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Same problem, same operating system, same outlook. How is it possible that Adobe doesn't repair the bug?

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

ADOBE COME ON!!!

I am having a similiar problem with Vista x32.  The preview handler is able to display the pdf, but the fields that were filled in prior to the email are not showing any values, but when you open the pdf with reader the values are there.  Below is a more detail account of what is happening.  I have contacted the third party dll as well, but thought someone here might have an idea too.

I have a client that is using the a thrid party PDF dll (Syncfusion) to generate and email PDFs reports. There seems to be an issue with the PDFs that are generated and using the built-in PDF Preview Handler for Vista. The scenario is ...

1. User receives an email into Outlook that contains a generated PDF (see image ''01-Opening-Email.jpg'')

2. User clicks on the attachment in Outlook and the preview handler starts up (see image ''02-Loading-Previewer.jpg'')

3. The PDF displayed in the preview handler does not have any of the fields filled out (see image ''03-Report-Loaded-In-Viewer.jpg'')

4. User then right clicks on the PDF (in outlook) and selects to open the PDF with Adobe Acrobat Version 9.0 and the report is displayed with all the fields filled out (see image ''04-Report-Opened-With-Adobe.jpg'')

All of these images are included in the attachment that I have uploaded with this incident. As well, in the RAR file is the PDF that was sent by the system using the PDF dll from Syncfusion. Please let me know if you need any more information from me.

I looked into this today and discovered a simple fix for the problem:

http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/index.html

I built a workaround into my own software which uses the Adobe PDF preview handler but you can make a simple registry change to fix the problem in Outlook and Explorer as well.

I thought I'd share it with everyone as it doesn't look like Adobe are going to fix it themselves.

Only thing I know that will view Office 2003 files in Windows Explorer is Office 2007 (or 2010 presumably).

There are alternative file managers which can view Office 2003 files using earlier versions of MS Office, or OpenOffice (free) or things like QuickViewPlus. Even there, though, if you want top-notch Office document previewing then Office 2007 is the best because it is the first version of Office to come with proper file viewing components for other tools to plug-in.

I have given up on this problem. I have tried all the suggestions offered to fix the preview problem, and have emailed Adobe several times. I've returned to using "Thumbs Plus" a wonderful program (by Cerious Software). My pdf thumbnails display beautifully in this program, and it shows your thumbnails MUCH faster than Explorer. Debbie Knight

I used the same fix as Leo on Outlook 2007 and Windows 7 64 bit and it worked - I did the manual regedit with no issue.  Just waited a few minutes then went to different email with pdf attached and preview worked just like it used to before the windows upgrade

http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/index.html

Mike

Thanks Leo! Your solution at:

http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/index.html

...Worked on both Win 7 x64 machines we tried it on here.

How on earth do you know where to find these things in the registry? You should be called Neo rather than Leo!

Thanks again for the fix.

I have Acrobat Pro v9 and not reader, so I am not sure if this is the same fix.

I don't know if Acrobat even installs a preview handler (even on 32-bit Windows). You may need to install Reader as well to get the preview handler. Can't say for sure as I don't have Acrobat, though.

(BTW, not sure of the URL off the top of my head but Adobe have a page on their website that lists which versions of Acrobat and Reader can safely co-exist on the same machine. If you have an older version of Acrobat then installing the latest Reader may cause problems. Installing an older version of Reader isn't a good idea, though, due to all the security holes in older versions.)

So confusing that this is an issue and Adobe hasnt fixed it.

Yeah, it's ridiculous that, three months after I reported the fix, Adobe still don't seem to have updated the Adobe Reader installer to incorporate it. I'm still getting loads of "thank you" emails so it's clear the problem affects a lot of people. It's also ridiculous that such a simple problem, caused by not following the Windows API documentation, that affects so many people was completely ignored for so long. Adobe: Pull your socks up!

This works like a charm. You are awesome!!!!

Leo

I just want to give you a pat on the back for your help on this matter. Well done. I obviously join a chorus of users who send a message to Adobe to make a fix for the billion other users around the world... and perhaps they can throw your name into the fix for good measure. If you had a small paypal donation button on your installer (or webpage) i would definitely have thrown a few bucks your way, because i think you're a mensch.

Regards

Paul Steinberg

Melbourne Australia

I have just released an additional fix that makes Adobe Reader's thumbnails work on 64-bit Windows Vista and Windows 7 machines:

http://www.pretentiousname.com/adobe_pdf_x64_fix/

Enjoy!

BTW, I made the thumbnails look better by trimming the white frame. Might even be worth installing on 32-bit machines. :-)

Here's a screenshot showing the thumbnails and preview handler working on my 64-bit Windows 7 machine:

Thanks Leo!

I read through your site, and chose to go the lazy route using the app to modify the registry instead of doing it manually.  I can add to the list of confirmations that it worked flawlessly as advertised on Win 7 x64 without any issues what-so-ever.  Now if only Adobe could make their software so reliable.....

Anyhow, just a quick note to say thanks for doing this!

Eric