411 Apr 3, 2014 9:58 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 3, 2014 9:58 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob

    The problem is NOT isolated to PDFs.  We're seeing corrupted Word docs as well.

     

    "Download full message" does help if that message appears, but it is not always an option.  We're using Exchange 2007.

     

    This is crippling for our business.  Hope a patch is released soon.

  • by SignatureA,

    SignatureA SignatureA Apr 3, 2014 9:54 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 3, 2014 9:54 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob

    Clicking "Download the full message" doesn't work for Us either.  That usually does not appear in the email and when it does, it usually makes no difference.

     

    I just spent about 2 hours talking to 2 different Apple Live Chat Support Reps., 2 different Apple Live Chat Support 'Senior Advisors' and finally, a person with Apple Enterprise Support.  The Live Chat Reps. started out just basically saying that it was a Microsoft problem and I should contact them.  They even transferred me to someone at Microsoft who had gotten the wrong idea about everything and was of no help.  I had explained that everything was fine before iOS 7.1 but it didn't seem to be sinking in.

     

    Finally, the Enterprise Support Rep. contacted Apple's Engineering group which indicated that they are aware of the issue and are working on it.  The Enterprise Support Rep. did say that they were aware that the issue is with iOS7 but, they could not provide any additional info. and no ETA on a fix.  Basically, they said to keep an eye out for another iOS7 update that will hopefully fix the issue sooner than later.  However, they indicated in so many words that it might be fixed later on and that they might want me to help beta test the patch which I said I would do.  No guarantees.

     

    Anyway, they took our info. to gage the impact of this issue to our company (we have about 35 iOS devices).  The only way for me to follow-up is to call Enterprise Support at 866-752-7753 and give them the case number. I got the case started here ~>  http://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action.  If anyone can add more incentive for Apple to fix the issue then open a case at that link or maybe just call Enterprise Support directly and maybe save hours of run-around.  Good luck! 

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Apr 3, 2014 10:11 AM in response to freebird3411
    Level 6 (8,516 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 3, 2014 10:11 AM in response to freebird3411

    This is a pain.

     

    In the meantime, have you tried...

     

    Dropbox -- place the documents in the cloud

    another email client like webmail

     

    The stackexchange offers several work-arounds.

     

    Earlier in this dicussion:

     

     

    The problem can be reproduced and it comes with the 7.1 update. It seems like the following solutions work:

     

    http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/124239/ios-7-1-exchange-pdf-viewing?new reg=0a72f09446154d6eaeaadc1b23b57864

     

    The easiest solution seems to be to "Download full message" instead of tapping the attachment. After that the attachment should work fine and you can open it in the usual way.

     

    Annoying problem but this should help avoiding it till the fix.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Apr 3, 2014 10:27 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 6 (8,516 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 3, 2014 10:27 AM in response to rccharles

    This seems to be a problem with iPad mail corrupting the document.

     

    Perhaps if you zip the file before sending it, mail will not mess with the document.

     

    Get an unzip app.

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/izip-zip-unzip-unrar-tool/id413971331?mt=8

    http://snapguide.com/guides/unzip-a-file-on-ipad-or-iphone/

    http://osxdaily.com/2013/05/13/open-zip-files-iphone-ipad/

     

    Robert

  • by freebird3411,

    freebird3411 freebird3411 Apr 3, 2014 10:55 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 3, 2014 10:55 AM in response to rccharles

    This is not a solution for people who primarily receive rather than send documents.  You can't control how people package their attachments.

  • by SignatureA,

    SignatureA SignatureA Apr 3, 2014 12:30 PM in response to Jeff.Jacob
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 3, 2014 12:30 PM in response to Jeff.Jacob

    ^ exactly

     

    The 'solutions' suggested at stackexcange are appreciated, rccharles, but I don't see how those could possibly help:

     

    • Use a gmail address and the same mail app.  Not a solution for business, at all.
    • Use the same PDF but opened and saved in a different PDf compatibility setting.  Not a solution for the email recipient, at all.
    • Open the same PDF from webmail. OWA or, Exchange 'webmail' is very difficult and annoying to try to use in a Browser on an iPhone.
    • Use a device running iOS 7.0 and open the PDF Is there is a way to roll back to iOS 7 from iOS 7.1?
  • by SignatureA,

    SignatureA SignatureA Apr 3, 2014 12:33 PM in response to rccharles
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 3, 2014 12:33 PM in response to rccharles

    Also, as has been mentioned, the line: "Download full message" doesn't always appear in the email and, even when it does, it doesn't seem to make any difference at least most of the time.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Apr 3, 2014 2:05 PM in response to SignatureA
    Level 6 (8,516 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 3, 2014 2:05 PM in response to SignatureA

    The suggestions are only work-arounds until apple fixes the problem.

     

    • Open the same PDF from webmail. OWA or, Exchange 'webmail' is very difficult and annoying to try to use in a Browser on an iPhone.

     

    I thought they were refering to the webmail app.

     

    The idea is to use someother iPad email reader app.  Does it make a difference if you use another email client.

     

    some ideas...

    "   webMailReader is the most convenient way of managing your corporate email using Microsoft Exchange Outlook Web Access."

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/webmailreader/id494357907?mt=8

     

    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/webmail++/id392501588?mt=8

     

    • Use a device running iOS 7.0 and open the PDF Is there is a way to roll back to iOS 7 from iOS 7.1?

    Not that I know of.  Not good for the corporate environmnet.

    Robert

  • by Copernick,

    Copernick Copernick Apr 4, 2014 1:39 PM in response to SignatureA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 4, 2014 1:39 PM in response to SignatureA

    I just wanted to let you know.. if someone forwards an email that is already "corrupted", you will NOT BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL MESSAGE TO FIX THE ISSUE. The "corruption" will always follow that attachment.

     

    The message has to be downloaded in full by the original receiver before forwarding again. So far downloading Full Message in our business has been the proper workaround so far.

  • by Boris Tsoi,

    Boris Tsoi Boris Tsoi Apr 12, 2014 6:23 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2014 6:23 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob

    The problem still persists, and is more extensive than described above. I have encounted with the same file corrupt problem even with Microsoft Office documents and in particular when there is graphcs element in the document.

     

    If you are forwarding a message with attachment, the file corruption problem is very obvious, regardless if you have clicked the "Download full message" or not prior to forwarding.

     

    I have experimented and confirmed that the attachment could be read OK before forwarding, but only to find out that the document is still corrupted at the recipient end. The test document is a simple document created by pasting screenshots into Word 2010 and saved as PDF file.

  • by Boris Tsoi,

    Boris Tsoi Boris Tsoi Apr 12, 2014 6:39 AM in response to Boris Tsoi
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 12, 2014 6:39 AM in response to Boris Tsoi

    Supplement:

     

    The attachment (assume already fully downloaded) in the forwarded mail may still be readable in some cases when viewed on a PC client, but will be shown with corrupted graphics elements when viewed on iOS device.

  • by TheoSteil,

    TheoSteil TheoSteil Apr 14, 2014 2:04 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 14, 2014 2:04 AM in response to Jeff.Jacob

    Same problem, here... doesn't matter which attachment (PDF, xls, xlsx, doc, docx, jpg).

     

    Waiting for a bugfix comming soon!

  • by JDew11,

    JDew11 JDew11 Apr 16, 2014 11:17 AM in response to SignatureA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 16, 2014 11:17 AM in response to SignatureA

    SignatureA - I couldn't follow you link to add to the case file - can you tell me the actual case number so I can communicate this...Thanks!

  • by SignatureA,

    SignatureA SignatureA Apr 16, 2014 1:14 PM in response to JDew11
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apr 16, 2014 1:14 PM in response to JDew11

    JDew11 -

     

    I don't think that a different Apple ID can update the case that I opened.  You will most likely need to open another case under your Apple ID.  The link doesn't work in my IE 11 but it works in Chrome:  https://getsupport.apple.com/GetproductgroupList.action 

     

    Just click iPhone or iPad there.  You have to follow thru the suggestions there before you can create a case.  Or, just call Enterprise Support at 866-752-7753.  I hope that helps.

  • by freebird3411,

    freebird3411 freebird3411 Apr 22, 2014 1:55 PM in response to Jeff.Jacob
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apr 22, 2014 1:55 PM in response to Jeff.Jacob

    I'm still seeing the problem on the new 7.1.1 update.

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