Hello all,
I have recently noticed that when I try to open PDF files downloaded from my email, my iMac tries to use Preview to do so as usual, but when the PDF file opens with Preview, it is just a blank page. I can still use Preview to open other PDF files already in my documents folder. Seems strange. Any advice?
Thanks,
Chris
iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)
Please follow these directions to delete the Mail "sandbox" folder.
Back up all data.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail
Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select
Services ▹ Reveal
from the contextual menu.* A Finder window should open with a folder named "com.apple.mail" selected. If it does, move the selected folder—not just its contents—to the Desktop. Leave the Finder window open for now.
Log out and log back in. Launch Mail and test. If the problem is resolved, you may have to recreate some of your Mail settings. You can then delete the folder you moved and close the Finder window.
Important: This action will delete any signatures and custom Mail stationery that you created. If you want to preserve that data, ask for instructions.
Caution: If you change any of the contents of the sandbox, but leave the folder itself in place, Mail may crash or not launch at all. Deleting the whole sandbox will cause it to be rebuilt automatically.
*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. In the Finder, select
Go ▹ Go to Folder...
from the menu bar and paste into the box that opens by pressing command-V. You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return.
Hey Linc,
Thank you for your reply; however, I followed your instructions and when I download the pdf file from the email, it still opens up a blank page. I moved com.apple.mail to the desktop and tried it again-blank page. Another com.appel.mail file was indeed created. i tried this three times no help. Any other ideas?
Thanks,
Chris
Please send yourself a test message with a known-good PDF attachment. Same?
Hi Linc,
I went into my documents folder and emailed myself a PDF file. I then went into mail, downloaded that emailed file to my desktop, double clicked on it, and it opens up fine with Preview and I can read it. I asked the person who emailed me the other two pdf files that Preview cannot seem to open correctly, and I asked her if there was some security measure on them or something and she said no, everyone else can open them just fine. I amat a loss and am worried that going forward, emails I get with PDF files that aren't already on my computer will not be able to be seen at all? What do you think with this new information please?
Thank you again for all your time and help.
Chris
The mail server probably has a web interface. Log into it and download the attachment. Any difference?
sorry mate, didn't follow that one. Do yu mean log into the mail server of the person who sent it to me? I have no idea how I am going to do that. Its a work email. Clarification please?
Chris
I mean your own mail server. For example, if this were an iCloud account, you would go to icloud.com. If it's your ISP, go to the ISP's website and look for a webmail link.
preview opening blank pdf files
