File does not begin with '%PDF-'.

[jennuhw]

We have a AIX system that can generate PDF files and send them to customers. Some customers can view the files just fine others get the error: "There was an error opening this document. File does not begin with '%PDF-'." Now, the users can open other Adobe files with no problem that the system has generated.

When I open the file in Notepad this is the first few lines:
1036960_P.pdf"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
Content-Disposition: attachment;
filename="PO 1036960_P.pdf"

JVBERi0xLjENCjEgMCBvYmogPDwgL1Byb2R1Y2VyIChQY2wycGRmIC0gTGFzZXJKZXQgUENM
This is followed by many, many lines of garble. Anyone seen this before? Any clues on how to fix it?
Thanks in advance!

 

[johncurtis]

This is a common error message which can have several causes. Most likely is that the files are compressed or encoded. There can also be problems if the file has been emailed. Check out

http://www.adobe.com/support/techdocs/9c16.htm

for more information.
hth
John

 

[jennuhw]

When the attachment is sent, it is renamed to something strange. It still has the extension of *.pdf not a MIME file. These users that get the strange attachments can receive other *.pdf files that aren't generated by the system correctly. Other users have no problem at all with receiving the *.pdf files directly from the system.

 

[michlm]

Did anyone ever figure out how to fix this? I'm having the same problem but I am doing NOTHING with emailing. All that is happening is that the user is selecting a file name and saving it, but I get this same "file does not begin with %PDF" error . . ..

This used to work correctly and now all of a sudden I'm getting this error. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm in a bind because I'm showing the application to the user tomorrow . . .thanks.

Michelle

 

[jennuhw]

I never did find out the solution to this problem. We just did an upgrade on our system. The software company finally fixed it even though they swore up and down to me that it was Adobe's problem...

 

[nlm9802]

dragging this thread up from the graveyard lol..

I'm getting the same problem. opening a pdf from a website.

If I leave "open in browser" checked, it opens fine, but you have to click "back" 2 times to get back to the list.

If I uncheck it (to allow it to open in a new window) I get this error "File does not begin with %PDF"

also, if I right click, open in new window with the open in browser checked, it works. Unchecked it does not.