PDF View

License: PRO+ (Professional Edition or higher)
Plugin Type: File Action
Author: Diskover Data, Inc.

Overview

The PDF View file action lets you preview PDF documents directly within the Diskover web interface—no need to download files or access the underlying storage system. Simply select a PDF in Diskover and view it instantly in your browser.

This is especially useful when you need to quickly verify document contents before delivery, confirm you've found the right file during a search, or review documents in environments where direct file system access isn't available.

Key Features:

In-Browser Viewing — View PDFs directly in Diskover without downloading or opening external applications
Security Validation — Automatically validates PDF files before displaying to ensure file integrity
Image Detection — Optionally blocks PDFs containing embedded images for compliance-sensitive environments
Audit Trail — All PDF access is logged through Diskover's centralized system

Common Use Cases

For Data Managers & Analysts:

Validate document contents before initiating a file delivery or export workflow
Quickly preview search results to confirm you've found the correct document
Review archived documents without requiring direct storage access

For Compliance & Legal Teams:

Preview contracts, agreements, or legal documents in a controlled environment
Access documents with full audit logging for compliance requirements
Use image blocking to prevent viewing of PDFs with potentially sensitive embedded content

For Remote & Distributed Teams:

View documents from any location without mounting network storage
Access indexed PDFs when VPN or direct file system access isn't available

Requirements

Diskover Requirements:

Diskover PRO+ license or higher
PDF View file action installed and enabled by your administrator

No additional setup required — If your administrator has enabled the PDF View file action, you're ready to use it. The file action works with any PDF files that have been indexed by Diskover.

Usage Guide

Viewing a PDF in Diskover takes just a few clicks:

Step 1: Locate Your PDF

Navigate through the Diskover file browser or use search to find the PDF document you want to view.

Step 2: Launch the PDF Viewer

With your PDF selected, open the File Actions menu and choose PDF View.

Step 3: Wait for Processing

A brief loading screen appears while Diskover validates and retrieves your document. This typically takes just a few seconds.

Step 4: View Your Document

The PDF opens in your browser's built-in PDF viewer, embedded within the Diskover interface. You can scroll through pages, zoom in and out, and use standard PDF navigation controls.

Tips for Efficient Workflows

Quick validation: Use PDF View to spot-check documents before batch exports or deliveries
Search and verify: After running a search, preview results directly to confirm you've found the right files
Multiple documents: You can open multiple PDF View windows in separate browser tabs to compare documents

Understanding Image Blocking

Your administrator may have enabled image blocking as a security feature. When enabled, PDFs that contain embedded images (photos, diagrams, scanned content) will not display.

If you see the message: "[filename] has images. Viewing is blocked."

This means the PDF contains embedded images and your organization's security policy prevents viewing such documents through the web interface. This is typically enabled in environments where:

Embedded images might contain sensitive or unverified content
Compliance requirements restrict viewing of image-based documents
PDF sources include external or untrusted documents

What you can do:

Contact your administrator if you need to view the document and believe it should be allowed
Access the document through your organization's approved file access methods
Request a version of the document without embedded images if available

Troubleshooting

Issue	What It Means	What To Do
"has images. Viewing is blocked."	The PDF contains embedded images and image blocking is enabled	Contact your administrator or use an alternate access method
"does not appear to be a valid pdf file"	The file is corrupted, encrypted, or not actually a PDF	Verify the file opens correctly in a standard PDF reader; the file may need to be replaced or repaired
PDF won't load / spinner keeps spinning	Network issue or the file may be temporarily unavailable	Refresh the page and try again; if the problem persists, contact your administrator
"Worker not set in session"	Session configuration issue	Log out of Diskover and log back in; if the issue continues, contact your administrator

Still Having Issues?

If you encounter persistent problems:

Note the exact error message displayed
Note the file path of the PDF you were trying to view
Contact your Diskover administrator with these details

For Administrators: Detailed troubleshooting information and debug logging instructions are available in the PDF View technical documentation.

Support

Documentation: https://docs.diskoverdata.com
Support Portal: https://support.diskoverdata.com

Last Updated: January 2026
Diskover Data, Inc.