Can't open PDF files from WinForms

[Guest]

Hello,

I'm trying to embed a local PDF file in a Windows Forms application; right now I'm using a standard WebBrowser control, which takes care of instantiating a web browser and, if Acrobat Reader DC is the default document handler for PDF files, the web browser calls it in order to display the contents of the file. The problem is, instead of getting the file displayed, I'm getting a "103:103" error. I have already tried disabling the "Enable Protected Mode at startup" and the "Allow documents to hide the menu bar, toolbars and window controls" options, with no luck. If I simply click on the same document from the filesystem, the application opens it correctly. Besides, I cannot ask all my end users to change their Acrobat Reader configuration. Any suggestions?

[Test Screen Name]

Are you able to view local PDF files embedded in local HTML using Internet Explorer?

[Guest]

Yes, Internet Explorer 11 correctly loads Acrobat Reader and displays the file.

[Test Screen Name]

Hmm. If that works it means Reader is basically ok. Since your use is outside the expected use of Reader, I doubt you can proceed further with this. There is a supported API for PDF display in your window, see the SDK.

[Guest]

Can you be more specific? Where exactly should I look?

[Test Screen Name]

In the Acrobat SDK. Most functions are for Acrobat only but there is one interface for Reader with OLE. Look in the “interapplication communication” section.

[Guest]

But in that case I would have to rely on the assumption that users have Acrobat Reader installed on their machines, right?

[Test Screen Name]

Or Acrobat, since Acrobat provides the same interface too, yes.

[Guest · Accepted solution]

In that case, I think I'll just launch the default application for the PDF file format, looks like the safest choice to me. Thanks for your time, anyway.