Access 2013 64 Bit and Acrobat PDF Active X Plugin

[jared]

We have been using the Reader Active X control to display PDF's on a form in an Access 2007 Database.


We've just updated to 2013 64bit and to my horror have discovered that ActiveX controls are no longer supported by MS Access as of 2013.

Can anyone suggest a method of displaying a PDF in a form? The pdf is always stored on the local or mapped network drive.

I've tried the WebBrowser Control which works fine with images, but blocks PDF's as a restricted file.

I appreciate any assistance or ideas here. thanks!

[June7]

This makes me think can still use http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...010354314.aspx

[ItsMe]

Perhaps the issue is the third party ActiveX you want to use is not happy with your 64bit version of Office/Access. The following link suggests object frames are still available in 2013 versions.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr.../ff822036.aspx

[jared]

Perhaps the issue is the third party ActiveX you want to use is not happy with your 64bit version of Office/Access. The following link suggests object frames are still available in 2013 versions.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr.../ff822036.aspx

Hi Itsme,

since its the inbuilt Access ActiveX "WebBrowserControl", I'm guessing it's IE that has the issue. I'll try adding program files as a trusted location.

[Xipooo]

You can use the "Web Browser Control" which will use the default application installed on the PC to view the file.

[jared]

Hi Xipooo,

I tried installing chrome and set as the default browser but still get the same warning/error per the original post.

[Xipooo]

You do not need to install web browser software. There is a control in Access called a "Web Browser Control". You draw it on your form just like you would a textbox, label, subform, etc. You can point the "Web Browser Control" to most files on your network or local drive and open it with whatever the default associated application is for that file. With PDF's, Adobe Reader will open the PDF file and display it within your "Web Browser Control" just like your ActiveX control does.

[June7]

Xipooo, poster said they are using the intrinsic Web Browser Control. But that isn't an Active X control as it is available from the regular controls set. So this is just very odd.

[Xipooo]

Xipooo, poster said they are using the intrinsic Web Browser Control. But that isn't an Active X control as it is available from the regular controls set. So this is just very odd.

You're right, he did mention that he tried the Web Browser Control, but I think he was saying he got some restricted file usage. I don't think the Web Browser Control is what is displaying the error that he has shown the image of. It sounds like previously he was using an ActiveX control, but his attempt at web browser control had file restrictions. I would say targeting the file restriction would be the way to go since the WBC should be able to display his content for him. There is no other way that I know of to do so.... though I'd be ecstatic to learn otherwise.

[jared]

Thankyou both for your help.

You're correct. I was originally adding a refernence to the Adobe Acrobat Library and using it's browser control. The 64bit Version of 2013 won't deal with it, and I'm happy with any alternative to display a pdf on a form.

It's the Web Browser Control (ms access) that is giving the original posted error. I'm adding it to a form per below images:

[June7]

Try the Web Browser Control from the standard controls set, not the Microsoft Web Browser from the ActiveX set.

It's the icon that looks like a web page with a globe. http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...101631434.aspx

[jared]

Thanks June7,

I get the same block. It's work fine with a .bmp, the error is only occurring with .pdf.


When I click on the warning (Click here for options), I get the following prompts:


Clicking on allow blocked content results in:



Then clicking yes results in:



Click "open Desktop" has no response.


If I type the path into the IE address bar (C:\ST5\scans\1.pdf) it opens the pdf immediately, without warning.

[June7]

This is annoying. I don't get warning but PDF doesn't show. I know I've read elsewhere this supposed to work with PDF.

[ItsMe]

I don't know for sure but the ActiveX warning seems to be coming from the Internet Browser. You may be able to do a trusted sites thing (you would have to add the mapped and UNC paths. I think IE looks at the name of mapped drives and not the letter, can't remember). I mention this because allowing content on the fly vs. before it loads into the control may be the issue.

Alternatively, an unbound object frame may be beneficial. You can add the network locations to your DB's trusted locations and dynamically update the object frame's with the path to the PDF's. THis way you will not have to contend with the internet browser settings.