PDF.js Folder

Hi Jonas. Actually I think that it would be better to have a window pop up with the choice to Open In A New Tab, Save as File, or Download immediately. If Open In A New Tab is chosen, as the new tab is opened, and the PDF file is being downloaded, a message "Loading file" should be shown so that the user knows that something is happening. This is especially so when the PDF file is large in size and the loading into a new tab takes some time. At the moment, as it is programmed, the PDF file in the tab takes some time to load up and the user is left staring at a mainly black screen wondering if the system hung or not. Just some suggestions of mine.

I've got it working now, thanks. Strange. I actually uninstalled the original folder activity and then installed PDF.js. After that, I reinstalled the folder activity. It works.

Hi Jonas. Any way of amending/tweaking the code so that it is possible to create a folder with no PDF file inside. I would like very much to have an option of creating a folder and then populating it with files...later. Frankie Kam.

Hi Jonas. I'm using Moodle 2.5. When the new PDF tab opens up, I see just blank dark content. The PDF file loads (I can see my browser making the effor to load it) but does not display. I followed your instructions of renaming the folder as pdfjsfolder and storing it inside the mod folder. What could I be doing wrong? Specifically I am using Moodle 2.5+ (Build: 20130621).

Hi Jonas,
I've installed the plugin but still can't seem to use it. When i go to grade the submitted pdf's should i not be able to view from there? Is there perhaps a guide as to how to use it?
Apologies for my lack of knowledge, i'm new to Moodle.
Cian

Get this error when using Chrome v32. Even in incognito mode.
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95669?p=e_awsnap&rd=1
Working fine in Firefox.

Hi Jonas, Thanks for your detail information.
I will follow your instructions.
Thanks again
Ravi

Many thanks for the kind feedback, Ravi!
About opening in a new window, it's kind of a tricky question as there are different "schools" of thought on the subject.
One perspective is that web pages should leave that choice up to the user. If the user sets the web browser settings to open in tabs, that choice should be respected. If the user shift-clicks a link (in Chrome anyway) the link should open in a new window, etc. Overriding that choice is seen as bad form. Many browsers also default to blocking popup windows or redirect opening new windows to tabs instead.
Another perspective is that users don't always want or need that choice. Some sites actually know better than the user how the material is best presented. Moodle, in general, give teachers options on how to open resources, etc. However, as written above, it's important to know that many browsers and users will override these settings and there is no guarantee that the intention is honored.
I personally prefer the first perspective but Moodle seems to lean to the other. So it seems like I should add the options that other resources provide.
In the meantime, perhaps you can tell your students that they can shift-click or similar on the pdf link (depending on which browser they are using)?
Hope that helps!
Best regards,
Jonas

Thanks Jonas, What i was looking for !!!!
PDF file open in new pop up window. how to achieve that? not in new tab.
Thanks again.
Ravi Vare

@Rex, you bring up a good point and I agree with it. I do think this would be a better way to handle PDFs across the whole system.
With that said, the original folder resource forces downloads because of security concerns with student uploads. From reading the issue tracker, it seems like a firm decision (for good reasons).
Secondly, even though PDF.js is the built-in reader in the Firefox browser, it works rather poorly on mobile devices. From my understanding, Larger PDFs and PDFs with large images are difficult to handle because devices (new and old) are limited in terms of RAM.
On the other hand, PDF.js is just becoming better and better so eventually it'll get there so I'm certainly not against this happening so a ticket seems in order.
Thanks for the feedback!

Works on Moodle 2.5. But just a note that this is so similar to the existing folder, are you going to create a ticket to augment the existing folder resource to do exactly what this plugin is doing? It seems like a better way to handle PDFs across the whole system. Any hope of PDF.js being a Moodle included library?

Thanks so much for approving it, Aparup! : )

Hi Jonas,
thanks for submitting this! Works perfect on moodle 2.6 here