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Getting help
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The Basics
- Nextcloud Server version (e.g., 29.x.x)
- 31
- Operating system and version (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04)
- 24.04
- Web server and version (e.g, Apache 2.4.25):
Apache
- Reverse proxy and version _(e.g. nginx 1.27.2)
None
- PHP version (e.g, 8.3):
replace me
- Is this the first time you’ve seen this error? (Yes / No):
Yes
- When did this problem seem to first start?
Since Nextcloud version 30
- Installation method (e.g. AlO, NCP, Bare Metal/Archive, etc.)
replace me
- Are you using CloudfIare, mod_security, or similar? (Yes / No)
No
Summary of the issue you are facing:
The viewing of pdf files in a public share link was smooth on or before version 29, which was a very useful feature for sharing pdf by hiding download in public share link. When a pdf file was shared by public link, the viewer of the link will open up a pdf viewer and the download option was disabled/hidden.
I guess many users used to this useful function to share with external parties, when they want to discourage download and redistribution of some pdf files because of copyright/confidentiality concerns.
However, after updating to Nextcloud to version 30, the pdf share link no longer functions properly, the linked share does not open pdf viewer, instead, it forced the opening of Nextcloud office to just view a simple pdf. The Nextcloud office takes a much longer time (sometimes 8 seconds or even more) to open the pdf to view.
The problem:
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Since loading Nextcloud (collabora) office is a very slow process, it downgraded user experience, it took a long time to open a pdf with a just a few pages to view. For large pdf files with 30 pages or more, the time needed for rendering is very long (even a minute). Comparing with the previous approach that only calls pdf viewer to view the pdf, it took just 2-3 seconds with hiding the download button function.
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The processing of viewing pdf files becomes very CPU intensive and slow.
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There is no way to disallow downloading by hiding the download button for pdf files, it was a very useful feature to protect copyright by discouraging download.
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If forced administrator to install Nextcloud office/collabora office to simply share a pdf file for viewing without downloading.
Suggestion: Restore the linked share of viewing pdf by the pdf viewer, and disable download button at the same time. Just use the previous logic:
Create an public shared link for a pdf file, disable download and hide download button → Allow receivers of the link to open the link and then call pdf viewer → the receiver can read the pdf smoothly in the pdf viewer, but unable to find a way to directly download the file
Related posts:
Steps to replicate it (hint: details matter!):
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Create a public share link of a pdf file, and select Hide Download in custom permission
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Open the public share link by a user without an account in a browser.
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The public linked pdf file will only call Nextcloud office to open, not the original pdf viewer. The user takes a long time to open especially with large pdf files.
Thank you for your attention.