Can't Copy Text From PDF Within Gmail Preview

Question

Can't Copy Text From PDF Within Gmail Preview

Hi,

If I click on a pdf attachment while inside gmail, I get the expected preview window of that PDF. However, I can't copy text from it. If I press Command-C, it just makes a beeping noise letting me know nothing is being copied. If I select text and right-click, there's no 'copy' option. Also, in the top toolbar, Copy is greyed out in the Edit menu. However, if I just hold down Command-C for a couple seconds the text will copy anyways (while hearing a dozen audible beeps). I can copy text without issue using Firefox from the same PDF attachment preview inside Gmail.

Thanks for any help.

Yosemite 10.10.1

Safari Version 8.0 (10600.1.25.1)

iMac (27-inch Late 2009), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Dec 11, 2014 11:19 PM

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Answer 1

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Dec 12, 2014 4:01 PM in response to greenkawasaki

Only on Gmail? Not other sites, such as the one linked below?

Apple - Support - Manuals

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Answer 2

Dec 12, 2014 4:05 PM in response to Linc Davis

Only in Gmail. I can copy and paste from a pdf in the link you added.

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Answer 3

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,535 points

Dec 12, 2014 4:18 PM in response to greenkawasaki

I can't tell you anything specific about Gmail, because I don't have an account on that site to test. You might have installed Adobe Reader or Acrobat, either of which includes a web plugin that takes over the display of PDF's in Safari. The plugin doesn't work very well. Otherwise, you've already found a workaround.

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Answer 4

Dec 12, 2014 5:12 PM in response to Linc Davis

This is Gmail's Internal Preview system that lets you preview PDFs, Word Docs, Images etc. I tested the same on my media box, Mac Mini, that doesn't have any software installed on it except bare bones Yosemite, and the problem is the exact same.

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Answer 5

Jan 28, 2015 2:26 PM in response to greenkawasaki

Having same issue as well. I've had this problem pre-Yosemite and it seems to be Safari related. Copy to clipboard in Gmail preview works fine in Chrome & Firefox, just not Safari. As you indicated if you hold ctrl-c long enough it will eventually copy, just forces you to listen to the series of annoying bongs.

Also there's no copy to clipboard in the context menu as illustrated below:

http://i.imgur.com/adyyJO4.png

Pretty annoying really, I'm not about to download a dozen attached PDFs to copy to clipboard, so now I'm sitting in the Delta lounge with my laptop bonging away as I wait for Safari to copy to clipboard and everyone looks at me like I'm a moron.

NOTE: No I do not have acrobat or any other software loaded besides vanilla Safari. This has gone on on my MBP, Mac Pro and now this brand new MBP I got Monday as a company upgrade, it literally has nothing installed on it at the moment.

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Answer 6

Feb 10, 2015 9:21 PM in response to greenkawasaki

I just wanted to say thanks for the workaround and I've reported it in case anyone hasn't done it yet.

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Answer 7

Feb 16, 2015 1:36 AM in response to dmitrydovidenko

I have exactly the same issue here. It is annoying! Waiting for a solution..

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Answer 8

bozatlim

Level 1

8 points

May 22, 2015 4:12 PM in response to greenkawasaki

At what point do Apple support reps respond to these support issues?

It would appear that this is a bug, if there is a way to do it by "forcing" it, and not a "security feature" or other...

I have seen this behavior in ALL gmail attachments that you view in preview (.xls, .doc, .pdf)

Would be good to get this resolved.

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Answer 9

Eric Root

Level 10

684,015 points

May 23, 2015 7:33 AM in response to bozatlim

Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions. These are mostly user to user discussions.

Send Apple feedback. They won't answer, but at least will know there is a problem. If enough people send feedback, it may get the problem solved sooner.

Feedback

Or you can use your Apple ID to register with this site and go the Apple BugReporter. Supposedly you will get an answer if you submit feedback.

Feedback via Apple Developer

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