Embedded PDFs won't load

Jun 09, 2022

Hello, 

I have created e-learning content which has embedded PDF files when you click on a button. When uploaded to the LMS, it works on Google Chrome and IE but a blank page appears when on Edge. This is using the Articulate Storyline application. I published it using SCORM 1.2. 

Has anyone had a similar problem and know the solution on how to fix this?

Thank you in advance, 

Chloe

12 Replies
Luciana Piazza

Hi Chloe! 

I can understand how frustrating it is to not have PDF files properly displayed in all of your browsers. 

In order to better assist you I have a few questions:

If you would be able to share your .story file in this thread, I'd be happy to take a look! 

Thanks so much!

Chloe Mylchreest

Hi Luciana, 

Thank you for your help and guidance.

The PDF are not stored online, when I click the button on the course it does show a URL but the page does not load. It is loading some of the PDF files on both Edge and Chrome but not all. I have used the same triggers to upload all PDF documents onto the Articulate Storyline.

Will SCORM Cloud explain that there is a problem? I have never used this application before and it is weird how some PDFs load and others don't!

Thank you, 

Chloe

Luciana Piazza

Hi Chloe, 

Thank you for sharing more details about the PDF functionality when viewing in different browsers. 

It sounds like how you are linking to the PDF's needs to be revisited. 

Could you please share: 

  •  if all the PDFs are linked from the same local folder/directory?
  • if the problematic PDF files contain any special characters or long titles?
  • if you are experiencing the same links never loading?

If you are still having trouble, we'd be happy to take a look at your file and troubleshoot with you in this thread or privately in a support case. Whatever you are most comfortable with. 

Have a great afternoon!

Jerry Pitts

I am having an issue with the attached interactive. On slide 1.24 (Article) I have an embedded PDF. When I publish it to the web it works fine, but when I upload it to Canvas via SCORM the slide is blank. I need the PDF to open in the slide so learners will not have to navigate out of the interactive. I am uploading it as a gradable assignment in Canvas. Do you have any suggestions as to how I can make this work. I know that I have it embedded correctly but if you have any suggestions as to another way I can accomplish this it would be greatly appreciated. I did try embedding it with a direct link to the article but that did not work either. Here is the direct link to the article if you can figure it out https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14752409221115857.

Thanks!

Jerry Pitts

Jose Tansengco

Hello Jerry, 

Happy to help!

It looks like you have a webpage embedded instead of a PDF in Slide 1.24.

You'll notice in the file path that the embedded object is something called index.html and not a PDF. If you would like to display a PDF on the slide, you'll need to do the following: 

  1. Host your PDF file on a file server. If you don't have access to one, please reach out to your IT staff to see if they could set one up for you. 
  2. Add this PDF file as a web object in the slide

If the PDF embedded is in the web page, unfortunately there isn't a way to modify this behavior since the browser settings determine if a link will open in a new tab or in a new window. You'll be able to control how a link opens via triggers: 

But not when the hyperlink is part of an embedded web page. I'll let other members of the community chime in to see how the addressed a similar requirement!

Jerry Pitts

Thanks! That's exactly what I need to happen if it will work in Canvas. This is not the article I need though. That was a previous article. Could you possibly swap it out for the attached article or send me instructions on how you did it? https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14752409221115857

Thanks!


Jürgen Schoenemeyer

here is the new version of the updated WebObject (incl. fallback, if the pdfViewer is disabled)

https://360.articulate.com/review/content/735b9010-2283-44b2-b85b-ff37991ec1a0/review

how to change the pdf

  • replace the pdf in "webobjectV2/pdf/" with a new pdf file
  • update in "webobjectV2/index.html" line 60 + 63 the name of the pdf

  • open the storyline file
  • delete the old webobject (webobjects cannot be updated)
  • import the updated webobject -> path to folder "... /webobjectV2/"
  • correct the size of the imported webobject (10, 10, 700, 520) -> (0, 0, 720, 540)