Why won't Safari show Skydrive pdf files under ios 6

Question

Level 1

11 points

Why won't Safari show Skydrive pdf files under ios 6

Like a number of others, I posted on the MS Skydrive forum

viz: I notice that when I try to access the pdf files on my skydrive, there will be an error message written as follows "Unable to display "my_pdf_file_name" in this browser. Check your browser settings to see if you have a PDF plugin installed and enabled. If you have a PDF viewing application, you can download the file and open it from your computer" However, when i click download, nothing happens.

I have to share a set of documents via Skydrive and the email link I send opens safari (Ios 6) and bingo! The pdf files cannot be opened and nor do they download.

The response form Microsoft is:

After testing it has been found that the cause of this is the way Safari handles 3rd party cookies. This is not an issue with SkyDrive but instead Safari iteslf. Other websites have the PDF as an attachment allowing it to just open, where SkyDrive has security that must be passed. Safari is not allowing this cookie/script to run and preventing. So, this will need to be an Apple resolution.

Can someone at Apple resolve this or come up with a sensible workaround please?

Pete

iPad (3rd gen) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iOS 6.0.1, Windows XP, 7 & 8

Posted on Nov 25, 2012 12:12 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Phil0124

Level 10

216,842 points

Nov 25, 2012 12:48 PM in response to duckndilly

Apple is not here, this is a user to user forum.

To contact apple and suggest the change you can go here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

Just select your device and fill in the form.

As to how you can get PDFs from skydrive Why not use the Skydrive app?

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/skydrive/id477537958?mt=8

You can open them natively in the app or after they've opened save them into iBooks, or any other App that may be able to open them.

Reply

Answer 2

duckndilly Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 25, 2012 12:57 PM in response to Phil0124

Thanks Phil,

I realise this is the user forum, I pasted my original question to apple here in the hope someone has a workaround.

Neither Apple nor Microsoft own up to causing the problem.

I have the skydrive app but it's no use in this case. I get an email link to 'someone's' public access folder and as soon as I click it, Safari opens the link and shows the various file icons but that's as far as can get. Frustratingly, I'm sure it worked under ios5.

Regards

PETE

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 25, 2012 12:58 PM in response to duckndilly

Have you tried a different browser?

Reply

Answer 4

duckndilly Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 25, 2012 1:06 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Hi Meg,

Yes, Chrome. Same problem.

The link I get is a to website, on the website is a link to a set of PDF files held in skydrive. Word docs work fine.

Thx

Pete

Reply

Answer 5

Phil0124

Level 10

216,842 points

Nov 25, 2012 1:07 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Yeah, maybe another browser will be able to download it. I tried with Opera but it won't even open the sktdrive site. It crashes every time.

But there are quite a few other browsers in the store that may be able to do it.

Reply

Answer 6

Nov 25, 2012 1:08 PM in response to duckndilly

How about Goodreader?

Reply

Answer 7

duckndilly Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 25, 2012 1:43 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

Meg,

Goodreader may work, though it appears that it requires to connect with a known skydrive account. The account in this instance is not 'publicly' known. I can't tell if it will act as a browser to access the files though I would doubt it.

Unfortunately I can't expect the 20 or so iPad users to buy an app just to read the files.

The best I can manage is to download the entire skydrive folder via Safari as a zip file and open it in fileapp and read each file there.

Regards

Pete

Reply

Answer 8

Nov 25, 2012 1:48 PM in response to duckndilly

Goodreader, if I recall correctly, will allow you to paste in a link. I've never tried it for what you want to do but thought it might work. Sorry it wasn't more successful.

Best of luck.

Reply