Can't Open Some PDF Files

[standingquiet]

Hey Guys,

I'm trying to access my paystubs online and i keep getting this message.

Everything is up to date on my Macbook and can open other PDF's its just these ones for some reason.

This is the end of the link - payhisty.PayslipPDFDisplay?sequenceNumber=00017&isActive=X
(i removed my company and employee info which was at the start of the link)

I was thinking it has something to do with the Active X?

Please can someone help, maybe i need to download something else other than Adobe Reader.


Thanks Matt

 

[robvas]

Can you save it instead of viewing it in Adobe Reader?

I don't even use Adobe Reader on my Mac. Most browsers will open a PDF and the built in Preview app will view a PDF as well

 

[campyguy]

I get files from two of my attorneys that I need Reader for. Preview isn't a great can-opener for PDFs with security, form data, mismatched fonts, and (yes) ActiveX elements. Reader may be your only choice, depending on what type of data is embedded in the file.

Have you tried opening the file(s) in Safari, Chrome, Opera, or Firefox - each have PDF viewers built in now, and I believe none of them relies on Preview. Just open or drag-n-drop into a browser window.

 

[Teugeus]

it's probably encrypted

 

[standingquiet]

I have tried using it in all other browsers and if I save it it saves the picture I shared in my OP. It's really weird as I get a job earnings history and a paystub every 2 weeks and the job earnings will open its just the pay stubs. They open fine on a Windows based computer though.

 

[campyguy]

The non-visible data is likely ActiveX form fields and elements (like check boxes). I get court and legal documents all the time, with Preview showing only a subset of what's actually visible. Keep in mind that PDFs, like Photoshop documents, are layered - Preview can view all types of data; the only means around that is to ask the creator to flatten the files, and they'll be rendered into a single, graphic layer with JPEG/GIF/PNG encoding...

Reader is likely your only Mac option, that's what I use for the files I receive from my legal reps - they use Windows and ActiveX elements. Cheers!