Firefox Continually Opening Tabs When Opening Pdf
Infinite blank tabs when opening PDF files
User Help for Mozilla Firefox
Firefox opens "infinite" blank tabs when trying to open a PDF file, whether on a site or locally and it actually never opens the PDF.
I tried safe mode to no avail. I also tried deleting the mimeTypes.rdf and this seemd to resolve the problem, but only temporarily.
I'm using the built in PDF reader.
Last edited by cebs on October 22nd, 2013, 11:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
A couple of clarification points...
... Does it just keep opening up those Tabs and never stops?... you know... open one PDF and it opens up a ton of Tabs?
... Also, does it actually open up a PDF in the end?
FWIW... I use Foxit reader and I open it "outside' of Firefox "but" I do get a blank Tab when I open a PDF... no big deal for me... I just close that tab.... and, I don't use it much.
As you can see she's (The CAT) always alert and on the prowl for Meo ware !!
Well I don't know if it never stops because I kill the Firefox process after a few seconds of the problem appearing, although in those few seconds it has already opened many blank tabs. And no, the PDF isn't even opened.
I used to get that single blank tab you talk about from time to time and yeah it's not a big deal, especially when compared to this problem. 
I might have to go back to Sumatra PDF if I can't resolve this issue. I liked the built in reader because it was simply doing what I need, displaying the PDF.
SumatraPDF can be used either in download/open mode or as a browser plugin. As a plugin, you won't get a blank tab.
Before attempting to use the built in pdf reader, have you tried disabling any/all other PDF readers that appear in Addons > Plugins
"The trouble with quotes on the internet is you never know if they are genuine" ...Abraham Lincoln
JayhawksRock wrote:Before attempting to use the built in pdf reader, have you tried disabling any/all other PDF readers that appear in Addons > Plugins
I haven't got any PDF readers.
cebs wrote:
JayhawksRock wrote:Before attempting to use the built in pdf reader, have you tried disabling any/all other PDF readers that appear in Addons > Plugins
I haven't got any PDF readers.
OK, just checking. I'm surprised there is none in Windows with a Firefox plugin, but whatever you say 
"The trouble with quotes on the internet is you never know if they are genuine" ...Abraham Lincoln
JayhawksRock wrote:OK, just checking. I'm surprised there is none in Windows with a Firefox plugin, but whatever you say
The only plugin I've got is Flash Player, and it'll be a while before we can get rid of that... 
Hmmm.... what does it say under Options > Applications for PDF and FDF?
While Firefox can handle some PDF files directly, you should not uninstall your basic PDF reader for a few reasons:
- Firefox cannot handle all PDFs and when it fails it gives you the option to open the PDF in an external reader.
- Having Firefox set as the Associated PDF Reader in the OS is probably really bad, I suspect that's where your loop is coming from.
- TMK Firefox cannot open FDF files at all, so you will need a separate Reader to do this anyway, this might also cause your loop.
Personally, I recommend not using a browser plugin, but having the PDF reader open it's own program. This helps reduce pauses and UI problems that happen when opening in the browser. It also reduces security risks associated with having the PDF (which may run scripts) open in a program with web access.
The more I think about it, I think this is your problem: having Firefox set as the Associated default PDF/FDF reader in Windows. Especially when it encounters FDF files, Firefox will have no way to handle those... the built-in reader cannot read them and you have no application associated with them in Firefox, so it defers to the OS. The OS looks at it's Associations and sees Firefox so it sends the file back to Firefox. Firefox cannot read the file and has no Association for it, so it defers back to the OS. And on and on forever.
patrickjdempsey wrote:Hmmm.... what does it say under Options > Applications for PDF and FDF?
For PDF files it says preview in firefox, but now i changed it to always ask. I don't have FDF listed.
So it seems that I'll have to use a third party PDF reader, but what bugs me is that before it worked fine.
Also if you guys don't get my problem wouldn't it mean there's something wrong on my side? And again, it used to be fine, I've actually being using the built in reader before it was enabled by default.
I think... that that FDF is put in there "if" a use has installed Foxit reader... again... I think that is true... and, if you don't have any other PDF reader... that you should end up with only that one setting you already have.
Just a FYI..., and there are other simpler PDF apps out there..., but I use Foxit and have been pretty happy with it... also, note that in my Applications settings... I have anything PDF/FDF related to open all that stuff "outside" of Firefox... in other words... I have those settings to use the Foxit.exe.
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/
As you can see she's (The CAT) always alert and on the prowl for Meo ware !!
cebs wrote:Also if you guys don't get my problem wouldn't it mean there's something wrong on my side?
Yes, I suspect that Firefox has been set as the default reader for PDF's at the OS level. After you reinstall a PDF reader (I also use Foxit) find a local PDF and right-click it and select Open With > Choose Program and set it to always open PDF's in your chosen program.
Well I've installed SumatraPDF and everything works fine but I'm still annoyed that for whatever reason the built in PDF reader doesn't work like it used to. Does it work for you guys then?
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