PDF version 1.5 and higher (from Scanner) not able to view/download in browser

[DreamzLai91]

I'm developing a vb.net web application. Recently I face a problem where the PDF file with version 1.5 and higher are not able to view/download through browser. When I click the link to view the PDF file, the browser will prompt a "File Download" message box, when I choose to open the PDF file, the adobe reader display this error "There was an error opening this document. The file is damaged and could not be repaired." Even if I choose "Save" to PC then open the PDF file, it still display the same error message.

Please note that the sources for those PDF file is from scanner. If I'm using the Microsoft Word to save the document as PDF, it has no issue in viewing the PDF file no matter in what PDF version.

The code I'm using for view attachment is as below:

HTTPContext.Current.Response.ContentType = "APPLICATION/PDF"

HTTPContext.Current.Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", "Attachment; Filename=XXX.pdf")

HttpContext.Current.Response.Flush()

HttpContext.Current.Response.WriteFile(System.IO.FileInfo(FILE_PATH).FullName)

HttpContext.Current.ApplicationInstance.CompleteRequest()

Is there any issue with the code? Any solution to resolve this issue?

[Bernd Alheit]

Can you open the file in Adobe Acrobat?

[DreamzLai91]

Yes, it can be opened as normal. But when I use the web application to view/download the PDF file, it cannot be opened.

[Bernd Alheit]

Compare the file which the app received with the file on the server.

[DreamzLai91]

When I compare the PDF download from the application with the original file on server, the only different is the downloaded PDF file has some HTML embedded code after the original content.

[Bernd Alheit]

This may be the reason for the error message.

[DreamzLai91]

So why some of the PDF file will included the HTML embedded code?

[try67]

The web-server script that is serving it is doing a bad job of it...

[try67]

Sounds like an issue with your browser's PDF plugin...

[DreamzLai91]

At first, I also guess whether is this issue, but when I try to scan the PDF again and try to view through the web application, it works. The PDF version I re-scan is 1.6.

[DreamzLai91]

Not sure is there away for me to upload the PDF file in this forum for checking?